Bill, when I look at Michael Jackson and others like him who were 'deprived' of their childhood (as they most certainly were), I tend to weigh the negative effects on their lives against the gifts they gave to society. The point is, I think you could make a case for either approach to the parenting of truly exceptional children. These are not 'ordinary' children who were merely trained into extraordinary feats; these are children who were born with extraordinary 'gifts', there to be developed and encouraged OR abandoned in favor of a 'normal' childhood. Some might argue that a reasonable blend of the two approaches is the answer but then, that might not produce the 'best that you can be' individual projected in that enormous potential.

The reality is that many other factors also come into the play; the stability of the family unit, the personality of the child in question, the motivies of the parents, etc., etc. In the end, it's the parents decision (in the early stages) and whether we approve or disapprove is immaterial.

Just thinking aloud.

chas