Bright future ahead for sunshine kids!!

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education, from zero to hero, parenting, relationships inspirational, writing

Being a parent is the toughest job in the world.  It is also the most worthwhile.  Very often our experiences in childhood shape how we view the world. How many times have you heard someone say “he can do anything he sets his mind to ” The majority of us parents believe our children have the potential to achieve great things once they put their minds to it.  Can you imagine though if you found out that two of your children were highly gifted? and they went on to become the  youngest members of Mensa in Ireland and Uk? That’s what happened to Cathy and Nick Sunshine. I went along to chat to them to see how they were getting on

It has been a hectic time for the sunshine family  in Water ford as the revelation came that two fo their children, Leon (5) and Amberleanne (4) have broken records to become the youngest ever Mensa members in Ireland and the Uk.  Amber Leanne holds the record as the youngest person to join Mensa in the UK the siblings jointly hold the current record as the youngest ever Mensa members in Ireland and little Leon has a similar IQ to theoretical physicist Stephen Hawkins.

As babies both children started talking around three months and were walking by nine months.  “Amberleanne just got up and walked Nick told me.  “No problems with balance or falling over she just got up and off she went. ”

On the recommendation of a psychologist t both children went for psychometric testing a couple of years ago.  Mum Cathy and dad Nick were amazed at the results of the test.  When tested at 3yrs 11 mths Leon had the mental ability of an 8yr 4mth old.  He has an iq of 150 which places him in the same range as Stephen Hawking.  Infact only 1% if the population is as or more intelligent than Leon!! While Amberleanne who was 2yrs 10 mths had the mental ability of a 7yr 4mth old child.  Her IQ is 145.

Amberleanne holds the record as the youngest person to join Mensa in the UK.  Leon and Amberleanne jointly hold the current record as the youngest ever mensa members in Ireland.

Leon and Amberleanne are two happy chatty inquisitive children who are taking all of this in their stride – this can be attributed to mum and dad’s positive and down to earth attitude. They both go to a local school, enjoy horse riding, love painting and enjoy going to museums.

In keeping with the characteristic’s of highly intelligent children they love information, facts and concepts.  Cathy told me: “When Amberleanne was two she asked me why the sea was blue.  I asked her why she thought it was.  She thought for a while and then said that it was the reflection of the sun”

The fact that the children are both in mensa (Mensa Ireland has 970 members in other words 2% of the irish population have an IQ score that makes them eligible to join the club)means that Cathy and nick will now be in touch with other parents of  gifted children.  Mensa have also asked Cathy to come on board and help them in their quest to lobby government to allocate resources for gifted children so that provision is made to help them reach their potential.

Schools are not always equipped to deal with highly gifted children.  Recent studies show that the actual incidence of highly gifted children in the population is higher than statistics would indicate.  As Cathy ponts out the term special needs the term special needs is a very broad one.  “It can be very frustrating for a child who is way beyond their years in terms of academia to sit in on some  lessons with their own age group.  The child who is able to read and understand concepts way beyond their years is a delight to watch.  When they get into an argument over who has the biggest slice of cake it may be tempting to act his age – in actual fact that is what he is doing.  But highly gifted children need tlc as well she points out.

Cathy and Nick hope that the media coverage will help raise public awareness about the challenges that highly gifted children and their families face.  They also hope that the publicity will bring benefit to the children be it through academic funding providing for a private education or funding for an activity that can change their life.  We wish them well.

I should point out that nine month old baby Austin is chatting away.  I wonder when he’ll start walking.

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a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/the-golden-hour/”>The Golden Hour

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blogging 201, from hero to zero, health, relationships inspirational, writing

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Golden Hour.”

    SIX AM STARTS – NO BOTHER!!!!  

It’s pitch black at the moment when I get up quietly so as not to disturb the rest of the house.  I get dressed quickly, no makeup at this hour are you mad I’m so foggy from sleep I wouldn’t trust myself with a mascara wand or kohl – and head straight for the kettle: one strong coffee, sweet, a little milk.  And then I head into our dining room where my manuscript is waiting for me.

I finished the first draft of my novel over the summer and now I’m editing it. I started it last October and had no sooner written the first two chapters when my mother became ill.  Sadly she passed away the following month and the mini-manuscript was left hiding away on my laptops hard drive.  And then, when winter had finally passed the days were getting longer and summer was approaching I decided that it was time to take it out and continue it.  For the following two months I got up at 5am and wrote for  two hours, if I could manage to write more during the day and at night when the children were asleep so much the better!! I finished my first draft last august bank holiday weekend and, on the advice of all the experts I left it alone for a few weeks.  That was when I decided it was time to start a blog – I’d been toying with the idea for a while but didn’t know where to start – it was the perfect project for me it would take my mind off my novel and I’m having great fun with it I didn’t realise there were so many talented writers out there – I am in awe of you

Last week I got back into my 5am starts and I know most people don’t get it but i actually like this time of morning!! When I finally began editing ( two weeks later than I was supposed to – I was putting it off because I was dreading the task I won’t lie) I was surprised to find that I actually enjoy it.  It’s a way to “fix” my book and leaving it alone for a few weeks meant that when I went back to it I really was looking at it through the eyes of a “reader”  I also enjoy the peace and quiet, I get to have a cup of coffee and some time to myself before the rest of the house gets up there’s something about early morning that I just love – when you’re looking out just as the day is beginning. I confess to a certain smugness when the task is over for the day and it’s only 7am.  Six o clock starts – no bother!!

Love Conquers All

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education, from hero to zero, from zero to hero, humerous, love, relationships inspirational, writing

In response https://elliezthoughts.wordpress.com/2015/09/08/la-vie-est-belle/ready steady done

Sophia shivered, pulling her jacket around her.  It was so cold – in the pitch darkness of the night the only sound to be heard was the intermittent wailing of the sirens reminding them how life was far from ideal at the moment – it can be snatched away in a moment.  Where was he? this wasn’t like Victor at all , Md Sloine would be getting ready to lock up for the night she thought grimly as she blew on her hands to try and keep warm.  Well aware that the formidable house keeper would not take kindly to Sophia’s absence.  “Meet me tonight, I have to see you” he had whispered to her earlier that morning in the parlour.  She had looked at him and instantly regretted it only too aware of pairs of eyes watching her.  They had to be careful.  He had told her time and time again.  She had nodded quickly “oui monsieur” and then busied herself with her morning duties.  “Sophia! vitement” “oui Madam” she had left the room and went down to the kitchen how foolish to forget that. But it was the way he made her feel…..

How much longer should she give him though? She’d been here over an hour already.  She looked up at the statue in front of her.  In the darkness she could still see its outline if only he could talk she thought gazing up at it what stories he would tell……………………………….

And that’s it my ten minutes of writing over as per challenge.!! Of course there’s more , I’m working out the story as we speak and i’ll post it for you at the weekend  if you like but I want to stick to the rules of the challenge. So, for now that’s it. I start college tomorrow so spending today getting organised – and ( maybe) a bit nervous. Hope you enjoy my ten minute writing challenge –  I really enjoyed writing it for you!! ellie