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Gifted Parenting - Parenting a Gifted Child

 
Chronicling my journey as the mother of a gifted child.

Lost in the Woods

November 24th 2008 13:30
A Komodo dragon we saw along the way
A Komodo dragon we saw along the way (Photo by Hope)


This weekend, my family along with some friends, decided to go to the beach to unwind. Nearby, there was a hiking trail that led deep into the woods. One of our companions who used to hike in that area suggested we try it out. So, we set out for what was supposed to be a fun nature walk. But...somewhere along the way, our guide took a wrong turn and we got lost.


I knew something was wrong when we were heading back because everything looked different. There was a point where there was no more trail and all we could see were thick wooded areas. Add to that the fact that we were only wearing our swimsuits and beach sandals. To say that we weren't dressed for such an activity is an understatement, what were we thinking?

Suddenly, the sun beating down on us was no longer an issue. Even the branches scratching our legs, tired muscles and thirst was no longer a concern. All we wanted was to find our way out there.

Then, survival instincts kicked in and we had a brainstorm. I suggested we follow the sound of the waves as it will lead us out of the woods and back to shore. We started walking towards the faint sound of the waves as it hit the rocks and slowly we started to hear other sounds too (i.e. motors running).. Thankfully, we emerged from the woods just a few feet from where we left our other companions.


It took us almost 2 hours to get back to safety.

Yes, it was scary but we've learned something very important that day. Now I understand why there are so many cases of people getting lost on hiking trips. It looks easy when you first start out, but if you're not that familiar with the area, you might end up getting lost.

Oh yes, we will go hiking again someday soon, but this time we will be better prepared (and find a more able guide )
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Keeping Kids Grounded

November 18th 2008 05:56
Keeping kids grounded in today's so called "me" culture can be challenging for parents. Aside from keeping the lines of communication open between you and your children, a worthwhile activity that will help teach kids important values such as humility and generosity is "volunteering." Especially since the holiday season is fast approaching and many families struggle to make ends meet, the need for volunteers is even greater.

My family has a yearly holiday tradition which started when my daughter was only 4 years old - bell ringing. Yes, each year we put on our Salvation Army aprons, stand in front of the largest store in our city and ring bells to attract donations. The money that goes into each "red kettle" is used to fund various projects for the needy by the Salvation Army. Now that my daughter is 8 years old, we still plan on continuing this family tradition because it has helped instill important values into our daughter.

This is but one volunteer opportunity you may want to consider for you and your children. It will not only be a bonding moment for your whole family, but also an opportunity to learn valuable life lessons.

Check out your local paper for similar causes or charities to get involved in and make this holiday season more meaningful.
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Family Game Nights

November 10th 2008 14:00
I'm a huge fan of board games and in our household, playing these games have become a fun way to promote family bonding. I've been wanting to add more board games to our humble collection; these include the ff:

Apples to Apples
Beat the Parents Family Trivia Game
Cranium
Game of Life Twists and Turns
Pictionary
Sorry!
Trivial Pursuit
Yahtzee

Family game nights aren't only fun, it's also a great way to spend time with the whole gang. It fosters sportsmanship, cooperation and creativity; it sharpens thinking, decision-making and strategy skills.

Stores routinely place these board games on sale, so do check out your local stores for bargains and discounts.

Make game nights a part of your family tradition; I assure you this will create lasting memories for your children.
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Do you watch Ghost Hunters?

November 6th 2008 05:19
I don't get to watch TV as much as I used to, but every Wednesday I try to tune into a fascinating show on the SciFi channel called Ghost Hunters. I'm not saying I'm a huge believer in ghosts, neither am I a non-believer. We must admit, there are many things in this world that are hard to explain - things that may be considered paranormal.

Last week for their Halloween presentation, the Ghost Hunters team, more accurately known as TAPS. went back to a place they previously visited - Fort Delaware. On their previous investigation there,, the team caught some very compelling evidence. Last week was an unprecedented live show that lasted from 7pm to 2am. I was one of the people who patiently watched (and fought off sleep) to see TAPS live as they did their investigation.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Happy Halloween!

November 1st 2008 07:26
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Sniffles and Such

October 29th 2008 12:41
I've been AWOL from the blogging world for a few days because my daughter has benn sick. She's feeling much better now and hopefully will be able to go trick or treating on Friday. She's been looking forward to that, in fact, we already got her a costume a month ago. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll be back to her usual energetic self come Friday.

Okay, while I was typing I felt the whole house start shaking......I think we're having an earthquake...Be back later.

[ Click here to read more ]
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True Friends

September 26th 2008 00:31
Quote by Hope/Public Domain Image by Vojko Kalan
Quote by Hope/Public Domain Image by Vojko Kalan
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Public Domain Image of Mozart
Public Domain Image of Mozart


They are all considered geniuses. Here's a partial list of famous geniuses::
[ Click here to read more ]
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Don't you just love cats?

September 15th 2008 05:56
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9-11

September 12th 2008 01:29
It's been 7 years since the tragic incident occurred...a fateful day that shook the whole world. Everyone watched transfixed, helpless, lost for words, mixed emotions raging in our hearts. That day, thousands were lost - fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends.....heroes. As we look back on 9/11, let us say a prayer for all the victims and the grieving families they left behind. And let us make a solemn promise that each day, in our own little way, to help make this world a safer place to live in, for us, for our children and the future generation.

Here's a touching video of Kristi Nelson's song - "Mama Will Hold Me"

[ Click here to read more ]
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This Week's Quote: On Growing Old

September 6th 2008 11:37
Quote by Hope/Public Domain Image by Petr Kratochvil
Quote by Hope/Public Domain Image by Petr Kratochvil
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GATE Programs

September 2nd 2008 23:55
Gifted and Talented Education Programs vary depending on where you live and what curriculum your child's school is implementing. In my daughter's school they use what is called Direct Instruction (DI) Program. DI has its share of supporters and critics; on one hand it can be effective in identifying certain loopholes in learning, especially if the child's first language isn't English. On the other hand, DI can be boring for some students, specifically those who speak English fluently.

In our case, English is our second language and DI really helped my daughter grasp the language easily. However, there are times that she too finds this form of instruction tedious. Luckily, she has been in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program since Kindergarten. GATE provides her with extra intellectual stimulation in the form of special projects, reports, explorations and competitions. In her school they implement a pull-out program wherein gifted students leave their regular classrooms and go to their GATE resource room. These classes are held once a week for 180 minutes under the guidance of a GATE teacher.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Memories of Disney

August 25th 2008 07:12
Going to Disneyland has always been a dream of mine, a dream which started when I was in high school.

I clearly recall one lazy afternoon having a particularly solemn talk with my friends and pondering what we envisioned for our future. We were on our last year in high school; everyone was feeling anxious about leaving our beloved alma mater and going our separate ways. Back then thinking about going to college was pretty terrifying, so instead we focused on the distant future. One of my friends asked, "Where do you think you would be when you turn 35?" Each of us took turns mulling over this question...

[ Click here to read more ]
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Quote of the Week: Children

August 22nd 2008 06:59
Quote by Hope/ Public Domain Image from PDPhoto
Quote by Hope/ Public Domain Image from PDPhoto
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