About this blog.

My son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at 24 months. I created this blog to bring meaning to the often-confusing label. Sometimes I have answers. Other times, just more questions.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Quick Hit

Been away from blog for a week and will probably be away from blog for a little longer - pardon the absence. I hope all is well with my bloggy friends. I will be catching up next week.

I leave you with a quick hit: The Junior Meritocracy. It isn't PDD-related, but does relate to childhood development. And absurd parenting. Enjoy.

[Via Gawker: Dear Helicopter Parents, Your Gifted Child May Actually Be Dumb]

18 comments:

Brenda Rothman (Mama Be Good) said...

Hope you are doing well, Laura! Know what you mean about having too many other things to do.

Kris said...

If not so sad, it would be hilarious. Once again showing how kids are "supposed" to be a certain way and perform to a certain standard, even when many of them are simply not ready.

These kids will be neurotic, self-absorbed messes by the time they are 12 (much like their parents). We've got some around here - not with the private school thing but with the endless quest to be the best at everything - to the delight of private coaches, trainers, tutors, etc who charge exhorbitant amounts to turn average kids into "superstars". The Ivy League and athletic scholarships are the prize coveted but what everyone seems to forget is that very few actually achieve this prize and IT IS OK!!!!!!!!

My 9 year old is about the most average kid you will ever meet as far as school goes. He does well, but not great and doesn't particularly like or care about school. He loves sports and does very well with them but the minute things get too competitive, we ratchet him back b/c he gets upset and then it is NOT FUN ANYMORE!! And who needs a stressed out, burnt-out 9 year old?? He is a graeat kid, has lots of friends, is a natural leader and I have no doubt will do just fine in this world despite the fact that I am quite sure he will not attend an Ivy League school. My oldest is very smart, but has ADHD. This holds him back a bit academcally, but does not change (and may even be the reason for) his very creative mind, his boundless energy, fun-loving nature, and his ability to see all sides of situations. This is something these tests don't "get at" - things like creativity, out of the box thinking, leadership skills, social skills, etc - all very important to success.

I will take my energetic, fun-loving, HAPPY kids over a neurotic kid with a 150 IQ any day!! (Of course I am biased!!)
Thanks for the reality check!

Vi said...

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Anonymous said...

hi laura, i've been thinking of you.

interesting read! -- a rather timely article for me especially since i'm trying not to get too discouraged over Rhema's recent assessment scores!

Nyx said...

this reminds me of a study I read in college in which they lied to the new teachers of children who transferred schools about what sort of grades the kids made at their old school. guess what? most of the kids made exactly the same grades that their new teachers THOUGHT they made at their old schools. If you take a bunch of kids and tell them their gifted and treat them like their gifted, most of them will probably do well. How well would everyone else do even if they WEREN'T gifted? Apparently, pretty well, since 75% of these kids will no longer actually be gifted by the time they are 17, if I read this correctly. why aren't we giving EVERY child a quality education? Another irrelevant "fact": my husband, a private piano teacher, sees kids of all sorts, private school, public school, home schooled ... he says increasingly he sees that the happiest, most confident, best learning students are the home schooled kids. they have no stress. they are the only ones who seem to be how you think kids ought to be, he says. I'm thinking about that. A lot.

Unknown said...

I have been reading your autism blog… nice work.

I saw this great youtube clip from the autism treatement center of America spoofing the mac vs pc ads. They are doing aba vs the son rise program. I have a friend who is using the son rise program with his 6 yr old son and is having awesome results. I thought the clip was funny and thought I would share it with you.
I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRZqOro8dmo
If you get a chance check out the atca webpage at
www.autismtreatmentcenter.org

Smiles,

KaptainKritter

Unknown said...

Hey Kaptainkritter.. have you seen the newest one yet? This is the 3rd in the series... I love this one even better than the first 2. check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy6T7FXmnJI

I love the completely holistic approach of the son rise program and also the gfcf diet can make a huge difference.

father of four said...

Hi Laura. How are you? Looking forward to your next post.

Þorgerður said...

Scary stuff. But is this not very local or should I say loco New york.

tracey (aka rainbowmummy) said...

Miss you, love you, thinking of you xx

Unknown said...

I usually lurk on your blog and I keep checking in because I miss your posts. I relate well to your perspective on things and your son Brad reminds me a lot of my little guy (who's almost 2.5 yrs old). Hope all is well, and I'll keep checking in to see how things are going.

tracey (aka rainbowmummy) said...

come back. please. worried. x

Kris said...

Hope all is well Laura, I miss you!
Kris

Nyx said...

A person can only do so much! Even if you never come back, thanks for creating this website. That first year was rough, and your website really made the difference. Finally reading Look Me In the Eye. It's ... er, eye-opening.

A little boy just 3 years old said...

Missing you

Chabott said...

I hope all is well . . . I keep checking in to see if your back. Hope to read more soon.

tracey (aka rainbowmummy) said...

Stop with the freaking spam already. You find porn by googling "porn" not by hoping there are links to it on a blog about CHILDREN. Go away. Laura, come baaaaaaack!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Miss you...miss you and Brad. Really, really hope everything is OK.