Weird

The other day a friend referred to gifted kids as "weird." She didn't know what we've been going through in recent weeks. But it got me thinking, is Ethan weird? He's the only five year old I hang out with on a regular basis so I don't have much to compare to. But the books I've been reading do say that gifted kids are often teased because the things they enjoy are different from other kids their age. I heard Ethan yesterday tell a friend "you know it's a challenge to use the bathroom when you are in the space shuttle because of gravity." One book pointed out that the very definition of a peer is different for gifted kids because they have peers who are there own age who they really want to fit in with and play with but aren't understood by them and there are peers who are like them and think the same way. I guess that's why a lot of schools group gifted kids together in a class to themselves, though this encourages the "weirdness" reputation. Though I've read gifted kids quoted as saying that they really love being around kids who are just like them because those kids understand their fascination with learning. I've read gifted kids described as "old souls" because of their concerns with problems in the world, death and afterlife, etc. I'm thinking that Ethan will definitely be considered different--the only cartoon he likes is "Magic School Bus" and his favorite channel is the science channel. He has educated us as to the name of the largest plane in the world--The Antenov. He adds and subtracts in his head, while I have to use my fingers. Most kids his age are collecting Bakugans. He got some for his birthday but could care less about them. So when he gets teased by other kids, I will have to point out to him that Jesus did not call us to be just like everyone else and we have to remain faithful to do what he has called us to do. And try to point out that not everyone enjoys the same things or is skilled in the same things. Monet probably didn't excel in basketball and the best photographers may not love calculus. I mean look at mommy she has her Master's but still counts using her fingers!