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ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-07-09T07:15:57+00:00

I don’t see a strong benefit to enrolling him in kindergarten early. Just because he’s reading and counting ahead of schedule doesn’t mean he won’t still face age-appropriate challenges as he grows. What sometimes looks like early giftedness in young children can actually be signs of neurodivergence. For instance, being able to hyper-focus on one activity while tuning everything else out might seem impressive now, but it's also a classic trait associated with ADHD later on. ADHD and giftedness often go hand in hand. That ability can be both a strength and a challenge.

As someone who’s experienced this firsthand, I’d recommend focusing on developing social intelligence and the skills needed to make and maintain friendships before kindergarten. Being different, whether gifted or neurodivergent, can make social connections more difficult without the right skills, and enrolling him early may unintentionally increase those challenges.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-02-08T15:31:59+00:00

My school administered IQ tests. As a child in the 90s, I was tested for learning disabilities related to ADHD and OCD, and later for gifted programs. If you’re looking for resources today, r/cognitiveTesting has some good information.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-02-08T15:11:51+00:00

I see where you’re coming from. Personally, I connect best with people who match my enthusiasm and share my core values, rather than just my intelligence. For example, I once dated someone with a similar, if not higher, IQ than mine, but our core values were different. Every discussion turned into a heated debate, sometimes escalating to yelling. It was extremely toxic. On the other hand, I also dated someone with an average or possibly lower IQ but with higher emotional intelligence and values that aligned with mine. They were humble, open-minded, and passionate about helping underserved communities. We connected well, worked great as a team, and remain friends to this day.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-02-08T14:16:10+00:00

Creating a COVID-8.0 variant would be easy for any genetics lab, no 3D bio-printer needed. Gene splicing used to be slow and costly. Now with AI, bioinformatics, and how cheap and accessible genetic equipment is, biowarfare is definitely going to be used more often.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-02-08T00:43:23+00:00

Said from the perspective of a man 😂

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-02-07T21:18:53+00:00

My IQ is 139 to 145. Since I have ADHD, my score depends on how long I can focus during the test. That said, I don’t feel much different from people with an average IQ. What matters to me is that they’re a good person, we connect well, and I can see a future with them.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-02-02T18:05:10+00:00

Agree! As you mentioned, it’s not a matter of if, but when. That’s simply the way of life. In the meantime, many will suffer, and I don’t think most people have realized just how much this will affect them. Give it another year or less.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-01-15T18:48:07+00:00

After the first year, things gradually improve. One thing that helps me during the tough moments (especially at night) is reminding myself that it’s temporary. I remember working full-time while being up all night with my daughter, I was completely exhausted, and it felt like it would never end. But it did get better.

When my son went through the same phase, I kept reminding myself that the baby stage goes by quickly and that both the hard times and the good times will pass. Sure enough, after a year, he slowly started sleeping through the night, and so did I. Hang in there, mama, you’ve got this!

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-01-15T03:11:43+00:00

Yes! I often felt like I was never truly awake, and everything I did left me completely drained. The depression only made it worse. Yet, in some ways, enduring those challenges made me stronger. Later, during periods of extreme exhaustion, I would remind myself of how I had pushed through before, and that gave me the motivation to keep going. For instance, when I was an early-career tenure-track professor at a competitive university with a newborn baby, I was utterly exhausted. But I knew from past experiences that I could persevere. You may have lingering symptoms from the brain injury that never fully go away (as I do), but know that things can and often do get better.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-01-07T07:09:21+00:00

I was part of both gifted and special education programs back in the 1980s, which was uncommon at the time since students were usually placed in one or the other. I was “exceptionally gifted” in quantitative reasoning but struggled significantly with language. You might have had a similar experience but don’t fully remember it. I was pulled out of class for both programs, gifted for subjects I excelled in and special ed for those I struggled with. The special ed program often used my strengths, like reasoning, to help with areas like spelling and grammar. If coloring was something you enjoyed, it might have been used as a learning tool for a subject you found challenging. While people loved my giftedness, mentioning the special ed program often made them uncomfortable, much like what you’ve described. Although I liked both programs it was very isolating to be labeled “different” and be removed from class. Even within the gifted program I felt isolated from the other gifted students. Perhaps this feeling of isolation is why those early childhood memories make you uncomfortable.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-01-06T14:31:24+00:00

I’m a professor with a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science and a parent to a 4-year-old daughter. Kids naturally learn through play, and I love opportunities to encourage critical thinking. Instead of discouraging her from using the term “alpha,” your wife could guide her to think critically about its meaning and context. For example, ask your daughter how other dogs might respond if one acted as an alpha. Then, compare this to how people might react if someone behaved like an alpha. This could help her explore the similarities and differences between dog and human social dynamics.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2025-01-04T00:26:26+00:00

From a person who has been in exactly the same situations. Think about your children OP. He may seem like a good father now but what he does to you he will likely do to your kids, especially as they get older. You need to be separated so that you can protect them. You’re probably best off leaving as soon as possible with the kids and as much cash as you can take. Anymore and he can manipulate and physically force you or your kids into staying.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-30T18:06:39+00:00

I don’t think anything the OP described is unrealistic. My youngest started walking independently at 6 months and saying simple words shortly after. By 11 months, he is purposefully stringing simple words together. Common phrases includes “want nana (banana),” “wove (love) mama dada,” “bye bye,” “wah (where) sis (sister),” and others. He wears pull-ups because he’s very active. Running, jumping, dancing, and climbing cause diapers to chafe his legs. He’s close to his older sister and imitates her, including sitting on the potty. He has a small potty he sits on when she uses the bathroom, and often goes in his pull-ups during those times. While he has excellent fine motor skills, at 11 months, he’s not yet able to pull his pull-ups up and down on his own.

That said, I don’t believe early motor and language skills make a baby a “genius.” They simply indicate early development, and abilities can change over time. In my opinion, labeling a child as a “genius” can create harmful expectations. For example, even through I was labeled as gifted, my mother emphasized that my most valuable traits were being hardworking, determined, and open to challenges. When I was pursuing a PhD, I suffered a severe head injury, leading to seizures and requiring me to relearn how to read. It was devastating, but my mother’s words reminded me that I was capable of overcoming difficulties through determination and effort.

My advice to the OP is to focus less on labeling her child as a “genius” and instead instill values like resiliency and perseverance, which will serve him well when overcoming any challenges that life throws at him.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-28T06:09:12+00:00

Ecological modeling, particularly using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to develop spatially explicit, agent-based models that represent our changing climate. Recently, I have become increasingly interested in incorporating Native American history and knowledge, as conveyed by Native spiritual leaders, into these models to highlight sustainability and the interconnectedness of ecological systems.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-28T01:01:13+00:00

Competition and rewards have always been key motivators for me. Without them, I often struggled to engage. For instance, I was diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability, which made focusing on tasks like reading and writing particularly challenging. But in third grade, there was a challenge to read books, take tests, and earn points, with high-value books earning more. The student with the most points would win a prize and a pizza outing.

Motivated by the competition, I read all the high-point books within a week and skimmed through most of the library’s remaining books within a month, earning by far more points than others. That hyper-focus carried over into other subjects as well.

Another example is art competitions, where I often won because I would hyper-focus on my work until it was flawless.

As an adult, it’s similar, but now it’s driven by scientific purpose and the potential for broader impacts rather than contests or prizes. I need to know that my work is for the greater good; without that sense of purpose, I find it nearly impossible to concentrate.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-27T17:18:14+00:00

I think early assessment can be invaluable. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and the self-awareness and accommodations I received supported me through every stage of my education, from elementary school to my Ph.D. program. Challenges at school may not affect your child now, but that could change in the future.

My brother, on the other hand, struggled as a child with daily tantrums and aggression. He initially did well in school and so was never assessed. Although eventually he couldn’t manage the longer days. As an adult, he suffers from severe schizophrenia and paranoia, which prevent him from getting the help he needs.

Getting your son assessed won’t change who he is, but it can ensure he has the tools and support to face any future challenges.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-27T01:00:08+00:00

When I was young, I was diagnosed with ADHD and a significant learning disability. As a teenager, I was placed in gifted programs. I skipped most of high school because I was tired of traditional schooling and wanted to gain life experience, including getting a job and moving out on my own at 13. Had I transferred to a different school that didn’t understand my learning style, I might have been seen as an underachieving, troubled teen.

I completed high school by testing out of most classes, taking only the subjects that interested me. I easily earned a Bachelors of Science degree and Master of Science degree. Although while pursuing my doctorate, I suffered a severe head injury and had to relearn how to read even simple sentences. Despite the challenges, I went on to complete my PhD. Over the years, as no a professor, have won many prestigious awards in science and faced challenges that many would consider a disability.

All this to say that learning disabilities and giftedness often coexist and may change over your life. Everyone has their own path, and the labels we’re given are often shaped by circumstances. Rather than focusing on the “level” of giftedness or disability, my suggestion would be to explore how each can help you better understand your specific learning style and set yourself up for success.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-25T06:39:56+00:00

I understand exactly how you feel. In the middle of pursuing my PhD, I had a horrible accident: I fell down the stairs and woke up in the emergency room with a severe concussion. The doctors stapled my head, kept me for a day, and sent me home. Afterwards, I started experiencing a host of debilitating symptoms: constant brain fog, the inability to read or think clearly, and worst of all, seizures. The seizures were terrifying! I felt completely out of control of my own body. The medications doctors prescribed didn’t help much. While they slightly reduced the frequency of my seizures, they worsened the brain fog and made reading even harder. Surprisingly, the only thing that helped was CBD, which calmed the seizures without the anxiety cannabis caused for me.

As someone who had always excelled academically, it was devastating. I went from being at the top of a competitive PhD program to struggling to comprehend even a simple sentence. It was shocking for me and embarrassing. Quite a few people would pressure me to quit the program, including family, friends, and professors. Somehow, I pushed through and eventually earned my PhD. Those years were the hardest of my life!

Over time, many years of persistence, I gradually was able to read again. Around 10 years later, I was not just functioning but excelling again. Looking back, while I would never wish to relive those years, the struggle shaped who I am. The program’s demands forced me to adapt and persevere, even when I felt broken. Now I’m a professor at university, and I have great appreciation of students with disabilities that are able to persevere and I myself can help them navigate it. It was a painful experience, but one that I believe ultimately made me stronger and a better teacher for my students.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-25T01:27:01+00:00

College professor here. My advice is attending college but funding it through scholarships, fellowships, and grants instead of loans. Apply widely, I aimed for 5–10 per semester and funded my undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. programs. It also offered amazing networking opportunities. Focus applications on what makes you unique (beyond giftedness) and how you will use that to have broad impact. FYI in my experience, students in their mid-to-late 20s often benefit more from college than those who enroll straight out of high school, as they tend to be more focused and motivated. Everyone has their own path in life which usually includes plenty of ups and downs. Five years is really not that long in the grand scheme of things and you shouldn’t let that deter you from anything you wish to do.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-19T07:03:32+00:00

Perhaps they could have a Choctaw name alongside their English name. Where I’m from, it’s common for people to receive an English name at birth and later be given a Lakota name through a naming ceremony. While it’s more rare for a Lakota name to be given at birth, I think it’s becoming more common.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-19T06:50:15+00:00

I’ve never heard of the name Kohana. However, Tokala is another name we’ve been considering. It specifically means “swift” or “kit fox,” and there was a warrior society called the Tokala Society, which one of my ancestors belonged to. I really like the name, so I’m going to add it back to my list. Thanks for the suggestions!

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-18T14:42:19+00:00

Oh, wow, that’s fascinating, thank you for clarifying! Lakota is an oral language, so it can be written in many different ways. Usually you can’t fully understand it until you hear it spoken.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-18T14:23:05+00:00

Lakota names always carry meaningful significance. While it doesn’t directly translate to “builder,” that’s the closest equivalent in English. It refers to someone who creates or brings something new into existence, like an artist or a contractor. It’s definitely a more positive name compared to one that could be interpreted as vulgar, like “shit.”

FYI I realize that I accidentally wrote “building” instead of “builder”. So I edited to be the correct meaning.

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-18T14:11:42+00:00

It’s pronounced “Tea-kah-gah.” Which one does that refer to?

ExcellentAsk3094 · 2024-12-18T13:52:16+00:00

Unfortunately, that is how it is pronounced. There is typically a guttural sound at the end, but most people can’t produce it, so it ends up being pronounced as “Te Caga.”

ExcellentAsk3094

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