Doing Battle {dyscalculia and dysgraphia}

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Today, I am angry.

I don’t know why it hit today. For months (years?) we’ve been untangling the nuances of what at first appeared to be John Mark’s learning style. After a while, it became evident that it was not so much a learning style as a learning challenge. Then a learning struggle. And, yesterday, officially, learning disabilities— per the thick report detailing the results of the five tests that were administered last month.

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The Hardest Part

There are many parts of parenting that are hard. I don’t need to tell you that. The whole world is more than happy to trumpet the difficulties inherent in raising children. We all know about the sacrifices of time and money and personal space, the push and pull of wanting to be both here and there, the physical pain of getting them here in the first place (by birth or adoption, I’m here to tell you). We walk in knowing it won’t be a cakewalk.

And then, one of our kids faces a giant we can’t fight and suddenly, we learn it all over again: parenting is hard.

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That’s Phineas

It’s only Wednesday, but already it’s been a tough week for Phineas. Come to think of it, last week wasn’t so great either.

It feels like everywhere he turns lately, he’s pushing the limits, and not necessarily in a Chuck Yeager “I’m gonna break the sound barrier” kind of way. He’s been obstinate, disobedient, just down right naughty. Continue reading

To our new pediatrician

Hi. My name is Heather. I know you’re probably going to call me, “Mom,” throughout most of this first meeting, and that’s o.k. I can take it, though I admit you’ll score bonus points if you take the time to remember me as something beyond my role today. But again, if you don’t, I’m not going to hold it against you. It’s not me that I want you to invest in, anyhow.

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C-A-T

I cried. I’ll tell you that right up front, so that you pick up the thread of this post with its full weight. I cried right there at the table, that laughing, overwhelmed cry that requires you to grab someone and hold them a little too tight for just a little too long.

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And so, we begin

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School is now officially, firmly in session this week. The rhythm is not there yet, but the heart is– and so far, I’d say 2016-17 is promising. The Lord clearly has lessons in mind: lessons in patience, in grace, and being a good student even when you don’t like the skill being taught. And those, by the way, are all for me.

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