I had a conversation today with Wolf (almost 5 1/2 years old now) that I think will go down in the annals of history as the only time this particular conversation has and will EVER take place.
Wolf has been dragging his feet about schoolwork recently. We had FINALLY found a level of difficulty that wasn't too hard or too easy for him (or so I thought) and had cut down on things that he wasn't as interested in, so I was really at a loss.
Anyway today he was taking FOREVER to do a page of math that should take him only about 5-10 minutes because it was a new version of something he knew how to do. I asked him what was up and he burst into tears crying, "I wanna do 4th grade work. I wanna do 4th grade work. I wanna do 4th grade work." I cuddled and rocked him and asked, "But why?" He sniffled and replied, "Because I want more challenge."
I teared up and tried not to laugh at the same time. I mean, what do you say at a moment like that? I ended up telling him that I love him and that 4th grade work would be too frustrating for him until he learned to multiply and divide easily (I couldn't come up with anything else). It seemed to satisfy him though and he went back to his work and actually concentrated and got it done quickly.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
I'm not sure I will ever get used to how unique our "normal" is
I'm not sure if it is a kind of denial or a necessary layer of protection for my sanity but I always have anxiety hit when someone takes my happy "normal" life and reminds me how far from average my "normal" is.
Today Wolf's teacher and I met with the school district psychologist who has YEARS of experience with GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) and even worked in a state that had GIEP's (Gifted Individual Education Plans, CA only has them for students with delays). She also raised a couple of gifted kids of her own so I figured she would have lots of experience with kids like Wolf. Wolf's teacher asked her about raising her gifted kids and she said they were nothing like Wolf or not in the same league or something else that made me feel very uncomfortably aware of how non-average he is. The psychologist is really hoping they can talk the district into allowing her to test him as soon as he turns six. I'm not complaining, a tester with years of experience testing bright kids is something I have heard is hard to come by. The thing that really got me was that she would so it tomorrow if she could!
They came up with several ideas to research to help Wolf with enrichment and socialization which was what I was hoping for. I got a lot out of the meeting and it was great to meet and talk to her, but it really brought home how out there we really are... When the gifted teachers/psychs are impressed it sort of tells you something. Sigh...
On another "normal" note, Bear can now turn on the computer, open up his profile, launch our browser and go to the site he wants in the bookmarks menu. He can also shut down the computer. All on his own. His third birthday is coming up next month a robot and Buzz Lightyear theme it seems...
I also tricked him into reading for me. We knew he could read having caught him doing so every now and then, but unlike his brother, he won't display his abilities when asked. In fact he says "I can't" to which we answer, "Yes, you can. We SAW you!" Anyway I was reading a book he had never seen before to him and was running my finger under the words. After the first few words I stopped reading and he started. He read the book to me twice when all was said and done. It was a one sentence per page type book, but I'm pretty impressed. Then he did some basic math for me in the car, 1+1, 2-1, 3+1. I hadn't known he could do math until then.
So these boys are my "normal" and it's all I can do to keep up with them. I don't force feed them calculus in their sleep or strap them to chairs and make them write term papers. Heck all I do is try to provide them with what they want and need. They just soak it all in like little sponges. It constantly amazes me how they can pick something up after only seeing it once or twice. They LOVE learning. They are so vibrant and full of interest and drive, it's just beautiful to experience it with them.
Today Wolf's teacher and I met with the school district psychologist who has YEARS of experience with GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) and even worked in a state that had GIEP's (Gifted Individual Education Plans, CA only has them for students with delays). She also raised a couple of gifted kids of her own so I figured she would have lots of experience with kids like Wolf. Wolf's teacher asked her about raising her gifted kids and she said they were nothing like Wolf or not in the same league or something else that made me feel very uncomfortably aware of how non-average he is. The psychologist is really hoping they can talk the district into allowing her to test him as soon as he turns six. I'm not complaining, a tester with years of experience testing bright kids is something I have heard is hard to come by. The thing that really got me was that she would so it tomorrow if she could!
They came up with several ideas to research to help Wolf with enrichment and socialization which was what I was hoping for. I got a lot out of the meeting and it was great to meet and talk to her, but it really brought home how out there we really are... When the gifted teachers/psychs are impressed it sort of tells you something. Sigh...
On another "normal" note, Bear can now turn on the computer, open up his profile, launch our browser and go to the site he wants in the bookmarks menu. He can also shut down the computer. All on his own. His third birthday is coming up next month a robot and Buzz Lightyear theme it seems...
I also tricked him into reading for me. We knew he could read having caught him doing so every now and then, but unlike his brother, he won't display his abilities when asked. In fact he says "I can't" to which we answer, "Yes, you can. We SAW you!" Anyway I was reading a book he had never seen before to him and was running my finger under the words. After the first few words I stopped reading and he started. He read the book to me twice when all was said and done. It was a one sentence per page type book, but I'm pretty impressed. Then he did some basic math for me in the car, 1+1, 2-1, 3+1. I hadn't known he could do math until then.
So these boys are my "normal" and it's all I can do to keep up with them. I don't force feed them calculus in their sleep or strap them to chairs and make them write term papers. Heck all I do is try to provide them with what they want and need. They just soak it all in like little sponges. It constantly amazes me how they can pick something up after only seeing it once or twice. They LOVE learning. They are so vibrant and full of interest and drive, it's just beautiful to experience it with them.
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