Yes, that is what I found. Noah was so much more immature than his peers at a younger age and then recently, I began to "think" he was more immature because he was so (what I started to think) uncontrollable about his emotions, particularly his passion for things and I was stuck between not wanting to lose his spirit and enthusiasm and reigning it in. Then I started reading GUILDING THE GIFTED CHILD and I realized it's not immaturity. It is that kids his age usually start to become more reserved and hold back and that a lot of gifted children do not hold back. I had to remind myself that his enthusiasm was not immaturity and that him becoming upset at times when most kids would hold it in was also a characteristic of being gifted and they need different avenues and ways of doing what is socially acceptable. In the few weeks I have implimented some of the things in this book, I have watched my son gain control over some of his "issues" and really try. He just needed a different way. Some would probably say he has matured but for me, he just found something that worked. If that makes any sense to any of you. He didn't like feeling the way he was feeling when he was upset or being unable to control his feelings, it's just that nothing worked before. We found something together that worked and since he was always open to trying different solutions, to me he was always mature in his approach. Whew!
From what I read, I should be thankful that my son wears his feeling son his sleeve because some gifted children can be withdrawn and that is not good.
Even scarier is the fact that gifted children are highly susceptable to suicide and so now instead of telling him to "buck it up Noah. You NEED to get control of this " which luckily did not go on too long. About 2 months, as I had become frustrated and I was handling it wrong. We now have an arrangement that he tells me he needs to talk and I give him a time frame for which I will be available to do that. He has to accept my answer. Used to be he would interrupt and need assistance now. I need to talk now. Now we have an understanding and it is working. I think I got that manuever from THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE CHILD.
So, if his curiosity is considered childish or immature, I'm all for it because his curiosity may hold the key to the cure to cancer or any other host of problems in this world that those without this enthusiasm would'nt bother with.
I'm honest with him about being gifted. I've told him long before I knew he was gifted that his brain was a gift from God like other peoples' gifts are singing, carpentry..etc..and that he had a responsibility to use it and train it to be the best it can be and he has always taken that very seriously.
As for homeschooling...would I consider? That question came from Jan Z. I've thought about it many times and I have to be honest with myself and don't think that I could do it without my husband's support and his support would not be there. Not to mention we enjoy being a part of the school community and all that goes with it. We have a very tight school community. So, I'll wait and see and continue to homeschool with him attending public school. Both of my kids get their education supplemented. Only because they are above the normal range and school teaches to the average student. I get all of my supplies from a homeschool Mom who's daughter is a senior this year but we have been buying her stuff for years. Kids really enjoy what she has to offer and certainly Mary Grace is proof that homeschooling is a great choice when you have the support. She already has several college classes under her belt and she isa very grounded young lady.
MaryLee
