Heidi Coghlan, About.com guide to Kid's Clubs, wrote a touching blog about the disappointment parents can feel when their children are not living up to their potential. She described her daughter's performance at a gymnastics meet as being less than it should have been; it did not represent the potential she had demonstrated previously in gymnastics.

For me, the most heartbreaking comment she made was this: "As a parent, it's difficult to watch your child let opportunities slip by." It's a comment that many parents of gifted children can relate to. We see opportunities slip by when our children are not challenged in school , lose their love of learning and become underachievers, or when our children purposely "dumb down" in an effort to fit in and get along.

Heidi also wrote a great article, Disappointed with Your Child's Performance? In it she offers parents some food for thought and some suggestions for handling the disappointment, many of which apply to gifted children. While the article applies mostly to extracurricular activities, some of it could also apply to academics as well. If you feel or have ever felt disappointed in your child's performance, you definitely want to read Heidi's article.