we will figure it out.....

I have been doing a lot of reminiscing lately about this silly boy -

He has grown up so much in the last 10 months. I remember when he came to visit me at the hospital before Cannon was born and he was still my baby. Now when I look at him, all signs of babyhood are gone and I see a little man. Everyday he surprises me and makes me laugh out loud. Most days, I simply cannot believe that he is only four years old by the things he says and does.


We knew that it was pretty incredible that Charlie was reading at 3 years old. We also noticed other characteristics in him such as an incredible memory and vocabulary, that his interests are intensely focused, he prefers to hang out with adults rather, he is extremely sensitive and he is a perfectionist....all characteristics of giftedness. Many people over the last 6 months have suggested that we get him tested. I was hesitant for two reasons really. The first was that is pretty expensive and I just wasn't sure. The second was that I didn't really want a label placed on him. He has had many labels hanging over his head since he was born and I didn't want to add another. I was also in denial. I kept thinking that one day he was just going to snap out of it and would act like a "normal" kid. Finally, after realizing that he was going to be incredibly bored in school if we didn't do something now, we decided to get him tested. His results did show that he is in the gifted range and he is reading at the 3rd-4th grade level.

I am glad that I waited a little bit before I wrote down all my thoughts on this because I have to admit that I was very emotional the first few days after we got the results. I think it had finally set in that Charlie is different. The psychologist that completed the test told us that many parents go through a grieving process after they learn about their child's giftedness. I completely understood. All I could think about was how Charlie was not going to have a normal school experience and that he was going to be different than most other kids. I know that it doesn't necessarily have to be that way forever, but it is that way now. His interests are so different than other 4 year olds that he knows. He wants to play with the other kids his age but they never really seem to click. The doctor also told us that most people will not understand and they will think that giftedess just means that your kid is smart. She said we will probably feel a lot of judgment from other parents about the way that we raise Charlie. I am sad to say it, but of the few people that I have talked to about it, most have not really understood. They just act like "So what? So your kid is smart, what is the big deal?"

I don't want it to come off like I think this is a negative thing. This is who Charlie is. He is sweet and sensitive. He is so much fun to be around. He makes me laugh, cry, worry and freak out. He drives me crazy sometimes. He is passionate and loving. And yes, he is smart. I wouldn't change a thing about him. What I do need to change is the way that I think about this situation. Who cares if he doesn't have a "normal" childhood? As long as he always feels loved and accepted for who he is. That is what is important. I know I can do that. As far as eveything else? We will figure it out.