1. Blogs
  2. blastchickbaby's blog
  3. *warning, parental gush to follow*

*warning, parental gush to follow*

blastchickbaby

Shared on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:16
My son is on the honor roll.
 
Yes, that’s something every parent should be proud of. Every kid that does the work necessary to be on the honor roll should be proud of themselves, as well.
 
But with Hunter, my son, it is something extra.
 
Hunter has a learning ‘disability’. God, I hate that word. He is not disabled. He thinks a little differently, he learns in a different way and sees the world from a unique perspective. Just because he doesn’t fit into the cookie cutter teaching style, doesn’t mean he is less intelligent, just that he is unique.
 
Anyway, I’m not going to go into deep specifics about a diagnosis because labels are just labels, and I have taught him to not be defined by his. He has things he just has to work harder at to fit into the cookie cutter teaching styles of our American school system, and that’s the way it is. But he was also given gifts.
 
The big challenge in schoolwork is that he has something quirky in his wiring where the thoughts in his head are very hard for him to put down on paper, unless it is through a drawing or a diagram. He remembers nearly everything he encounters, he can do math incredibly well, but he cannot get the answers onto paper without struggle.
 
It takes Hunter literally four times as long to write a sentence as it does his peers. He forms letters differently than other people, and can’t write them the ‘proper’ way. He will never write in cursive. We’ve tried the computer, and typing is still the same challenge. It’s just something about connecting his thoughts to his hands. His hand eye coordination is out of this world; he is an amazing videogame player, but writing something down…
 
And reading. Reading is a bit of a struggle as well. It’s just something about words, that his brain has a hard time digesting. If he listens to something, watches a film or documentary, he picks up about every piece of information thrown at him. But getting words printed on paper into his brain is a challenge.
I could go on about how he sees things from a different perspective, and how uniquiely he fits into the world, but it's not neccessary.
 
My son is on the honor roll.
 
He does the work that every kid has to do. He has had to write the book reports, fill out the worksheets, complete essays, do page after page of math problems. Yes, the same work as every other kid on the honor roll, but with 4 times the effort. At least. I have watched and felt so badly for him, especially since he has entered middle school, as he has sat for up to six hours a night to do what takes most kids 2 hours to do. But I have sat at my computer as he sits at his desk. I have been chipper and strong and supportive and helpful where I can, but he has done it all. It could have been easier in the short term if I did some of it for him. But that would not have helped prepare him for life.
 
He has had support at school, a wonderful school system. They have been amazingly patient, holding him accountable and preparing him to live in the ‘real world’. An employer isn’t going to let him fill out a job application orally. An employer isn’t going to tell him he can do half the work as the guy next to him just because Hunter is wired a little differently. They have taken the extra time. The teachers, horribly underpaid teachers, have given him special instructions that he can understand. But Hunter has done the work.
My son is on the honor roll.

Comments

Gatsu's picture
Submitted by Gatsu on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:23
congrats. thats awsome. I hate that learning "disability" thing to. Its not a disability its like you said...he just learns things differently. I think schools and the learning process overall shouldn't be cookie cutter anyways. Have a diverse way of learning causes people to be more diverse in their way of thinking.
Devonsangel's picture
Submitted by Devonsangel on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:26
Woo Hoo! Congratulations, that is no small feat for a student who thinks differently.
CapnHun's picture
Submitted by CapnHun on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:27
That is wonderful! What a trooper. I do hope someday he is able to find a job that utilizes his innate talents and abilities, but I am sure it feels good to know he will do well in the world, regardless.
mrsleestak's picture
Submitted by mrsleestak on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:36
All of this hard work will pay off. I think a lot of other kids become lazy when academics comes too easy. Having a caring mother certainly helps! Great job!
HeReCoMeSdAbOoM's picture
Submitted by HeReCoMeSdAbOoM on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:41
Having a child is so rewarding in so many ways. We learn to be better people everyday. Now take him out for some Ice cream. bOOm
blastchickbaby's picture
Submitted by blastchickbaby on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:43
Thank you everyone. :) He really is a great kid who deserves all the kudos we can give him. And I have no doubts he'll be happy and successful as an adult. With all of his efforts he is learning that hard work pays off, and that he is capable of anything he sets his mind to. Right now his plan is to attend a certain tech school (I don't remember the name, although he knows it, where it is located, and what he needs to do to get accepted) and learn to make video games. There is zero doubt in my mind that if he decides to stay with that goal, that he'll acheive it. He is my shining star.
GroovyElm's picture
Submitted by GroovyElm on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:44
Congratulations to both of you! His accomplishment speaks very highly of not only himself, but the work you have done as a parent.
blastchickbaby's picture
Submitted by blastchickbaby on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:45
And bOOm... I did more than ice cream... I gave him $20 extra on his allowance. But what I really gave him was praise and the words 'I'm proud of you'. I think that is far more important.
snahfu's picture
Submitted by snahfu on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:47
Congratulations to your son. Not because of being on the honour roll but due to the fact that he has a mother that is so devoted, so caring and so dedicated to him. If everyone that struggled with the "normal" or "right" way of learning had support from a person like you, the world would be a far nicer place.
CreeperJR's picture
Submitted by CreeperJR on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:47
WOOT! Congrats. Having to struggle alwys makes triumph sweeter. Sounds like a good kid with his head on straight. good job.
BrokenDesign's picture
Submitted by BrokenDesign on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:50
That's so great for Hunter! To be able to keep working so hard is a wonderful trait, especially in a world that seems to have rampant ADD / ADHD in children (from the horror stories I've heard from my parents-in-law who are both teachers). It's very wonderful of you to keep your chin up and help him work through this, being encouraging and supportive, parenting the way a parent is supposed to. Some friends of mine and my wife's have a son who also has difficulty in school, I can't remember what the official diagnosis is, but it's been back and forth in the realms of ADHD and autism. Recently he had a solo in the school musical and it may seem like a small thing to some, but for his mother it was the most wonderful thing ever. His problem was mostly with communication, he's years behind other kids in speech. So wonderful to have stories like this shared with us, thank you so much!
Armorsmith76's picture
Submitted by Armorsmith76 on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 09:52
....Stepping onto soap box..... I think you are doing a great job as a parent! Lots of kids without any LD problems fail where you (and your son) are succeeding. Your son can do great things with his life(that many of his non LD classmates will fail to do) because of your involvement. Encourage him to go to college when the time comes. When I was in college, I had a professor who was dislexic. He also has a docterate in plant pathology and was the head of the department. Also, I have an "LD" (HATE, HATE, HATE the label too, but I have never figured out a better term)In math. I graduated with a BS in horticulture. With a little help, anything is possible. ... stepping off soapbox...
blastchickbaby's picture
Submitted by blastchickbaby on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 10:03
BrokenDesign: Hunter struggled with his speech as well. He didn't start speaking full sentences until he was four, and even then I was the only one who could understand him for the next three years. I completely understand your friend's extra pride at seeing her son have a solo. The size of the accomplishment means nothing compared to the effort and courage it takes to get there. I thank God I live in Iowa, where they are exceedingly patient. They recognized that just because he couldn't readily and easily communicate back, that he was absorbing. And they listened to me, and took my advice and were not offended when I said "No, you have to approach it THIS way." We lived in Colorado for a couple of years a few years ago, and while I am completely in love with the state, I was very unhappy with the school system. The first thing they tried to do was tell me he needed medication. I realize there are some kids that genuinely need medication, but I think all too often it is used as a crutch.
LadyisRed's picture
Submitted by LadyisRed on Fri, 03/09/2007 - 22:30
That is so awesome! add me to the list of people wired a little differently. Not as extreme as your son, but I had some of the same problems. Its hard when the way you work doesnt fit the mold.
Go_Aachmed's picture
Submitted by Go_Aachmed on Fri, 02/23/2007 - 10:59
Hard work and persistance pays off. I was told my daughter had a leaning disability, and it did seem like it. Math was her main issue so we did math every day, every day, every day. In the course of one school year, she was up to a "b" in math and two years later she has an "a" in honors math classes. Don't the the term learning disability scare you. It's used too often and it's not fair to these kids. Your son has already proved to you by being on the honor roll, that there is nothing "disabled" about his learning. Great Job to him and you!

click for more 2O2P member action

click for more 2O2P member action

© 2007 Media Crumb Inc. All rights reserve Media Crumb Inc.

Join our Universe

Connect with 2o2p