Something is different about this child.
Early on, you knew your child was different. They weren’t like other children in their preschool class.
They learned almost everything so fast, read well before their peers, and asked complex questions about the world around them.
Most answers to their questions were challenged because simple answers were insufficient. They NEED to know, understand, and explore.
They want more from you, their teachers, and the world. Your child is different!
The “Gifted” label makes you proud.
This difference in learning receives the label of “gifted.”
When you read their IQ scores, you cannot help but feel pride. No wonder they feel so bored!
You are excited that they will be allowed to explore concepts deeper, complete their curriculum faster, and receive more challenges at school.
Their ability explains so much! But does it?
Then came another label or two.
Gifted children require more from parents. But your child seems to be “more” everything.
If other kids are happy, your kid is the happiest. If other kids are sad, your kid is the saddest. Feelings are BIG! They seem to have a motor inside them, constantly talking or moving.
Or they struggle with learning certain subjects or crossing their letters, which is confusing because they are so intelligent. Labels for such struggles include ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism spectrum disorder, or sensory processing issues.
So, this is what it means to be twice-exceptional – a gifted learner with a learning or developmental disability.
Now you feel stressed and alone.
The gifted label now feels like a double-edged sword. Expectations increase each year that seem to expose your child’s disability more and more.
Therapies, meetings, 504s, IEPs, and appointments fill your calendar. Worries, fears, and frustrations fill your mind.
You worry about their future and how everyone in their world misunderstands them. You try to “fix” your child to make things easier while taking one step forward, and two steps back.
It’s isolating, lonely, and frankly, you feel exhausted mentally and emotionally. Friends and family don’t understand.
I am here for YOU!
You’ve spent years trying to understand and help your child.
You have sacrificed so much, including part of yourself. That’s what mothers do. It is time to care for yourself, too!
I specialize in helping mothers of children with complex needs. I want to hear your specific parenting journey and honor your motherhood story.
Together, we will look for ways to create more life balance. Sharing your true feelings and fears will unburden your spirit, creating space for finding YOURSELF again.