Having a child with dyslexia can often feel like the worst thing in the world. That’s how I felt when my daughter was diagnosed three years ago.
I first noticed something wasn’t quite right when my daughter was four and struggling to read. She was a painfully slow reader and unfortunately I am not the most patient of people. Listening to her read was like watching paint dry and it often ended in tears of frustration for both of us.
Having a child with dyslexia is not your fault. It’s not because you had that one extra sneaky glass of wine during your pregnancy or wore high heels when you were advised to wear flats. It took me a while to accept that it was not my overzealous nature that gave my child dyslexia. She was born with it and once I accepted that revelation, I could move on and get her the help she needed.
Speak to your child’s teacher if you have concerns but be aware that most teachers are not trained dyslexia specialists. However, if you feel there is something not right or that there is a barrier to your child’s learning, persevere. I’m sure I came across as a paranoid mother, a crazy woman obsessed with her child’s schooling, but we know our own children and we need to trust our instincts.
Intervention is the key if you have a child with dyslexia. I have sought solace in a Dyslexia Centre in Essex which offers private assessments, one to one tuition and support for children of all ages. Every time I think of this centre, my heart warms. The teachers remind you of a grandma that you wish you had (I’m sure they would kill me if they read this as they really aren’t that old). Every summer they hold an annual celebration evening which is simply inspirational. The biggest tear jerker for me was when a group of university students stood on the stage and reminisced about their times at the centre.
Three years on from my daughter’s diagnosis and she is above average in her class. When she asks me what she should be when she grows up, I tell her to reach for the stars as she can be whatever she wants to be. Children with dyslexia do succeed, they just need you to believe in them.
superficialsupermum 