I LOVE your honest descriptions of your kids! I used to teach Advanced Placement Language Arts/Literature and most of my students had IQs far superior to JAs; even so, probably only one or two were what I considered true intellectual geniuses( the type who would die before joining MENSA!) TRUE brilliance does not advertise itself; it just is. My oldest son, 24, is in grad school on full academic scholarship, has stacks of academic awards, and has always (diagnostically) tested w/in the "Gifted" range. However, he is shy to the point of being antisocial, indifferent to others' needs and very immature in his relationships with women. He is no JA- he wants to connect with people more and sometimes tries, but really, he's happiest in very small (tiny!) social circles; people and parties exhaust him. He suffers from depression and insomnia but he will still probably manage in life because of his intense focus on higher education. My other son is 14, hates school, artistically gifted and a born leader. He has tons of male and female friends and can "read" people in a split second. At 14, he understands and relates to women better than his big brother. He makes people want to hang around him. His IQ is average to a bit above-average but he has the social skills of a much older person. He loves life while his brother worries and *****es about everything. He, imo, will always be happier than his "brilliant" brother, and possibly more successful as well. Interesting that JA has no clue that many extremely gifted people suffer from a variety of mental health issues and socialization deficits. Not all, but it's there. She thought classifying herself as a genius meant that she was some sort of superman or goddess, wallowing in her own perfection. Because she has absolutely no, none, zero concept of true "genius."
