Overall, I was quite pleased with the portrayal of giftedness. Phew! Watching the little girl in the movie, I was reminded of so many gifted kiddos I live with and work with.
The Real Problem with Multipotentiality
The Magic That Happens When We Don’t Rush to the Rescue
In many parenting circles and professional mental health circles, we’ve been encouraged to let our kids be bored and frustrated and disappointed. And I totally agree. That’s where the magic happens. But, being raised up in this culture that permeates an ethos of feel-good-avoid-bad mentality and has encouraged bubble wrapping our children’s “fragile” little feelings and souls, I still find myself being pulled in to rescue my children.
Why I Refuse to Call Them Overexcitabilities
I Hate to Admit it – But Autism Has Been the Best Thing That’s Happened to Me
Deep down inside, my more spiritually mature self, is grateful for autism. I am grateful for my growth. I am grateful for it highlighting all of my weaknesses and limitations. I am grateful for it smashing those threads of perfectionism that were still whispering in my ear. Has it been fun? Ha! Absolutely not! Do I wish there were an easier way? Only five hundred thirty-two thousand times a day. But, here’s my list of what autism has done for me:
The Problem with the Mindset Movement
There’s a dark underbelly to all this emphasis on mindset and growth. The core principles make sense. We know that our brains are continuing to grow and form and make connections. Awesome. We all can keep growing. But, the mindset movement frequently takes this truth and warps it to presume that everyone starts on an even playing field.
Ode to the Suckiness of Being Gifted
I have struggled to write this post. I have too many ideas. I haven’t been able to choose just one difficulty about being gifted. I really don’t think I’m that pessimistic or cynical, but oftentimes, there feel to be far more difficulties about being gifted than not. So – in lieu of being able to pick just one difficulty about being gifted, I’ve opted to create a list, in the form of an acrostic poem:
My Lab is Smarter than your Honors Student
I Know You Are a Good Parent
I know that some days, maybe most days, you feel ill-equipped to parent any child, let alone a higher needs child. I know that some days, maybe most days, you feel drained, battered, bruised and you fear how closely you’ve come to completely losing it with your children because of this. I know that your brain whispers fallacies and the gut-wrenching lie that you are an awful parent.
Rethinking the Chopping Block
I don’t know your child. I don’t know your family. I have no idea what the right educational option is for you. But, I do know that there are options. There are always options. And I do know that the option which fits one child is not necessarily going to fit a second child, even if they share genetic material.