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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsMeet Mensa’s youngest US member: She joined at age 2
Emmelyn Roettger loves to write, spell and count. Shes so fascinated by science and space that she rattles off details about nebulas, black holes, Saturns rings and Jupiters size with ease. She knows that another term for cell division is mitosis, and that caterpillars turn into butterflies through metamorphosis.
Emme just turned 3 in April. Her parents felt a rush of gratification and relief in March when she became the youngest U.S. member of the high-IQ society Mensa and heres why.
When Emme was an infant, doctors had diagnosed her with unspecified delays and cautioned that she might have autism. Her mom and dad were heartsick when they observed that, at 9 months old, Emme seemed to avoid eye contact and never reached for toys or tried to crawl.
Right around that time, Emmes mother, Michelle Horne, was overcome by a hunch. She asked to have her daughters vision checked.
It turned out that she just needed glasses! recalled Horne, 41, a former sixth-grade science teacher who lives in the D.C. area. It was so obvious that any delays she had were vision-related. From there on out, she just took off.
http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/meet_mensa_s_youngest_us_member_she_joined_at_age_2?
frogmarch
(12,158 posts)their young child to become a member of MENSA?
Why don't they just have a "My kid is way smarter than your kid!" license plate made up for their car?
nolabear
(41,991 posts)I saw a documentary whose name escapes me, about the annual Mensa convention. It seems to be a loving, charming organization of people who are odd because they are ridiculously smart and kind of geeky as a result. The people who were there were playful, open to their own childlike qualities and really enjoyed one another's company. So maybe they are looking for that kind of "family" for her. Hope so.
frogmarch
(12,158 posts)I don't know if the same applies to intellectually gifted kids, but I understand that often with musically gifted children their talent "normalizes" by the time they reach adulthood, and they're no longer considered musical geniuses.
I would think that a child who's a member of Mensa would feel pressured to excel, and might become obsessed with remaining as the smartest kid in class, or even in the school.
murielm99
(30,755 posts)Usually, the people on DU are very snotty and hostile toward Mensa. I enjoy being a member because it is one of the few places where I actually feel like I fit in.
Those parents probably had their toddler join Mensa so they could get some understanding and advice. It can't be easy to cope with a child that gifted. Mensa has some good programs for children, and, of course, they know a lot about how intelligence develops.
I have never attended an annual convention, but I have attended the Chicago area chapter's annual gathering, Halloweem. It attracts groups from all over the country, and is great fun. They have good food, a good costume competition (the costume should be a pun), and a killer book sale.
One year, I met members of a group who call themselves Hell's Mensans. They are Mensans who like to party. One of them was wearing a name tag that said, "Hi, My name is Crazed." He gave me a free pen that looked like a syringe.
mysuzuki2
(3,521 posts)murielm99
(30,755 posts)mysuzuki2
(3,521 posts)diehard White Sox fan. Most years that's about as frustrating as being a Cubs fan. I wish them both well this year but I think we will both be dissapointed.
murielm99
(30,755 posts)My kids grew up to be Cubs fans. We bleed Cubbie blue.
mysuzuki2
(3,521 posts)murielm99
(30,755 posts)maybe the next 34 will be the part that does not work.
Bruce Wayne
(692 posts)Ha ha--glasses! It figures she's a nerd.
CanSocDem
(3,286 posts)Even if it 'flys in the face' of modern medicine who were, undoubtedly, hard at work preparing a lifelong treatment for "autism".
A case in point is the kid a few days ago, who played piano like Billy Joel.
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