[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Gifted Children, stage parents, and leftover siblings

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

Mary Jennings asked:
> I'm curious about the *siblings* of gifted children.  How are they 
treated?  
> How do they cope?  Does your work cover this topic, Shaun?  I'd be 
very 
> interested to hear any opinions or personal experiences.  

<snip Kimberly's example of her own experiences and how it's tough to be a kid no matter what you're talented at>

I'd like to agree whole-heartedly with Kim..and mention that gifted kids do not, in my opinion, get all the attention in a given family.  Sort of a "squeaky wheel gets the grease" scenario..

My brother has ADHD and a LD and my mom has always spent infinitely more time with him than me in just about every area of childhood life.  When I got depressed it would take her *months* to notice, because I was the one who was supposed to "have it together" and be responsible and take care of myself.

Admittedly, I'm pretty good at hiding my depression (I'm more of the imploding, rather than exploding sort)...but still...mum spent nearly every hour of every afternoon and evening with my brother...struggling through his homework/discussing his behavior in class that day/etc.  I don't think she even notice the first year I spent coming home from school and going directly to bed until it was time to get up the next morning.

Not that I blame her, and it probably *did* strengthen my own ability to care for my own wounds, so to speak..but a little support would have been pretty nice at that time. 

As for recognition...I don't know what she told her friends about me...but I very, very rarely got praised for high marks or any achievement of that sort -- it was just sort of expected, you know?  She never said when I looked pretty or was behaving maturely or anything.  Again, another thing that was probably good for me -- god forbid I get a big head ^_~ -- but still..it would have been nice.

The only thing I really excel/ed at besides school is/was horseback riding, which she refuses to watch because it scares the living daylights out of her.

So there is that.  Of course, then Emma came along and that was the end of it for me and Jason...^_~ Honestly, though..I'm glad I'm nothing like Emma...she's only 6 years old and she's already as bad as all my old friends were in 6th and 7th grade.  Britney Spears and boys.  *rolls eyes*

laura


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