by Catherine Nickerson

Created on: September 11, 2008   Last Updated: June 04, 2010

"You're so lucky to have a really smart kid." No, no. Living with a gifted child is living with a four foot professional thief, a second grade religious philosopher, and an artistic engineer with the tiniest hands all rolled into one body. This may sound great to an outsider, but the realty of this life is waking up to find a bridge to heaven on your kitchen table made from all of the cash in your sock drawer. Still sound great? Well, the cash in your sock drawer was what you were going to use to buy groceries after work and now it is glued to Popsicle sticks and your child is not dressed or fed or anywhere ready to go to a school that bores the you know what out of her.

The gifted child is impossible to talk to and you better watch EVERYTHING you say because it will be sent back to you in the most inappropriate moment. Understanding these children requires a constant awareness that each so called gifted child also comes with some form of disability. This disability usually manifests itself in a difficulty with social interactions. That probably sounds like a stereotype, especially to professionals who know more than I do. But, my experiences have been almost exclusively with my own gifted children who struggle with social interactions and the other children who are educated with my children. It is important to keep in mind that people who see the world differently find it difficult to speak to, much less confide in, other people.

This alternative world view will lead the gifted child to isolation which is the worse situation these children could be in. They will thrive when forced into activities they may not feel comfortable. Things like trips to the park are even more important to the gifted child. The child may never play with the other children, but keep in mind that they don't need to actually interact with others to learn how to interact with others. The gifted child will watch the other children and learn. They must watch repeated interactions which means repeated trips to the park where your child seems to be having no fun playing by themselves. They need to join the girl scouts, city soccer, ballet class, judo lessons and everything else you can drag them to. And yes, you will have to drag a kicking and screaming child with tears running down his face. It is no fun; especially when you have to rip the cash off of Popsicle sticks at six o'clock in the morning, but all your sweat and frustration will be returned on the day they get the acceptance letter from their favorite college.

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