On Giftedness and the Good Enough Parent

 

 

Well,  it is true.. there are many parenting styles, and equally many parent temperments as are there kid temperments…which is best?

The thing is that it often is dictated by the hand one is delt in life, and the temperments of the family members one lives with.. and what they might respond to..

Some thrive on controlled orderly environments, others may embrace chaos as the most creative avenue..

Some of us have the where withall to provide major out of this world experiences,  such as space camps and CTY  experiances for our kids.. and some find vision such simple things as raindrops and puddles and vegetable oil in water..

Thing is, bottom line… as parents..we do the best we can with what we’ve got at the time we have got it for those we love….

Nothing is better than that… learn to forgive yourself, as you are.. as good enough a parent as you can be…  tears will happen.. however in my book, and in reality…

If they are not on drugs, or died of them, if they are not alchoholics.. if they are (within relative reason for their age, and developmental stage) relatively happy and enjoying SOME parts of life… have some (or a ) friend…

Your ok parents.. so far anyways.. ;-D

On Giftedness and Teachers Fears…

 

 

They don’t care….  They say they will do things, and then it doesn’t happen… they are defensive… They say their hands are tied…

Well, folks, yes, to a point, however… step back a minute, maybe, just maybe they do care,  they hoped to go on that training course that did not happen, or they genuinely thought they might convince the powers that be- that more time and resources should be plugged into these areas.. they ‘thought’ they would be able to do something… or….they are overworked, and have tried so hard to be good teachers, and feel overwhelmed with the enormity of trying to provide for so many different constellations of need.. they just protect themselves by being defensive… Or.. they are genuinely constrained by the overriding policies or principals ethos within a school…

This does not make them bad people..they are scared teachers… ones who want so badly to help your children, but are ‘stuck’.   Thorny situations..

 

 

They may never have encountered a ‘gifted’ child.. had training in this area, or if they have had/do.. may not have support from those who decide policy within your school..

Sometimes this can also be soul destroying for teachers..  I know many who have taken this feeling of inadequately providing fortheir students feelings home and had nightmares about it… it is not always in their hands..

Understanding this can go a long way in these situations.. and a hand held out.. it can mean volumes in how your child may be percieved and or provided for…. or how far along the ‘extra mile’… a teacher advocate may go.. in the interest of your kid…

 

 

 

So.. do not forget to thank a teacher, tell them you understand they are overworked, tell them.. and then offer a helping hand if they need it.. you might be surprised what could happen.. ;-D