My son is home now after his first year of college. It's wonderful having him home and seeing how he is turning into a fine young man. For all you mothers out there who worry that your child is not living up to his potential, that he is not being challenged in school, that he doesn't seem to be motivated to do anything, I'm here to tell you that there is hope!

My son was once that very child: underachieving, unchallenged, and unmotivated. However, he has found something he loves -- music -- and he is making himself known at school. He is clearly motivated, no longer underachieving, and hopefully, challenged.

I've often stressed the importance of nurturing a gifted child's abilities, but I want to point out that those abilities may not always be those that are valued in school. We were lucky to have a middle and high school with an exceptional music program, but I got my son involved in music years before that.

The other thing parents need to remember is that not all gifted kids belong in Ivy League college. If we help our children make the right college choice, they have a better chance of succeeding in life.

So Happy Mother's Day to all mothers. And to mothers of gifted children, don't give up hope. Encourage your child's interests, support his efforts whatever they may be, and chances are good that your child will do better than you may have expected.