Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Weird and dorky ??

So yesterday ds7 was working on his EPGY math online, and casually turned to me and asked me if I thought he was "weird, in a dorky kind of way". No idea what prompted it, and he wouldn't tell me why he asked - he carried on doing his math, and really didn't want to discuss it any further. Hmmm.

How did you respond? My DS7 is weird in a dorky kind of way, but I'm trying to shield him from that knowledge...:) So far he has noticed he is different, but I've tried to make it seem different in a cool and unique way! (Not sure how successful I am ha ha!) Nan

I asked him if HE thought he was - he said yes. I asked him if it was a good thing, and he wasn't sure. I asked if anyone at school had called him that - he said no. I never actually told him what I thought - he changed the subject

I think our kids are going to get this - along with a load of other negative/abusive stuff from children and adults alike. I think the trick is to teach them how to handle it. (Still on a learning curve with that one.)

I tell my kid he's cool in an Einstein kind of way. Kids know when they're different. The challenge is to get them to embrace the different rather than be embarrassed of it.

Yes, I see it as a better idea to embrace the nerdy/dorky/geeky self rather than trying to pretend that's not the case.

We used the relative comparison, too, since we have many dorky/nerdy/absent-minded-nuclear-physicist... relatives on both sides. I think that it helps to have others who are "weird, in a dorky kind of way," rather than being the only one. Teachers and mentors definitely helped me along the way (along with colleagues who mostly fit that profile!)...

very well handled!!

If pressed, you could start to talk about your family's proud 'Nerd Heritage' and how you are glad that his little apple didn't fall far from the tree.

Smiles,
Grinity

Pointing to similar family members is good. And we also routinely invite our loving and extremely sciency / academic / special-interest-oriented adult friends to hang out at our house. In that company DS is fairly normal. And we like people like that, because we are like that. It's good to have role models... and friends.

DeeDee

DeeDee - that is a great approach. Often our kids feel more comfortable with adults - at least those who have the ability/will not to talk down to them and to listen.