If you had a child like that, would you let him tackle the world at a tender age ? Or will you let him enjoy his childhood?

I had a childhood friend who was very intelligent and her life was very challenging long before she had the emotional maturity to deal with it. She committed suicide shortly after her college graduation at 13. Her major complaint was always that she was being constantly "guided" according to her aptitudes with no one having an interest in her wishes, hopes, or dreams.

When my middle daughter found herself in similar circumstances I swore that she would have a shot at a "normal" childhood and that I would be honest with her about what she would be giving up, regardless of what she chose to do. She received a full scholarship with expenses paid at Duke when she was 13 and she turned it down, with our blessings.

She went on to graduate at a normal age and pursued a career in photography and website design that kept her challenged and fulfilled her passion for creating and expressing herself. Her success was "HERS", not ours or anyone elses.

There is no expiration date on smart. They can always take advantage of their "gift", but it should be their choice and parents shouldn't impose their own ideas of what path will be best for them. Isn't our primary wish for them to simply be happy?