Gifted Children

Determinations

Well, these web pages have been written by a parent and aim to be helpful to other parents. (If some teachers, counsellors, or other "professionals" find it useful, well and good, but this is not really meant for you.)

So, not surprisingly, my advice will unashamedly be parent-oriented and parent-upholding.

In other words, dear parent, when all is said and done, YOU do the deciding and YOU use all your own gifts, talents, strengths, resources, whatever, to arrive at the clearest picture you can manage. For now. Things might get even clearer tomorrow.

Kindly read the above paragraph through at least another three times. When you're absolutely sure you've got it and will never ever lose it, then you might consider other paths to decision-making that might complement or enhance your own. But if those other paths lead to views or opinions that differ (unconvincingly) from your own, then stick to your own gut feelings, parental instinct, or whatever other mysterious inner authorities you can conjure up.

Go somewhere else to find out more about IQ tests or to obtain gifted identification checklists.

For now, it's time for something different, a bit off the beaten track.

If you're game, it's worth checking out a modern "Jungian" author called James Hillman, especially his book "The Soul's Code" (Random House, 1996). In it, he talks mainly about acorns - his metaphor for the soul's genius or creative daimon. He explores the lives of some famous (and infamous) people and identifies points in their lives where this acorn was particularly active. The title hints that this acorn is the soul-equivalent of DNA, having a large determining influence on what we each become.

As a parent (and willy-nilly as the offspring of my own parents) I was most intrigued by the following passage (p 64):

The acorn theory suggests a primitive solution. It says: Your daimon selected both the egg and the sperm, as it selected their carriers, called "parents". Their union results from your necessity - and not the other way around. ... The couple came together, not for their personal unity, but to beget the unique person, endowed with a specific acorn, who turns out to be you.

All I can say is that the effort is fruitful and the results will differ depending on the acorn. (For example, some acorns will simply turn off and go away.)

At this stage, it's best to move on to the Diary page where I'll relate some of my own experiences in more detail - not actually in a journal or "Dear Diary" form, god forbid, but in a more personal narrative style.