Oh What Fun It Is To Raise A Gifted Child Today

(sung to the tune of Jingle Bells)

       In this era when a parent gauges his or her success as a parent by how early the baby walks and talks, whether or not the toddler can recite his alphabet and numbers to 100, and how high the child’s IQ is, we have forgotten to laugh at just how ridiculous this all is.  When did parents start taking themselves so seriously?  When did their own accomplishments take a backseat to those of their offspring?  When did their children serve more of a purpose as bragging rights than as bundles of joy?  Joy.  That’s what we’re forgetting.  Parenting a gifted child (Boy, do I hate that term!) is joyful.  Why?  Because the bright child “gets it.”  Let’s face it.  If these terrors didn’t “get it” they wouldn’t be able to push all of our buttons.  But I digress.

  Raising a (please can’t I think of a better term than gifted?) bright, curious, Eveready Bunny of a child can be exhausting; but it is also a wonderful, chaotic, fun, adventure.  I’m reminded of Grandma’s tale in the movie Parenthood:

Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. 

Gil: Oh? 

Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! 

Gil: What a great story. 

Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.

      This is exactly what raising a gifted child is – a roller coaster – and you never know where the next dip, turn, or loop will be.  Join me on this adventure as we begin tomorrow with “Don’t Trust the Baby Books”.