I suppose my own background drives me a bit...I was designated gifted after getting IQ tests 40 years ago. My sister was never tested and always felt like "she wasn't as smart". Recently mom mother told her the reason why she wasn't tested, is because the program of identification wasn't in place when she was in school. It really threw her for a loop after all these years. Who knows ...
Isn't that sad? If you test, you may find that DS isn't as gifted as his sister, but if you don't test you may 'repeat the past.'
Each kid acts so uniquely, it really is hard to judge as a parent.
But the main reason is to get some insights into how to best serve your son's educational needs. And to get yourself ready to answer that someday question about 'why is sister in DYS, and me not.'
I've actually seen 'Davidson Sibs' who think that they aren't gifted because they aren't in Davidson. That is totally sad. And since I believe that these unusual learning needs are at least partially genetic, even if your DS isn't PG, he may well have children of his own someday who are.
In my family growing up, my younger brother was the early reader, and the 'identified' one in the family. I was just identified as 'weird.' His kids are gifted, but I'm the one with a kid in YSP. My thought is that if you test DS and he is not the same LOG as your DD, he might still be stronger in one or 2 areas, which you can use to your advantage in answering the inevitable question. There really isn't anyway to compare one sibling to another, but it's probably unavoidable.
A good one to keep up your sleeve for when the kids ask, is to turn it on them, 'Well, who do you think is my gifted, me or your Dad.' A little reflection will show them that both of you are smart but with different strengths. It's also interesting to look and see if there is an issue of competitiveness in that couple relationship. If the 2 of you are modeling cooperation, then my hunch is that your kids will follow in your footsteps.
Best Wishes,
Grinity
