A Little Unexpected

The first section of the book deals with identification, and promises suggestions in the last section.  I really  have had barely any free seconds since it came, but if you think that has stopped me, you have never seen me with a book.  I am on Chapter 5.

I was really expecting to see a lot about gifted kids, and possibly would recognize Grant in some of them.  Instead, the first few pages brought both kids to mind, and the further I read, the more often I saw myself identified as well.  That was a little creepy, let me tell ya'.  Apparently, I have a very strong emotional memory.  It's the motivation behind my sentimental packrat-ing.  Which I knew.  I just didn't know that everyone else's memory wasn't like that.

This author doesn't think that I'm dealing with anxiety disorder.  Disorders are diagnosable, and medicate-able.  The idea is that something needs to be supplemented.  Not so with us.  What Grant is experiencing (according to this author) is not an anxiety disorder, but anxiety.  In it's original, natural, and home-grown form.  Medicine would not necessarily help.  I'm relieved to hear that, too.  I'm shy of medicine.  My mother always told me that we must, "play Life in the uniform you were issued."  Until the kids' struggle with their emotions prevent their classmates from learning, I will avoid meds.  However, I acknowledge that this is a very real possibility in the no-so-distant future.

I am beginning to be hopeful that this is the right book for Grant.  Abbie, on the other hand, is going to be less easy.  There is an example of a kid who is not stimulated by school, and therefore does not put in the effort until one day when he can't keep up, and then he just writes school off completely.  Um...yes, Abbie is skating by with perfect scores and minimal inconvenience to herself (can't be bothered to stop talking and listen), but it has zilch to do with the style of teaching.  She has ALWAYS been like that.  Why answer the question when Grant can do it for her?  Why remember something when she can just ask Grant?  I think she has Second Brilliant Child syndrome.  I just made that up.  It's when the second child is so smart that he/she realizes that the other smart kid can do all the difficult parts.  If the book comes up with a solution for that, I will be deeply impressed.

So...reading!  And so far, so good.