Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy DS shared a "huge" secret with me tonight...

I just watched an old episode of Nova Science Now, and I immediately thought of this thread. It was about mirror neurons--which are why we experience what we see. I highly recommend looking it up with your son.

Jen - this is MY DS to a tee - he was scared of Nemo when he was younger. While he may not be to the extreme and actually seems better with REAL people shows than cartoons, I can definitely sense when something is off in his head when he's watching something. And my DS(6 on Friday) is EXTREMELY sensitive with a handful of overexcitability issues.

DS6 is the same way. Star Wars - no problem. Rudolph - fast forward please!!!

But thinking back, I was that way with the Wizard of Oz and such! I'd cover my eyes over the flying monkeys part. Commercials were my thing (and now are DS's thing) because they were "real", if that makes sense, but not scary for the most part. And to this day, I get totally wrapped up in TV dramas - in the characters and place myself in that "fantasy" land often. So it makes sense that DS would too.

Thanks Wyatt. It's interesting that you mention the sensitivity to smell. My son and I are both that way. It drives my husband crazy! I can also relate to empathizing too much with movies; I just wasn't sure if that's what my son was doing or if there was more to it. I really think that's the crux of the situation after talking wiht him some more. I used to love movies that evoked extreme emotion; I felt that it helped me learn something about myself. After experienceing some significant tragedy in my own life, I've decided I've had enough sadness. If I, inadvertantly, watch something sad now I can honestly cry for hours afterward because the feelings are stuck in my head! I avoid sad movies and books now; I've had enough real sadness for a lifetime, thank you very much!

Again, thanks for your response. It helps me to understand my ds even better.

Thanks-we'll check that out!

I hated those monkeys. Scared the crap out of me!

That's not weird at all, to me that seems normal. I think you answered really well for a person who (weirdly) isn't like that.

My first exposure to the word gifted was at age 13. I read a phamphlet that I found in my parent's bathroom after my younger brother got identified for the new gifted program (I was too old - pout!)

The phamphlet listed different kinds of Gifted Children, and one kind was the 'embodying' type, who understood the world through imagining themselves in various other perspectives. The example was a child who was assigned to write an essay about the manufacturing process of pencils, and started their essay: 'I am a pencil. I was born in a huge factory...'

After reading all the types I decided that that was my kind of gifted. To this day, I see pretty much every side of every issue. And yes, over the years I have decided to make good choices about certian types of movies NOT to see, just because I am such a talented audience. I only see intense movies, like 'Slumdog Millionare' if I feel like I can learn something really important about the world, not for 'fun.'

Anyway, back to your son, I would explain that storytellers work really really hard to help people have the experience that he has a natural talent for. The reason people enjoy hearing stories is that they like experiencing new perspectives! There are even teenagers who go to scary movies on purpose to feel totally engulfed by other characters and situations. You can admire his maturity in choosing what he knowing himself and making wise choices. I firmly believe that the creator made each of us unique with our own talents and challenges and destinies that make use of these talents and what we learned overcoming our challenges.

I would also say that you may want to check and see if this happens with people too. I can't 'afford' to hang our with people who do things that I don't respect, because I can actually percieve myself minutely taking on their characteristics. I think it's true of everyone, but because I'm so aware of it, I've had to make some hard choices.

I have found that over time, this has become a lot less of an issue. And the journaling has been very helpful in getting my head into a space that 'suits' me, rather than some random space that I picked up from the environment.

Love and More Love,
Grinity