Well, there are so many reasons.  But they are just interesting kids.  It is hard to tell this when they are young.  Bryson is to young to be interesting.  He is FUNNY and cute and I hope he is interesting when he gets bigger.

Anyway last night we had a babysitter.  When I was driving her home she said how interesting and fun my boys are to talk to.  I dropped her off and tucked the big boys in bed.

Carson and I had this conversation. 

C:  I feel like I am already 9.

M:  Sometimes it feels like that to me too.  What do you want to do for your birthday?

C:  I don’t know.  Something fun with the family.

M:  They have this thing where you can get into DisneyLand Free on your Birthday.  Maybe we should all go there.

C:  (quiet for awhile)  No, that doesn’t sound real fun.

M:  Maybe we could go to that Leonardo DaVinci exhibit down in San Diego. 

C:  Hmm, that might be good!

Then Devon

D:  Tonight we watched this documentary about Grizzly Bears and Polar Bears and how they actually have mated at least once.  They found this bear who had the genes of both.  lkjlkjafoiuwer lsja dgopiuaeroijaw rlksmgdoiuj aseroknasd foiahelknsad f

M:  Mmmmm, uh huh, interesting.

D: lkjsfdlkjawoierj plmdf posjaf oaisjf lmafdlkajro ijaser

M:  Ok, good night sweetie! 

I love that they both love to learn things:)  What great kids!

T1 is 2 years 9 months older than T2. 

T1 is highly intelligent, yet has learning challenges.  He has mild hemiplegia (left side weaker than the right and low muscle tone throughout his body)  I haven’t had him officially tested, but am quite sure he is gifted with learning disabilities. 

This is a big problem in our house, because often T2 does things easier and better than T1.    For instance T1 still struggles with spelling even basic words.  So often T2 will spell things for him.  (This is the only thing in which T1 will graciously take help) 

Basic math facts – T1 struggles with this, memorizing his times tables seems impossible.  But he understands higher level math easily.    That T2 is starting to learn his times tables easily causes much contention.

Really in ANY area, T1 hates for T2 to be better than him.  Even in games of chance.  We went to the county fair and played a game and T2 won.  T1 announced, “Now my day is ruined.” 

So T1 hates to play games with the family in case T2 wins.   The both are in piano and T1 gets mad when T2 learns a song better than him.  The list goes on and on and on.  We struggle with this, T1 wants to like T2, but he ” hates him”  he needs to be “better than him” because he is ” older”  (T1’s words) but in many areas T2 is better than him and may always be (sports wise) 

So as I contemplate homeschooling and having them both at home, I see a potential problem arising.  I am planning on doing Science and History things together with the boys.  What if T2 is “better” than T1?  Part of the problem being, I don’t know what will set T1 off, what will make him feel T2 is better.  So I can’t necessarily prevent it. 

Has anyone had a situation like this?  Any advice?

For a few years now some friends have been asking me if I have had T1 tested for the GATE program (gifted and talented)  I chose not to do this, as in our school if you are in GATE it just means extra work, which would not be good for T1. 

Today I went online and did some research on gifted kids.  Boy, this is helpful for me.  Indeed I suspect T1 is gifted.  He reads a book a day, he loves to research things, he created his first website when he was 6.  He remembers EVERYTHING. 

But I think he is Gifted/LD.  He has dysgraphia, didn’t learn to read until he was 8.  He struggles with memorizing his math facts and he can not spell or write legibly.    So his “output” does not look gifted.  So far his teachers have been very accomadating with this, but I know one wrong teacher could snuff out his love of learning. 

So, I never had a need to know if he was gifted.  I know he is very bright and has special talents and unique challenges.  But today, reading about behavior issues I thought, THIS is helpful.  THIS might explain some of what is going on with him.  My friend with a child in GATE, kept telling me about these parent meetings that really helped her understand her son.  AHHH, that is what I needed. 

I have put a bunch of books on hold, so I can better understand my sweet Thing!