Vol IV, No 12 - December 20, 2022
FROM THE CREATIVE EDITOR
Happy Merry Season! I don't care what you celebrate or if you celebrate, I just know that this time of year can be more chaotic than usual. Our kids pick up on the excitement, the anxiety, the change in routine...and reflect it back a hundredfold. Like mirrors reflecting back at each other, things can get messy and I feel ya. Mine may be older but that's still the case here. Add in long, cold, dark days (at least here in the northern part of the States) and it can be hard to find any kind of seasonal cheer. Twinkly lights can only do so much.

So let's look ahead.

2023 is right around the corner, fresh like clean sheets on the bed. What are your hopes and dreams for those 365 days? For your kids, for your family, for the world, for YOU? (Please remember that you are more than your kids and your kids' complexities, something I plan to strongly encourage in 2023). I'm staring down a birthday that ends in zero, the kind of milestone that requires demands encourages self-reflection, so I'm deep into that and have little bandwidth for much else. Thankfully, GHF Board President Barry Gelston is here with his thoughts for the year ahead. He's a hoopy frood who knows where his towel is.

Happy Merry to all of you. Have a gentle holiday season, and I'll catch you on the flip side.
Jen Merrill is a writer, musician, teacher, ed-tech marketing advisor, and gifted-family advocate. The mom of two boys, she homeschooled her twice-exceptional teen through high school while happily sending his younger brother off to his high school every morning. Those days now in the past, she is settling into the somewhat quieter life of an empty-nester. 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 self-care, will be finished shortly before the heat death of the universe. 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.
Ideal 4 Gifted
IDEAL4Gifted's homeschooling program for advanced, gifted,
and twice-exceptional students is the best of all educational worlds; the challenge is just right, creativity is valued, students' strengths and
interests are integral, and they make friends. Classes are small. Everyone’s heard. There are academics plus Tech & Engineering, Art, Foreign Language, and plenty of socializing opportunities, all under the auspices of renowned experts in gifted education. Ages 5-14. Full-time or part-time. www.ideal4gifted.org

“Our family learned so much, from your approach to teaching and learning, robust content knowledge, and deep respect for students and families, especially how you loved them just as they are.” S.L. (mother of 3 students)

Hopes for 2023

By Barry Gelston
Is it really 2023 already? Our lives can feel like we are constantly being tossed around between the spin cycle and the dryer. All of the details fly into each other as we try to prioritize well being, learning, and emotional needs. It can feel like a lot. Overwhelming. Exhausting. Fortunately, we all have each other: both parents and the professionals and educators who support our families. 

GHF Mission
At the beginning of every GHF meeting, I like to repeat our mission so that we always share the same focus. 

Our mission is to empower every gifted family to make strategic, proactive, and intentional educational choices.

For today, I want to share with you how grateful I am to be part of this community and the opportunities that we can create for ourselves to choose the best options for our families. There is a lot for us to be grateful. 

The Gifted and Twice Exceptional (G/2E) Community is Evolving
Every year that goes by, more and more is known about our types of families. At GHF, our philosophy has solidified on the strengths based approach. We are part of an important movement of families, researchers, professionals, and educators who choose to see you and your family for your strengths first. 

In aggregate, we care about all of our intellectual well-being as the first priority. We believe that (G/2E) families need the joy and passion to pursue their interests and to find where each of us belong, naturally, based on our strengths in the world. 

#GiftedHomeEducation
The lessons that we, as a community, have learned from being the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum is that what we do as homeschool families is the cornerstone of good G/2E parenting and education. We are the collective authors of Gifted Home Education. Our families are both in traditional school, out of school, or some combination. We use resources wherever we can find them to support our children. You, GHF parents, are perfect role models for Gifted Home Educators (GHE) of all types. You will start to see us use GHE more often to describe our processes to represent better what you all do well.

Here Is The Really Good News
From my perspective as President of GHF, I get to see the transformation over the years as many GHF families make it to the other side of launching their G/2E kiddos and are doing just fine. 

  • I see parents becoming empty-nesters knowing that they did their best with their gifted and 2e children.
  • I see many teenagers getting into colleges. Some are thriving, some need support. Just like everyone else. 
  • I also see families getting over the hump from being in a negative educational experience to having more control over their child’s learning environment.

GHF Vision
At GHF we also like to end our meetings by stating our vision. 

A diverse world of multi-generational families, educators, and professionals supporting each other through community, education, and creating content relating to gifted home education.

I look forward to us all making continuous improvements in 2023. I hope that we can all keep our eyes on what we are doing well (staying away from negative people), focusing on our strengths, focusing on our goals, and being kind to ourselves and all that we love. 

Thank you for being part of our community that is based on love, kindness, and seeing the best in ourselves and each other.

Warmest regards,

Barry
Barry Gelston is a Doctoral student at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education, Researcher at the Quark Collaboration, private math teacher working with gifted & 2e homeschool students who struggle with learning math in traditional settings, Barry is also the Board President of non-profit organization, GHF. Gifted Homeschoolers Forum's mission is to empower every gifted family to make strategic, proactive, and intentional educational choices.
Advertise with GHF in 2023
GHF Press Featured Title

Discovering Dyscalculia is quickly becoming the go-to reference and resource for parents and educators alike – grab a copy for yourself or as a heartfelt gift to someone who struggles with this learning challenge here: https://ghflearners.org/press/

And enjoy some of Laura Jackson’s recent web & podcast appearances:

Made for Math’s Unlocking Dyscalculia Web Series, Episode 3

Learning Disabilities Association of America’s LDA Podcast, Ep 42

Hamlin Robinson School’s HRS Learning Center Speaker Series (archive ep 12/08/22)

GHF® FORUM
A Supportive Community for Gifted Learners
Come join us in the GHF Forum, our new online community where GHF will be sharing all of our services and resources.
FREE ACCESS to:
  • Discussion groups
  • Parenting Gifted
  • Professionals
  • Parenting 2e
  • Homeschoolers
  • Live Gifted Home Ed Conference
  • Live Quarterly GHF Conversations Mini-Cons
  • Live Monthly GHF Expert Series

UPGRADE to GHF Choices Membership:
  • GHF Choices: DIY Education
  • GHF Expert Series Library
  • GHF Member Discounts
  • Forever Access to Gifted Home Ed Conference & Conversations Recordings
GHF PRESIDENT'S CLUB
For those of you who can give at least $500 we have created a special recognition program where you will be listed on the GHF website and in our monthly newsletter, The GHF Journey, as valued members of the community. Donations may be kept anonymous.



ABOUT GHF
MISSION
To empower every gifted family to make strategic, proactive, and intentional educational choices.
VISION
A diverse world of multi-generational families, educators, and professionals supporting each other through community, education, and creating content relating to gifted home education.
#GIFTEDHOMEED
Empowering gifted families to make strategic, proactive, and intentional educational choices.
VALUES
GHF values the uniqueness and humanity of each person in our community. We treat each other with love and kindness and particularly abhor bullying and negativity of any kind. We accept that it is our job to examine each day with a fresh perspective and continue to improve the organization to pursue our mission.
GHF is a 501c3 organization. Please consider supporting our community with your most generous gift today. For more information on our organization, please feel free to contact us. Thank you!