I've really enjoyed reading these posts. I never knew about giftedness - other than the tv version of a child prodigy - until I had dd. I knew my dad was smartish, but kind of assumed he was normal. My family only really associated with educated people and I hated the educational aspect of school, so I figured I was at best, pretty dumb.
However, when dd was born and I started reading about giftedness I discovered all these descriptions of ME! It was a revelation. I can't spell well and never did particularly well at school, but I can confidently say I never tried - for me giving something a go was reading what ever scanty notes I took in class the night before an exam, that was literally the most effort I ever went to - and when I did put that effort in, I got As. I got a good pass in my final year of school, but goodness knows what I could have achieved! But people always openly called me an old soul and 'wise', but I always just felt weird.
I've mentioned elsewhere on this forum that I had a somewhat unsupported childhood and I sometimes wonder whether my brain power got channeled in to different skills - reading and understanding situations and people, for example, rather than my times tables. I certainly don't feel confident that I would do outstandingly well on an iq test.
When dd was tested, I shared the scores with some members of my family and it was revealed that all the members of my dad's family are pg. In hindsight I think 'of course', but I really only ever viewed them as normal. It was also revealed that I read early and was ahead in maths early on. I don't remember either of these things. I've always been better with abstract, global ideas rather than things like maths facts and I think because I struggled with those and spelling - the foundation skills from so early in school - I always assumed I was dumb. Even getting straight high distinctions at university (again, with little effort), didn't convince me I was capable.
But what I have learnt about giftedness has been such a relief! I finally feel in charge of my brain - though, and this might sound odd, I am now having to relearn how to use it! I am not brilliant at everything, but I am capable of anything I actually want to do. But it is pretty isolating. I suspect I'd already have a different view of the world to most if I had had a 'normal' - whatever that is - upbringing, but because of the experiences I have had, I have a different view of the world again. It means that even among other gifted people I feel pretty weird (hence the username!)
