#gifted problems

[chloesimaginationthings]

William gives Michael a very “good” FNAF gift..

[kyri45]

Some extra stickers for all the Demi!! 🤍💜🩶🖤

YOU ARE SUPER VALID ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT!!!! 🤍💜🩶🖤

[drabbles-of-writing]

"Kai's good with kids!" slightly incorrect. Kai is good with stubborn, troublesome kids. Dudes been shown to be dogshit when solely interacting with pretty much all people younger than him except for Nya, Lloyd, & Wyldfyre

He raised Nya, but we know that girl. We've seen her. I know she was a NIGHTMARE kid. She has strong opinions, holds grudges, and does whatever she wants. I love her for this. I also know teenage Kai was fighting for his LIFE. Lloyd was Little Shit Extraordinaire, and he didn't have the bonus of being blood-related to Kai, so Kai had 0 incentive to like him. Even still, Kai heard a small child in distress and immediately Locked In and decided awesome, I'm protecting you forever now. Wyldfyre similarly annoyed the absolute shit out of him, but Kai had his Growth. He still threw hands with Wyldfyre but the difference here is he knew she could fight back. He clocked pretty immediately she had an impatient temper but had a very strong love for her tiny family of 2 (oh hey s1 Kai when'd you get here) and in NO time began flawlessly mentoring.

Kai is like a guy who went to a camp for troubled youths, grew up, then decided to become a counselor at that same camp. He can wrangle a teenage dirtbag out of an alley like a stray cat but if you put him in the same room as a fairly normal kid he's looking at them like this

[bittersweet-jack-of-no-trades]

I think something that probably really affected Stan's bitterness towards his brother is the fact that Ford was not a well-behaved child or teen either--- he just got away with it.

Stan and Ford got into mischief together as kids, a lot. They fought other kids, got into stuff they shouldn't have, and were each other's only friend for a reason. Ford was probably that gifted kid who read a book while the teacher was talking, obnoxiously corrected you when you were wrong, had no filter to the point of being mean, argued with the teacher, and was super controlling on the playground. He helped Stan cheat off of him, and we see by their reaction to being called to the office together in TOTS that it's not anything new or unusual. Just because Ford was smart doesn't mean he was well-behaved.

The difference comes with others'--- particularly adults'--- reactions to the twins misbehaving. While Ford likely got a "he's smart so questioning authority is natural" or a "he's so bored in class he has to act out," Stan likely got a "he's too dumb to follow the rules" or a "he's frustrated about not understanding so he has to act out." I'm going to guess Ford got away with a lot of shit because he was the smart kid--- I say this because I got away with a lot of shit as a kid because I was "the gifted one."

So for Ford, losing the chance to go to West Coast Tech wasn't just "losing his dream"; it was also probably the first time in a long time he had been told no. He's not exactly used to consequences, and Stan is also used to seeing Ford not receive any consequences. We can see this is how Stan and Ford interact in front of the portal: Ford sees Stan as the only reason he's ever been told no ("you ruined my life"), and Stan sees Ford once again escaping any consequence ("in a fancy house in the woods" "hoarding your college money for yourself").

Ford and Stan grew up together. They acted the same. It was just others' perception of the boys that radically altered how they were treated--- Ford was taught he could get away with it all just by showing off his smarts, so he built an interdimensional gateway with little thought of what came next; Stan was taught he would never get away with anything, so he dove headlong into the thick of trouble. They're both reckless, just for different reasons.

[sammsays]

a critical inner voice is the cause of perfectionism, and a very frequent reason that those with ADHD and/or gifted kid syndrome (not a literal medical diagnosis) struggle very hard to form and maintain new habits.

when you consistently face the struggle of being unable to do things in the same way as your peers, you develop a means of self-perception that is polarizing, in a literal sense.

everything is black and white, so you not only need to do things perfectly, but the tasks you need to do become "perfect" in a structural sense.

if you try to do the dishes consistently, you must either do all of the dishes or it is a failure.

even further, you subconsciously remove things that would make tasks easier, because you separate a task mentally from others.

shaving is not within the umbrella of a "wake up routine" or "bathroom tasks", each individual task, including shaving, is treated as conceptually different and whole, which makes each of them more daunting and less approachable.

the means of doing said tasks also must be held up to what is perceived as the ideal societal standard.

it's never thought "maybe I can shave a different way?" because the way that shaving is always shown in media and television, where people almost exclusively see it, is with shaving cream, a hand razor and in front of the bathroom mirror.

i've been able to brush my teeth and shave my face consistently ever since I've started to do it in the shower. i bought a little suction cup mirror and have done it there.

both tasks being contained within the larger task of "shower" in a tangible way makes it much simpler.

if you were to talk to neurotypical people, they have an incredible amount of imperfections in their routines. my mother stops exercising entirely during the winter, my brother uses an electric razor with a specific head and shaves it "well enough" to not be spotted by most people, my sister does the dishes until she feels like stopping.

the difference is that they automatically asssume that the way they do these things is not just okay, but normal and expected.

half-assing is in human nature and it gets pounded out by trauma. we are expected to and often should do things in awkward, tailored ways imperfectly and half-heartedly, for the sake of our basic mental health.

don't let perfectionism make it so you never achieve "good".

"good" is all it takes to have a healthy routine.

[incognitopolls]

This is about academia, so programs for art/sports/etc don't count, only studying.

A program for gifted kids would be separate from most of the other kids, and only be open to certain students.

The "highest level" is referring to classes where you learn differently based on your academic levels. Unlike being a part of a separate program, you would still be in the same class as your peers, you would just be the "best" among them.

–

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[golden-letters]

gang u ever feel that soulsucking feeling of never amounting to anything ever because everyone else will always do better than you do more than you have more than you and you will always be behind no matter how hard you run and the worst thing? youve found yourself running slower and slower because you can't seem to feel driven anymore

[glowettee]

she wasn’t trying to win, she was trying to prove something | spencer hastings

everyone loves spencer hastings because she’s brilliant. because she’s intense. because she’s always ten steps ahead. but what no one talks about enough is how exhausting it is to live like that, to be the best, all the time, because it feels like if you’re not winning, you’re nothing.

you don’t just wake up one day addicted to achievement. it’s a defense mechanism. it’s the result of being told, either directly or indirectly, that love is something you earn. approval, security, pride... they’re all made into things you chase, not things you deserve by default. and for girls like spencer (and girls like us), the chase becomes your whole personality.

this post is for that version of you: the one who doesn’t know how to slow down. who feels guilty for resting. who is so busy proving she’s good enough that she doesn’t even know what she wants anymore, only that she has to win.

but glowettee girls don’t just burn out. we decode the burnout. and we build something better from the pieces.

✧ step one: admit that your ambition isn’t always healthy (and that’s okay)

spencer’s ambition was her superpower, but also her coping mechanism. it was how she kept her identity intact in a family that prioritized image over emotion. it was how she filled the silence when she didn’t feel seen. and that’s the thing no one tells you: you can be extremely high-functioning and still deeply emotionally neglected.

if you recognize yourself in that, it doesn’t mean you’re broken or dramatic. it means you learned to survive in a way that made you successful but not necessarily fulfilled. and that awareness? that’s your power now.

start asking yourself: › what part of my ambition is actually a response to fear? › am i working towards something real. or just running from feeling “not enough”? › if i stopped being productive for a while, would i still feel like i mattered?

this isn’t about throwing away your drive. it’s about reclaiming it. so that your success stops being a trauma response and starts becoming a conscious, joyful path.

✧ step two: stop tying your worth to how well you’re doing

this is one of the hardest lessons for spencer-coded girls to learn. you’ve spent so long being “the smart one,” “the responsible one,” “the one who gets things done,” that the idea of being average... or even just not ahead, feels terrifying.

but the truth is, your value doesn’t fluctuate based on how impressive you are today. you are allowed to be exhausted. to take breaks. to not know what’s next. to be unsure and still deserving of kindness.

practical reframes that help:

› “i am not only worthy when i am productive.” › “it’s not my job to be exceptional every single day.” › “i do not have to earn rest, i’m already allowed to feel okay.” › “getting ahead means nothing if i don’t feel like myself at the end of it.”

your worth is not your grades, your resume, your discipline. your worth is how gently you treat yourself when things don’t go according to plan. and how brave you are for trying again, but this time, with love.

✧ step three: identify where the pressure is really coming from

one of spencer’s most iconic traits is her constant pressure to be better, to prove herself to her parents, to compete with melissa, to always be right. and a lot of girls pick up this energy without even realizing it.

so let’s break it down.

when you’re pushing yourself too hard, ask:

› who am i trying to impress right now? › what am i trying to prove, and to who? › would i still want this if no one else saw it?

sometimes the answer is “my parents.” sometimes it’s “my younger self who was bullied.” sometimes it’s “the girl who made me feel small in 10th grade.” whatever it is... naming it gives you control back. it turns a subconscious obsession into a choice.

glowettee tip: start tracking your academic or glow-up goals with intention journals. write down why you want each thing. if the answer is rooted in love, curiosity, or your dream life. it stays. if it’s rooted in shame or needing to prove yourself, you rewrite it.

✧ step four: build a version of success that doesn’t destroy you

ambition doesn’t have to hurt. it doesn’t have to cost your health, your sleep, or your identity. but to get to that place, you need to reimagine what success actually looks like.

spencer's biggest downfall was never that she worked hard, it was that she never let herself pause. she never believed she was enough without the accomplishments. so let’s fix that.

your version of success should include:

› slow mornings with your journal and a matcha › deep focus sessions that leave you proud, not drained › goals that light you up instead of haunting you › people who see you beyond your output › a sense of peace when you're doing “nothing”

you deserve a version of success that feels like coming home to yourself, not escaping who you are.

✧ step five: learn how to forgive yourself for not being ahead

this is the softest, hardest part. if you’ve ever stared at someone else's instagram story or grades or glow-up and felt that sinking feeling of “i’m so behind,” this part is for you.

glowettee girls don’t pretend they’re immune to comparison. we just reframe it.

spencer always felt like she was playing catch-up, even if it was to melissa, to her parents' expectations, or to some imaginary version of perfection. but she was always enough. the problem was never her ability. it was her belief.

if you’re feeling behind:

› remember you are living your own plotline, not anyone else’s › take inventory of how far you’ve come, even if it’s invisible to others › allow yourself to grieve the time you lost to stress, fear, or self-doubt › forgive yourself for surviving the only way you knew how, even if it meant overworking

being “ahead” means nothing if you don’t feel grounded in your body, your heart, your softness. you’re allowed to pause. you’re allowed to rest. and you’re still powerful even when you do nothing but exist.

♡ mindy’s personal tip:

i used to think that if i didn’t get everything right, i’d disappoint everyone, my family, my future self, the version of me that’s supposed to be a doctor-ceo-academic-goddess. but slowly, i realized the pressure was inside me. and that i could be ambitious and gentle at the same time.

now i schedule in breaks like i schedule study sessions. i romanticize rest like i romanticize hustle. and i remind myself every day: i am not just a girl chasing goals... i am a girl creating a life.

so are you.

xoxo mindy

⋆ this post was inspired by my free workbook on trauma-coded ambition, it's for the overachiever girls who can't rest without guilt. grab it here:

[jewelleria]

Dirty Laundry: Why Adults with ADHD Are So Ashamed and What We Can Do to Help by Richard Pink and Roxanne Emery

[anbaisai]

(In light of this I figured I’d throw some aunt Nerine your way)

Aunt Nerine appears in a shower of sparkles, eyes darting between Mayu and Jamil.

“Oh my my, you two sweethearts are in need of a bit of a nudge, aren’t you? Don’t you worry, I think I might have just the thing to help you along. Like so!”

She waves her heart-shaped magestone around, sprinklings of glitter and fairy dust following every movement.

“There we go! Now, whenever one of you thinks of the other, the person you’re thinking about will be able to feel an echo of your feelings – and the warmer the sentiment, the stronger the echo. I’m afraid it’s only a temporary measure and will wear off in some time, but I’m sure you two will find it most enlightening. So make the most of it, dears.” She gives a cheeky wink, clearly very much pleased with herself.

“Now, I must be off, but do make sure not to squander this, hmm?” There’s something meaningful, almost sharp in her gaze before she disappears again. For the briefest moment, in her place is glittering fairy dust suspended in the air, almost giving the impression of a person, before the wind scatters the sparkles.

(Absolutely no pressure to do anything with this, but I thought it would be fun to have jamimayu deal with the consequences of encountering aunt Nerine, lol)

Hi nerenda!

HELP this idea is so funny, Aunt Nerine sounds so fun & whimsy and her UM is prime to cause so much trouble on this campus full of guys who just refuse to be vulnerable 😭

While it probably doesn't really change much on Mayu's end (she's already an open book), Jamil, well... is royally screwed. Good luck on keeping the effects of the UM to a minimum as you chide yourself every time your thoughts drift to a certain someone (and hope that she doesn't notice anything, but are you really going to be so lucky every time?) All the while he's wondering what to make of things every time he senses an echo of her feelings. Ah yes, Jamil "does she like me/I don't have a crush" Viper... he's so frustrating, but perhaps shenanigans like this could very well push him in the right direction 😤

[doglover502]

How this ragdoll rabbit adventure day started

Caine could've just had them pop out of thin air, but where's the fun in that? He strives for immersion!

[antiadvil]

Everyone needs to stop saying that shipping hurt Dan and Phil's friendship, you're more parasocial than me if you think you know how shipping affected their very personal relationship with each other in real life that they have given us almost no personal information on

[gwekkuu]

I’ve been heavily fixated on a promare zolu au ever since I rewatched the movie last week

[chasing-faith-and-fate]

Moon 42

Moon 41 | Moon 43

[see-arcane]

One thing that I really liked is how the Juke's spiritual dance scene was so vibrant and diverse, not a single person was dancing the same, different ancestors from different cultures and different music styles yet so clear that the meaning of the music evolved despite being severed by colonialism, even the chinese spirits were opera actors! The fire burning through the physical dimension of the wood, representing unity and freedom powered by Sammie... then the irish vampire dance comes, and it's just so so flat.

No one is irish, not a single person (except Remmick) there knows what the rocky road to Dublin means culturally yet they sing it in a shrill tone, he is the only one dancing in the middle of the circle, and suddenly everyone forcibly moves in a hivemind around him to worship HIS culture. There are no dancers, no different music rhythms, and certainly no ancestors nor future people.

While Sammie brought both alive and dead with his voice and music in harmony to celebrate past present and future in a space of true community, Remmick could only imitate it in a desperate attempt for community while gleefully colonizing black and brown people just like how the english colonized his.

1000% this.

Sammie's gift manifests what community actually is, weaving together a collection of multiple identities with a shared culture, history, and heart at its roots. It's celebratory and a revel of everything past, present, and future. Identity, but not identical.

Remmick's imitation is only a showcase of himself and the warped vestiges of his own culture and past, leaving room for nothing else, all of it forced onto unwilling participants to play along in what amounts to a puppet show performance to make Remmick alone feel better. We see proof in the end credits with Stack and Mary that, while still monstrous, vampirism here is not a thing that innately causes you to colonize on impulse. They were only themselves, independent as a simple duo.

The full colonizing/conscripting route comes strictly from Remmick. He is the one choosing to actively violate and force his will onto trapped souls the way you'd playact with dolls, all the while willfully blind to how he's repeating the same evil that the English forced on him and his long-dead community.

I honestly wonder what would have happened if Remmick had got hold of Sammie in the end. Either forced him to turn or wrung some pity-performance out of him, calling up Remmick's ancestors and descendants...only for those spirits not to dance and commune with him the way the spirits reveled in the juke joint.

The spirits Sammie conjured with talent, love, and joy were there to celebrate among their people. And Remmick's community, if they deigned to appear, what could they possibly have to celebrate in that bloodstained night, seeing what this member of their kin has done? This distorted funhouse mirror version of the same bastards who stole their land and their culture and their lives, making those sins worse twice over with an existential undead hell of souls enslaved to his hive mind will? No. They wouldn't dance. They wouldn't revel.

Remmick's lucky he died before he could drag Sammie into his hell and coerce a summoning song out of him. The stake and sun took him before he had to see exactly what kind of reception his dead and future community would think of his work on earth. (Though I imagine all that is waiting for him still, wherever he's gone.)

[blurlines]

Former gifted kid doesn’t immediately understand her homework and breaks down at her work desk (three dead, five injured)