Well, I would argue that no one knows if they're GIGA status until later in life. Everyone in GIGA started out as a kid with a ravenous hunger to learn and achieve that was fed well throughout their lives. I'm sure every one of them had a family that was extremely supportive of their emotional and academic needs. Not every PG++ child presents the same. Einstein for instance.

I do think there are kids HG+ that fall through the cracks that present as severe emotional problems, underachievers, etc. I think my brother and I were both unidentified HG+ kids that languished through elementary school for certain. I did ok in the end, but could have done better. My brother still struggles with anything that requires more than minimal effort. Lucky for him, he's a person with very strong social skills that get him by and he chose to kill off many of his brain cells in college. We went to a private school that touted itself on being academically challenging.

Your use of MN as an example is interesting. I think it is reasonable to assume that someone who lives on the coast, is making more money due to higher cost of living or greater "hunger", is more likely to send donations to Harvard. It's been featured on the news here and I cannot find a link, but it doesn't really pay for people to pay for Ivy League schools and return here. There is not a significant difference between the salaries of a U of MN grad and a Ivy League grad.

It is good to feed your child's hunger and present them with many opportunties in life. But at the end of the day, it really is all about them and what they want to do and where their interests and motivations lie. We know a couple in our neighborhood - both professors with PhD's and quite brilliant. They have 1 daughter who moved to Alaska and became an electrician. So - you just don't know until you get there! I have no idea what her childhood was like, but I'm sure it's an interesting story. I heard at woman speak at the NAGC conference and her child that read spontaneously at 2, dropped out of high school for a time and debates going to college at all.

Interesting post, kimck.

I definitely think there's more to life than feeling your own brilliance and chasing a high-powered career, if that's not where your heart lies.

It wouldn't be hard to look at my life and say that I'm underachieving, since I'm a SAHM and not out conquering the world as people thought I would when I was young. But I'd be miserable in that sort of life, and I'm happy as a lark in this life. If I get my novel published, I'll pretty much have everything I have ever wanted in life, though this isn't the life I envisioned for myself way-back-when.

<shrug>

I think it all comes back to what we value. If you think your child is "wasting" his/her talents unless he/she is in some high-pressure environment or top of the heap in a highly competitive field, then you may wind up disappointed and with a very rebellious, unhappy child who hates you for never understanding who s/he is.

I have my guesses about what my kids will become when they grow up, but that's just for fun, to see how close DH and I get to what they really wind up doing. My ultimate goal for both my kids is the same as it has been since before they were born: I hope that they grow up to be happy, healthy, well-adjusted, productive members of society, in whatever form that takes for them.

An electrician in Alaska? Sure! Great spot for us to take our retirement trips! A high-powered executive with his finger on the pulse? Yup, if he is able to do that and still find joy and balance in his life. A poet in a cabin in the wilderness? Sure, if that works for him.

I can't imagine anything productive that my kids could become that would disappoint me. I completely agree, kimck, that "at the end of the day, it really is all about them and what they want to do and where their interests and motivations lie."

In the end, it's not my life; it's my child's. They're all different. And thank goodness for that!

First, I used MN just because in DH group there was someone from MN, and there is background story to that which I don't need to address here.

The part some of you might of missed is "options" I want to give DD options. I don't think Alaska is preferred since I think she hates bugs as much as me. I am a natural magnet for mosquitos.

But if it, it is not that exclusive. If she wants to be a coporate lawyer, it is harder.

To give her all the options that is what I wrote. Not that she had to take any of them. My mother brought me up to be a doctor or a dentist, because she saw those that allowed a woman to be in charge. She stressed that I be in a position of decision making. That was a strong lesson. Nothing wrong to not be in a position that isn't decision making, but that wouldn't work for me.

I want to make sure my daughter has options. Am I clear this time?

Ren

It's a good thing I didn't finish typing my original (now deleted) post. I agree w/ everything Kriston wrote, and couldn't have said it better.

My former coworkers think I'm nuts for going to law school only to do public interest work. The debt:income ratio appears irrational to them. Good thing it's my life. Money definitely isn't everything. I want peace and happiness.

Makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

Options are great, and I'd add to that challenge. My primary goal at the moment is that my kids learn to work and not coast. This skill will help take them as far as they want to go!!!

I used my skills to get a good paying job, sock money away in a house, so that I can now stay home with my kids. Well, they're getting older and I'm getting my feet wet in the work force again, but that was my goal when they were little. It was nice to have that option!!! But I don't know that I had that challenge part as a child, and I know this hurt me in the long run.

I also echo Kriston and Ann's goals of peace and happiness for my children. DD13 asked me recently where she was going to college, and she was very surprised when I told her that was for HER to decide!

Kriston-

You brought a tear to my eye. Lovely thoughts!

My goals for my pg seven year old are much shorter term. I want her to be challenged, to enjoy learning, to learn to respect herself and others.

Wren, if you raise your daughter to be a happy, healthy adult, then you don't need to worry about giving her choices. She will be able to create her own. You need to be careful not to over invest in her future. It is her path to take. She is quite young and I doubt that anyone can predict if she will become a member of the GIGA society as an adult. Would it even matter?

Life is not all about power and money. Not long ago I heard a story in the radio.

"A high powered business man visited a small island in Mexico. While there, he purchased several fish form a local fisherman. The business man was very impressed with the quality of the fish and asked the fisherman how many hours he spent fishing. The fisherman answered that he fished a few hours during the day. The business man asked him what he did the rest of the day. "I get up and have breakfast with my family, then go fishing for a couple of hours. I come back and have lunch with my wife and then take a siesta. I go back and fish for a comple more hours and then come back and go to the plaza to have a few drinks with my buddies""

The business man told the fisherman that he had a Harvard Business degree and he could make him a rich man. First, he said, you need to increase the amount of time you fish. With the added income you can buy more boats and hire other people. I can help you export your product. I then can take the company public and in your old age you will be a very wealthy man.

"Then what would I do?", asked the fisherman.

"You can retire in a small island, have breakfast with your wife and kids and take your siesta in the afternoons. You will have the time to spend with your friends in the afternoons..."

The business man was suddently silent.

Love that, bianca!

And challenge and short-term goals, especially with these kids, are VITAL! Thanks for adding that, Dottie and Bianca!

That's pretty good Bianca....and will stick with me for a while. Thanks for sharing!