I really wish my parents had "given it to me straight." I think I would have had a much easier time self-advocating when I was older, and I would have understood why we kept repeating things when I was younger.
Although I was identified gifted, my LOG was not mentioned. Instead, my parents didn't give my IQ score or tell me where I was and how I differed from other kids; they didn't want me to gloat or stop working. I began underachieving in first grade. Even when pacing was increased, I didn't fit well with MG kids my own age, even in the self-contained gifted classroom.
Academic Talent Search opportunities were great, but I was actively discouraged from taking classes that would get me out of the following year's course of study.
I didn't learn any study skills until after I finished my undergraduate degree. And telling a globally gifted child/young adult to explore careers in "what you're good at" is useless. It took me almost 10 years after college to find a career that is challenging and enjoyable.
Only now, in my 30s do I truly have an appreciation of how far outside the norm I was/am (and why many people don't get my jokes). It gives me much more compassion and understanding for those who struggle. I could have used that in school.
When my DD (4 at the time) turned to me after using a multisyllabic word correctly in a sentence, "Most 4-year-olds don't know what BLANK means," it brought home exactly how aware of the differences our kids are. I think that they need to know we understand and appreciate them for who they are.
