Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Starts ambitious projects but never finishes them

This is me and my DS9 to a "T". He told me the other day...homework and tests are pointless. I know I know and that is enough. Now if only we can convince the world that!

My DD7 is exactly like this and her ambitious projects evaporate, like her Christmas boutique store two years ago called "Bells Rock" for which she distributed "coming soon" flyers around the neighborhood. Bouts of mild panic struck her as the day approached and she lacked inventory, but the day came and went with no tears or major regrets.

So what is the proper time to unleash my inner Tiger Father and force/aid her into finishing such projects after the bubbles of inspiration have been popped by the prickly details, leaving only the prospect of hard work?

As some of the other posters mentioned, I too could have used strong arms to help me conquer and tame my perfectionism and do the necessary hard work. Instead I was told how talented I was and how much potential I had, and given free reign to plan and dream away with the assumption that one day when I was "ready" I would magically awake from the spell, lift myself up by my bootstraps, and accomplish everything of which I was capable. That Hollywood ending, naturally, did not happen.

I think that there is a middle path - you provide your dd with some of the tools so she knows that she can work hard.
I'm not sure why- but I prefer a child to get used to working hard on school or adult supervised afterschool activities, rather than self-generated projects.

For the self-generated ones, I'd get out that old 'Wishcraft' Book and help the child follow the steps - with self-generated projects there are usually very real reasons why the project won't work. Maybe I'd 'nag/bribe/re-inforce' doing one simple step per day - but maybe not! I think the proper mindset is to expect that projects have an 'exploration' phase where one does some R&D, and then decides to allocate time and money to the project in the 'commitment' phase.

Make sense?
Grinity

That makes good sense. When challenged by boring or hard work, she still sometimes throws those fits where she checks out, slides out of her chair and ends up finishing the homework on her back under the table, etc. That's where we should be focusing to help her get a grip and hold on.