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The GHF Dialogue

An online journal for the gifted learning community.

Jen Merrill

Jen Merrill is a writer, music educator, and gifted-family advocate. The mom of two boys, she homeschooled one twice-exceptional son through high school while happily sending the other out the door every morning. Her book, If This is a Gift, Can I Send It Back?, struck a nerve with families; her second book, on the needs of gifted parents and selfcare, is in progress. In addition to writing on her longtime blog, Laughing at Chaos, Jen has presented at SENG, NAGC, and WCGTC.

Jen brings both her acquired wisdom and her experience as a teacher and mentor to her work in the service of parents, teaching them techniques and mentoring them into their own versions of success. Her goal is to support parents of gifted and twice-exceptional kids, because they are the ones doing the heavy lifting and are too often ignored, patronized, and discredited. It is her hope that her sons never have to deal with these issues when they raise their own likely gifted children.

The Long Winding Path of Giftedness

February 12, 2020 By Jen Merrill 1 Comment

Suddenly, there was this community out there who knew my battles, who didn't make me feel like a parental failure because of my outlier son, and who understood that it was possible to have a preschooler who demanded scientifically accurate bedtime stories on the same day he got his head stuck in a friend’s banister. Late 1970s. Books, books, and more books. No one got … [Read more...] about The Long Winding Path of Giftedness

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Ten ways you can use psychologically minded language with Dr. Matt

#11 Ten ways: (Bonus!) The power of “that sucks.”

By Matthew J. Zakreski, PsyD

(Bonus!)  The power of “that sucks.”  I’m a big fan of the TV show Parks and Recreation.  In one of the later episodes, Chris Trager (played by the indomitable Rob Lowe) is trying to meet every single possible need of his very pregnant girlfriend Ann Perkins (played by the fabulous Rashida Jones).  He makes smoothies, […]

#10 Ten ways: Avoid “Should”

By Matthew J. Zakreski, PsyD

Avoid “Should.”  Should is a dangerous word in self-esteem, performance, mental health, and relationships.  One of my colleagues says that the word “Should” is really an abbreviation of the words Shame and Could.  So you take the infinite possibility of the word “could” (I could do this, we could do that, etc.) but add shame […]

#9 Ten ways: Use meta-communication.

By Matthew J. Zakreski, PsyD

Use meta-communication.  I love this point because it sounds SO NERDY.  Talking about talking?  The prefix meta?!  ::Groan::  Nerdiness aside, however, I have found that adding these conversational techniques into our daily communication increases understanding, empathy, and success in difficult interactions. Meta-communication is talking about talking.  To me, it is using verbal introductions and explanations […]

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Dear Gifted with Dr. Nicole

Q: I just found out that I am on the spectrum and have an IQ of 153. What does that mean? Who am I?

It means you are AMAZING! Having an IQ of 153 and being on the autism spectrum is what you call twice-exceptional (2e), where one has a dual identification of giftedness and a learning difference.  Being 2e is part of the neurodiverse spectrum where your mind and body are uniquely wired. This unique brain wiring is foundational […]

Q: I heard meditation is good for people with ADHD. But meditation is hard even for someone without ADHD. What tips do you have for a 2e person who wants to try meditation?

Guided meditation centers the mind to tune into the present. Meditation is not about doing or getting somewhere, meditation is the practice of being mindfully aware in the moment you are experiencing.  We live in a world where we have 24/7 access to information, and we are continuously navigating many attentional shifts. Guided meditation provides balance […]

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