"hone to the right degree" what does that mean, exactly? Did someone forget to impart precision to you, ever? And how are you so sure that 6 is "for damn sure" to old? I was in a gifted program at 6, and I don't remember much about it except crying at some of the problems I couldn't solve, and nobody came and shoved rainbows up my ass to make me feel better about it, and I'm thankful they didn't.