mcmama's comments

The Autistic Savant: When a Disabled Child has Extraordinary Gifts - Blog Entry

18 Feb 2006 04:49 PM

Very informative article. I followed the link to the artist - really striking pictures.

Recognizing and encouraging the gifts of each of our children is so important - they are the sum of all their abilities, disabilities, preferences, beliefs - and need to be educated as a whole person! Thanks for this

Punished for Parenting: It Can Happen to Dads, too - Blog Entry

18 Feb 2006 04:42 AM

Too true about the timing aspect of academia. I have noticed that dads who have tenure at the time they become dads can sometimes arrange their schedules and professional demands to accomodate parenting - but even then there are departmental pressures, and parenting is viewed as less than important in academic culture.

Single's Awareness Day - Blog Entry

15 Feb 2006 03:31 PM

I am part of an online list of divorced people - some had taken up the idea of singles awareness day. It really needs to be a time to be good to yourself and tell all the people you love that you love them. For so many people going through a divorce or a recent breakup, this can be a very tough day.

Last night, we brought roses to the piano teacher, who is widowed. My son was her last lesson, and I think we ended her day in a happy surprise!

What will Happen in your Child's Psychological Assessment - Blog Entry

15 Feb 2006 03:27 PM

Kristyn, thank you for this. It's a difficult process for parents to go through, and you help make it a bit more clear! Janet

No College Student Left Behind - Blog Entry

14 Feb 2006 04:23 AM

Thanks, anything we can do to encourage math and science is certainly welcome.

Anna, I have asked those questions and many others of my local public schools - I could keep asking, but I have children to educate, so they are at private school, at great sacrifice. My local school system has plenty of money to spend on lawyers. But the high school library depends on private donations.

If my children were going to attend a quality blue ribbon public high school in my area, I would have to rent or buy a house in a wealthy neighborhood I cannot afford or qualify for. At least there is some help for tuition!

If the federal government is going to make these grants available across the board, they will need to be a bit more specific about the criteria for evaluating private education/homeschooling/charter schools. In public schools where the quality is uneven across the district, they will need to determine what to do with the bright student who does not have access to a "rigorous" program.

Even in states that have a state scholars program, not all the schools offer curriculum that would be considered rigorous. What this might do is raise the standard for all - just one more deconstruction of excuses for not giving students all opportunities to be successful.

It's going to be interesting to see how this works out!

How Not To Give a Cat A Bath - Blog Entry

09 Feb 2006 07:38 PM

I bathed one of my cats once for fleas - since that experience, I do not encourage my cats to go outdoors. He was a pretty mellow cat, but it was an ordeal.

I can't imagine bathing the tiger I have now.

Our Children in Danger From Child Molesters - Blog Entry

09 Feb 2006 07:34 PM

Thanks for this - awareness is so important. That "apple of my eye" trick is a common one, and I think that the predators even use it to delude themselves.

She's only 5 and Feeling the Stress! - Blog Entry

29 Jan 2006 06:32 PM

It sounds to me like the teacher has a good grasp of what is going on with her. Many gifted children have the issue of being way ahead in one area, and still a little kid in another.

I wouldn't give her a day off - but I would give it one day at a time.

Sounds like you are facing perfectionism - a common issue with gifted kids - and that your daughter sets high expectations for herself. As parents of gifted kids, we always work with reality!