Testimonials from our Members:
I found Karen and Orange County Gifted Group when was looking for resources to help me homeschool my gifted daughter. My decision to homeschool came from the need for her to truly explore her interests and to accelerate beyond what she would be able to in the confines of a traditional classroom. She was frustrated that she really didn't have time to pursue her talents in music and the performing arts as well as her interest in advanced math. I was worried about the social groups that would be available to her now that she would not have her gifted group at school. She has been hurt by jealousy and misunderstandings that can arise in other groups of children and pre-teen girls. I was immediately impressed with Karen and the group of families there. My daughter doesn't usually get excited about social groups. She is usually very "project driven". But in this group she is excited to "just hang" with a group of peers who think like she does. I'm a certified GATE teacher and professional development trainer in California and I have never seen a resource such as the one that Karen offers. - Sharon
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My family is very grateful to Karen and the Orange County Gifted Group because of the rich resources that are provided. My children were having trouble connecting with others and I was having a hard time finding any adults that understood what it is like to raise a gifted child. We have been through many homeschooling support groups, but none of them measured up. Karen is gifted in making families feel welcome and providing a wide range of services to support the parents of gifted homeschoolers as well as the children themselves. There are so many enriching opportunities offered, I wish I had more time to take advantage of them all.
My children have been thriving in this community and I have been able to learn a lot from Karen and others in the group. Karen is tireless, a natural leader, and I am very grateful for all of the hard work and creativity she puts into the organization. - Olivia Peterson
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Before I started working with Karen and the Orange County Gifted Group I was struggling to find peers with whom my daughter could find common interests and socially interact. It was causing problems in my relationship with my daughter. We both had hoped that homeschooling would be an adventurous journey, but we didn't anticipate the difficulties in finding gifted kids in her age group that were also homeschooling and available during the day. She felt so isolated, and she blamed me for leading her down this path. I also felt isolated because I had no one who understood what I was experiencing. The network of parents that I knew didn't understand our decision to homeschool and couldn't relate to this new journey. Neither could my own family members. I definitely began to doubt my decision to homeschool.
Finding Karen's group was life changing for me and my daughter. It gave me such comfort to know that I was not alone. There were tons of other families that shared our experiences, and it was wonderful to find a place where my family could find support and a sense of community. Karen offers lots of opportunities for both parents and their children to do activities with like-minded peers who understand us. My daughter is thrilled to have outings that are of interest to her, and friends who share those interests. She is much more confident now. We no longer argue. She is happy and, therefore, so am I. I am so grateful that Karen has started this group and brought us all together. It is so vital and necessary. - Victoria T.
My family is very grateful to Karen and the Orange County Gifted Group because of the rich resources that are provided. My children were having trouble connecting with others and I was having a hard time finding any adults that understood what it is like to raise a gifted child. We have been through many homeschooling support groups, but none of them measured up. Karen is gifted in making families feel welcome and providing a wide range of services to support the parents of gifted homeschoolers as well as the children themselves. There are so many enriching opportunities offered, I wish I had more time to take advantage of them all.
My children have been thriving in this community and I have been able to learn a lot from Karen and others in the group. Karen is tireless, a natural leader, and I am very grateful for all of the hard work and creativity she puts into the organization. - Olivia Peterson
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Before I started working with Karen and the Orange County Gifted Group I was struggling to find peers with whom my daughter could find common interests and socially interact. It was causing problems in my relationship with my daughter. We both had hoped that homeschooling would be an adventurous journey, but we didn't anticipate the difficulties in finding gifted kids in her age group that were also homeschooling and available during the day. She felt so isolated, and she blamed me for leading her down this path. I also felt isolated because I had no one who understood what I was experiencing. The network of parents that I knew didn't understand our decision to homeschool and couldn't relate to this new journey. Neither could my own family members. I definitely began to doubt my decision to homeschool.
Finding Karen's group was life changing for me and my daughter. It gave me such comfort to know that I was not alone. There were tons of other families that shared our experiences, and it was wonderful to find a place where my family could find support and a sense of community. Karen offers lots of opportunities for both parents and their children to do activities with like-minded peers who understand us. My daughter is thrilled to have outings that are of interest to her, and friends who share those interests. She is much more confident now. We no longer argue. She is happy and, therefore, so am I. I am so grateful that Karen has started this group and brought us all together. It is so vital and necessary. - Victoria T.
