Going Deeper: A Toolkit for Parents Supporting the Gifted/2e

Live Online with Dr. Mike Postma

Includes 7 weekly sessions of small group coaching as well as 24/7 access to a private online community

In our first series, we examined what happens once a child is diagnosed as gifted or multi-exceptional (2e). In this series, we will take a deeper look at some of the challenges related to being and rearing a gifted or multi-exceptional individual beginning with a close look at being gifted as an adult while tackling the intensities of life and family.

Dates and Time:

There are 2 group options per week, each 90 minutes long, and you're welcome to join one or both sessions:

Group 1: Tuesdays at 10am PT (1pm ET)
Group 2: Thursdays at 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET)

Dates:
7 weekly sessions beginning May 13th and 15th:
Session 1: 5/13 & 5/15
Session 2: 5/20 & 5/22
Session 3: 5/27 & 5/29
Session 4: 6/3 & 6/5
Session 5: 6/10 & 6/12
Session 6: 6/17 & 6/19
Session 7: 6/24 & 6/26

Format and Recordings:

The group is limited to 10 participants/couples. Small group coaching sessions are held on Zoom. The first part of each session will be a lesson, which will be recorded. The second portion will be for group discussion and Q&A, and will not be recorded. All who register will have access to recordings.

Weekly Topics:

Session 1: Being a Gifted Adult:

The gene pool doesn’t lie. Most adults raising gifted children are gifted themselves (or have a gifted/2e spouse) even if they have never been diagnosed. This reality may raise many questions. Why didn’t I know? How do I deal with it? How can I handle my own intensities let alone my child’s? What about my partner?

Topics covered include:
a. How do I know I am a gifted adult?
b. What do I do if my partner is g/2e?
c. How does this impact our family dynamics?
d. What about work?

Session 2: Building Self-Confidence in Myself and My Kids:

Topics covered include:
a. The importance of metacognition in both gifted children and adults
b. How do I know my children feels good about themselves?
c. What can I do if they are stuck? How do I overcome failure?
d. How do I help them to find motivation? Purpose? Productivity
e. How to build and maintain lasting friendships

Session 3: Anxiety in Triplicate:

Understanding the deeper roots and effects of anxiety including perfectionism, underachievement, and PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance): Anxiety is very common in the present world. In this section we will dig deeper into the root causes, effects, and solutions.

Topics covered include:
a. Where are we now? A discussion on current levels of anxiety and its impact on our lives
b. What does perfectionism look like? What are its effects and what to do when it runs in the family. Is underachievement related to perfectionism? In what way(s)?
c. What is PDA? Why is it different that Oppositional Defiance? What can we do about it?
d. How do I live with anxiety as a child/adult?

Session 4: The School Question: Going Deeper into Advocacy:

In part one we covered many questions regarding school. In this section we will go a little deeper in understanding specific issues related to school.

Topics covered include:
a. What is a 504 Plan? What is a IEP? Taking a closer look at how to use them as tools of advocacy for your students from K-College
b. How do I know my student is being successful in school K-College?
c. A deep look at tracking progress?
d. When do I need to look at other options?

Session 5: The ADD/ADHD Handbook:

What we know now about ADD/ADHD.

Topics will include:
a. What does ADD look like in Multi-Exceptional Individuals? Why is it
so common within the highly gifted population?
b. What are the effects? Challenges and Strengths?
c. How do I manage it in myself? My kids?
d. What does it look like at work?
e. The question of medication

Session 6: The End of the School Year:

Every spring parents scramble to prepare for an extended break from school. This can be a stressful time for parents. As such, we will cover some relevant issues related to this topic.

Topics covered will include:
a. What am I supposed to do with the Kids while we are working (or at home)?
b. What activities are out there for them to do?
c. What about camps? Planning and handling vacation time?
d. What about screens: How do I manage screen time? Obsessive behaviors? Setting limits?
e. How do I beat the ‘summer slump’ of learning?

Session 7: Inertia, Motivation, and Purpose (and final thoughts/questions):

Topics covered include:
a. How do I know my child is on the right path?
b. What can I do if they are stuck?
c. How do I help them to find motivation? Purpose?
d. Final questions/discussion

Zoom links:

We will send you a Zoom link via email before the session begins. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions! Thank you, we look forward to meeting with you soon!

Meet Dr. Mike Postma:

Hello! I'm Dr. Mike Postma, an educator, speaker, author, consultant and coach residing in beautiful Bellingham, WA. Together with my wife, Julie, we have raised our own 4 gifted/2e children and know how difficult this journey can be. That is one reason I have dedicated my life work to the holistic development of the gifted/2e community. In my 25+ year career, I've served as a Gifted Teacher in the classroom, as an Administrator of gifted schools, as a professional developer of gifted programming and curriculum and as Executive Director of the SENG organization (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted), and now leading our company Gifted & Thriving, LLC. I look forward to spending time together with you to learn how we can best teach and support this exceptional community so we can all move from a place of just surviving to THRIVING! I look forward to the journey with you!