Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment losing my nerve

Hi all, just need a confidence boost I guess. I have our initial psych ed appointment tomorrow to determine if testing is appropriate for dd4 and I'm completely chickening out.
I know 4 is a little young but we are meeting because she is unhappy at preschool and seems to be going backward in development (ie vocab, drawing), confidence and enthusiasm. I'm wanting to know whether she's best to change or stick it out where she is.

Since putting together her portfolio I keep thinking, well this isn't remarkable at all. Of course I made the fatal error of tying to talk to my best friend about it - and got a very put back in my place reply of - she's just going through a phase and they all do this and that etc. I totally feel like a neurotic tiger mom trying to get her darling tested. Arrgh - please tell me I'm not the only one.

I KNOW that she is advanced in some areas but the regression is making that very hard to see right now. Big cry over!

If you are stressed and worried go ahead and test. It won't hurt her and at the very least will give you some info. It is possible it is just a phase but maybe it is something else. Are you genuinely thinking she is regressing or do you just think she is running down her vocabulary. It is really annoying having people look at you blankly when you are just talking normally and tell you your words are too big.

I think a lot of parents of gifted kids feel this way at times. Don't let someone's lukewarm reaction to testing deter you from doing what you feel is best for your child. More information can only help you.

I had a co-worker once that glazed over when I would talk about my daughter's milestones when we talked about our kids. Our kids were only 3 weeks apart in age. I didn't know then that my kid was gifted, so there was some jealousy on her part, I think, because my kid did X and her kid was no where near doing whatever skill it was. I didn't know my kid was advanced and hers was normal development, but talking about my kid probably made her feel like hers was lagging behind. I didn't have an NT kid first to have anything to compare to. Just some perspective!

There have been studies that parents are better able to identify giftedness than teachers. That said, we just had DS6 tested and I was a bundle of nerves before. I kept thinking, "What if we go through all this trouble/spend all this money and he's NOT"...."What if he acts up and doesn't test well" but in my gut I knew he was gifted. Go with your gut because you're probably correct, and even if your child isn't, you'll have very useful info going forward

I felt exactly like this before we did a WPPSI-IV on DC 3:5. I am so glad we did the testing - it has helped us understand our kid better and make specific changes to DC's schooling environment. We have a much happier kid now.

Thankyou lovely people

Mahagogo5 - I think it is just normal "mommy worry" and the "what ifs" creeping in on you!

Heck, mine have been tested and I know the numbers. I've seen and gone over all the amazing results (numerous times) and there are still days when one (or both) of the girls is having one of those "moments" and I look at them and have my doubts. LOL!!!

Just breathe - either way it will work out just fine!

just a quick note to say thanks to everyone for your kind words. I met the Ed psych this morning who immediately agreed testing was appropriate for DD4, it was so lovely to talk to someone who didn't make fell like an attention seeking tiger mom. Regardless of the results, I now at least feel justified in seeking out help and that was what was stressing me out the most. What will be will be with DD and now we'll be able to get her the help she needs.