Huge sigh of relief yesterday--we learned that we aren't barking up the wrong tree with Mr. T. The beginning of his dyslexia evaluation went well, but we still won't know anything definitive for another month (3 weeks until he takes a whole lot of tests, probably another week after that when we sit down to review results and the psychologist's recommendation--so of course, not until the school year is nearly over). Still and all, the psychologist ticked off a good portion of the "Dyslexia Checklist" and seemed to agree that it was the likely diagnosis.
I look at my son and I can't help think of Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledore's Pensieve. You know the bit where they stick the wand in their ear and pull out a thin strand of memory to stir into the Pensieve? It's like someone poked a wand in Mr. T's ear, but managed to scramble up his cerebral cortex just enough to cause confusion for the poor kid. 4 X 8 = 23. The bog went ot the yarb, dut cuobln't jumg the fenz. The information enters okay, it's on the way back out that gives him trouble.
I don't know much about dyslexia. I've no idea what accomodations can be made or if this is something he'll outgrow or pull through with enough help. What I do know is this: Mr. T is brave. He has so much courage and takes all of his problems--the epilepsy, the medications, the struggles in school, the battle with handwriting-- in stride and that makes me so proud of the boy he is now and the man he'll likely become thanks to all of this character-building God's providing. He told me yesterday that he wants to repeat 3rd grade and "I should probably take math this summer." Instead of viewing this as a deficiency or failure on his part, he accepts it with surprising grace.
I'm thankful that we're finally naming the problem--and it's not something horrible, it's just dyslexia. And like Harry Potter, if we have can call something awful by it's name, it's not so scary anymore.
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In other news, The Earth's Hour is this Saturday from 8-9 p.m. Be part of the event! Turn off, or at least turn down your electricity use--be part of this annual global rolling blackout designed to heighten awareness of climate change and human impact.
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