I have been trying to get back to my thread with the household business. I first of all wanted to say: ***WOW*** . Thank you SO much for you out pouring of thoughts. Any more, feel free to add on.

I have had my own emotional moments thinking about what to do. Part of it I think I have now figured out is related to some of my own child hood memories of this situaton. I had blocked out part of it I guess. I can remeber being very stressed on some things about performing to high ability. Pushed too hard. Also, I had blanked out the cruelty of other children when you are special. Things like lieing about your high score on test, or praying a teacher would not publically brag on you as a good example because it only leads to ridicule as being a "smarty pants teacher's pet", aka eat lunch by yourself. Bleah. I did a lot of bike riding alone then too.

To answer a few questions raised in responses...
My son completed traditional 1st grade. The program is housed at a magnet school that draws from the entire city. The particulary program runs grades 2-6. It is full time, 5 days a week. The children are the same age in the class. Second graders. But the "gifted" class of second graders from the entire city. The program is suppose to be some special cirriculum developed for gifted kids. It's not just higher grade level work, done at any earlier age. There is said to be a lot of learning done through project work. Example: research an artist, and present it in drama form (dressed as the person). Also, group work.

Next year they are starting a cluster high ability group within home schools. Unfortunatley, it's only grades 3 and 4. The next year, 5 and 6 will be added. Year three, K-6. Those kids get some type of extra work etc. geared towards their abilities within their regular class. So, if this does not pan out, maybe some type of enrichment years to follow. But, not like the gifted child program is layed out from what I can tell.

I did get to speak with the teacher briefly at open house info session. She had a gifted child herself as a mother. She has taught for 19 years. Not sure if all of it is with gifted children, or not. But, I think she has been with the program for a while. I tried to describe the sensitivity to her. She suggested that I go to the library and get some books on the characteristics of gifted children. She said that can be common. Going to do that this w/e.

The school has you sign a commitment letter for the program. Need to do so within the next week. Once in it, you can't just readily get out of it. Due to the general adjustment factor, they ask that you stick it out for a semester or year. Depending on school and class size is up in the air if the child gets to return to their home school.

One of the parents said to me at the meeting this (when I was presenting some "cons"): "Well, I would have driven anywhere, done anything, for my child to get the right education". There's a point to this. It's not all there is to life. I think there's a balance. Maybe being among your "own kind" is a good balance? Still mulling it over.