Updated: Oct. 7, 2019
Originally Published: Oct. 8, 2012
As I entered my daughter Ava’s third-grade classroom, her teacher gently placed her hand on my arm and said, “I need to discuss Ava with you.” That phrase can send chills down any parent’s spine, conjuring up all sorts of worries. Our minds often jump to the worst-case scenarios, and I was no exception.
From her early days in kindergarten, I sensed something was amiss. It started with sight words—Ava would burst into tears every evening during our reading sessions. I grew increasingly frustrated when she would confuse simple words like “we” and “me.” “Just sound it out,” I urged her. “What sound does an ‘m’ make?” Despite her ability to recite the letter sounds verbally, she struggled to connect those sounds to the letters on the page.
The day she brought home her first reader, my excitement was palpable. I had long anticipated sharing my love for reading with her. Yet, when we sat down together, she stumbled over the words and claimed they were dancing around. Our reading time, which should have been a joyful bonding experience, turned into a stressful ordeal filled with tears.
Her teacher reassured me that this was normal for her age, but the challenges persisted into first grade. Ava’s reading grades slipped to the Bs, and homework became an uphill battle. She continued to express that the words were moving, and her handwriting was hardly legible. Spelling felt like a nightmare, and I found myself becoming the monster in our struggles. “Just write the words five times to memorize them,” I advised her, not realizing how unhelpful I was being. I asked her if she was really trying, and now I cringe at my words, knowing deep down that something was truly wrong.
After speaking with her teacher again, I asked, “Do you think she might have dyslexia?” She suggested waiting to see if things improved. As the months went by, I observed Ava’s struggles intensifying. By the end of the school year, her teacher finally recommended testing for dyslexia, believing it was more than a developmental delay.
After a challenging second-grade year with an unsupportive teacher, Ava’s self-esteem plummeted, and her grades fell to Cs. It wasn’t until March of her second-grade year that she was tested and diagnosed with dyslexia and Irlen syndrome, a condition that causes words to appear as if they are dancing on the page.
Her dyslexia intervention teacher remarked, “I can’t imagine how tough this has been for her. I’m amazed she has maintained her grades.” I understood precisely what she was capable of—after all, I was her mother.
On that day in the third-grade classroom, my heart raced with anxiety. I thought she was doing well, but I was still apprehensive. Once the students settled down, her teacher approached me with a smile. “Ava is doing exceptionally well. We adore having her, and her progress this year has been remarkable. I wanted to share how proud we are of her.” In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride.
Now, a year and a half after her diagnosis, I enter Ava’s room at bedtime. I find my spot on her bed, and we pull the covers up to our chests, leaning against pillows. “Read me a story,” I say with a smile. “Okay, Mom. Just be quiet and listen,” she giggles in response. For the next twenty minutes, she reads a book of her choice. Although she stumbles on some words and sometimes misreads—like saying “throw” instead of “though”—she keeps reading.
My daughter is finally learning to read, and it fills me with joy.
For more on parenting challenges, consider checking out our other blog posts, such as this one on home insemination kits. Also, if you’re interested in the journey of parenthood, Make a Mom offers comprehensive resources, and for those navigating pregnancy, Womens Health is an excellent source of information.
Summary:
This article recounts the struggles of a mother as she navigates her daughter’s journey with dyslexia. It highlights the challenges faced in early education, the diagnosis process, and the eventual triumph of learning to read. The emotional rollercoaster of frustration and hope culminates in a heartwarming moment of progress.