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Parenting a gifted or twice-exceptional (2e) child can feel like a lonely venture.

Parents of gifted children often feel like they cannot discuss their child’s giftedness due to the many misperceptions associated with the “gifted” label. The word “gifted” conjures images of beautifully wrapped presents with neatly tied bows. These images are a stark contrast to the reality of giftedness: asynchrony.

Gifted children are not better than their peers, they are different from their peers. Just as other populations that differ significantly from the norm need support, so too do gifted and twice-exceptional learners.

Table of Contents

Gifted Voices: A Series of Personal Stories

Welcome to Gifted Voices: A Series of Personal Stories, a new series for parents of gifted and twice-exceptional children. Please check back often as I will be adding to this series throughout the year. It is my hope that these stories will help you navigate the gifted journey.

Gifted Voices: A Series of Personal Stories written by parents and educators of gifted and twice-exceptional children

Parenting a gifted or twice-exceptional child can feel like a lonely venture, but it is important for you to know that you are not alone. I hope that these articles will help you on this path.

Big-Hearted and Brilliant: Service Ideas That Flex Empathy Muscles and Expand Young Minds | Sarah Aaland, Doing Good Together

As parents, we work hard to raise children who care for others. One way to build empathy is through family service projects. Today, I am thrilled to welcome back Sarah Aaland, Director of Doing Good Together’s Big-Hearted Families™ Program. Sarah has shared family service ideas on My Little Poppies before, and in this article, she is back with more service ideas and an important message: academic success and kindness are not mutually exclusive (despite those hurtful anti-gifted memes circulating the internet!).

Four Life Lessons to Help Your Big-Hearted Idealist Avoid Burnout | Sarah Aaland, Doing Good Together

When I heard that Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page was host a blog hop about child activists, I immediately thought of Sarah Aaland, Director of Doing Good Together’s Big-Hearted Families™ Program. Sarah has shared family service ideas on My Little Poppies before, and today she is back to talk about how to support the big-hearted idealists in our lives, and how to protect them from burnout.

The Super Ball in a Room Full of Rubber Balls | Julie Schneider, Preschool Engineering

Gifted children have different social-emotional needs than their age-mates “more”-ness may impact social relationships. Gifted children may have difficulty relating to their peers. It is important for parents to understand that, while difficult to watch, this is not uncommon. Social support and scaffolding from parents and educators, especially in the early years, can be beneficial. Coping skills are among the greatest of life skills so it is important to help your child navigate and work through frustration. Above all, be on the lookout for intellectual peers and mentors- it is through these relationships that our children will build connections and discover that they are not alone.

The 5 Best Homeschooling Decisions We’ve Made | Lucinda Leo, Laugh, Love, Learn

I am thrilled to welcome Lucinda Leo. I first “met” Lucinda through the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum blogger community. I am a huge fan of her work and I honest-to-goodness wish she didn’t live all the way across the pond because I know we’d have a lot to chat about over a cup of coffee… and I have a sneaking suspicion that our children would hit it off too! Lucinda and I are both unexpected homeschoolers and we are both parenting gifted and twice-exceptional children. We share similar styles and I just know you are going to love what she has to say here today!

When Your Child Is Academically Beyond You | Shawna Wingert, Not the Former Things

Shawna is an amazing homeschool mama to two outside-of-the-box learners. I connected with Shawna early on in our homeschool journey and I am so thankful I did! I love her honesty, her openness, and her love for her boys. I am over-the-moon excited to have her on the site today… especially because she’s talking about something that so many parents of gifted and twice-exceptional children worry about, particularly those who homeschool: What do you do when your child surpasses you academically? (Shawna has great advice for you!)

Wondering if your child is gifted/2e?

Are you just starting out on the gifted/twice-exceptional journey?

Check out these resources:

Gifted parents need support, too.

Parents of gifted and twice-exceptional learners need support, too. That is why Colleen Kessler and I have collaborated to create Raising Poppies, an online community for parents of gifted and twice-exceptional children. The Raising Poppies community is a special one. You can join by clicking the image below.