The biggest thing is to chill. He can read!!!! Praise God for that hurdle. He will get the rest. Lorna
Hey Kim! My Rachael LOVES your "kick like a girl" quote!!! She's been playing soccer for eight years! I can't remember the last time she actually scored a goal, but she gets right in there and plays well. So Saturday, when I couldn't go to the game because Phillip was also playing and we had to "divide and conquer" for the day, she scored TWO!!! Jen, I have a 10 YO that I would love to have that neat of handwriting from!!! SERIOUSLY!!! (I think she has some special needs that make it more complicated!) Phillip doesn't write that well; he's 6 1/2.
Just to put things in persepective. I have a 9 year old who writes sloppy when he wants to. He is able to write clear and neat but it takes motivation. MY dd writes perfect, always has but she has other issues we deal with. My ds15 who also writes sloppy. I worked and worked untill I was stressed out with that one on his penmanship and it did not change. Then I look at his dads hand writting and wonder if its hereditary? ( grin) Another idea is to have him go back to dot to dots for fun, this can help with writing and following directions as well! Be blessed not stressed and I hope I helped! T
We do Explode the Code for Spelling. My son just turned 9 and he really likes these. He knows exactly how many pages he has to do a day(usually 3) and he has learned to spell pretty well. My dd6 is using them too. She is learning to read using them and still has problems remembering a few letters, but with the everyday practice is getting better. They are not expensive. Usually about $6.00 each. They have a "test page" at the end of each lesson. They have to spell the words from memory. They also have writing and reading practice. You can choose the level that is right for him because there are many books with different blends and such. Sabrina
You all sound like you're doing so great! I'm sitting here weeping, because I just blew up at my ds (15) for not wrapping more words around a situation in which it looked like he had been disrespectful. He didn't explain to me that he had already talked with his dear dad about something. Well, now they're at the driver examiner's for a permit. 'Thing is, he doesn't read. Not much--due to FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). He basically functions great, however, & is very likeable & polite; so no one could ever guess how he struggles. The examiner said they'd read the test to him. Well, I'm struggling, too, with wanting to be a Proverbs 31 Mom, & I have so far to go! DS's twin sister is doing college-level work & will enroll in a Jr. College to take courses (at home) next yr. I'm guessing part of ds's not being verbal may be due to FAS, but he functions so well in some areas, that I forget that he might be challenged verbally. But sometimes I think it's stubbornness that he doesn't want to put forth the effort. I mean, this amazing 15-yr. old buys & sells cars! 'Buys from local farmers, cleans & fixes up, & then has resold three already! He has a good-paying job, & besides, is his dd's "right arm." It looks like our Creator-God is providing well for him & that he'll do just fine in life. And yet I let things worry me. Like he's not "measuring up" or something. I've been reading this thread & thought our family's struggles might give another perspective. Thanks, everyone, for sharing. It surely helps to know I'm not the only one with doubts. And I don't know whether to feel guilty or not, because I'm not totally sure of his motivation.
Man, I love this board! Thanks so much for your ideas and support. You certainly made it a lot easier for me. I'm going to try really really hard to "chill" -- I'll let you know how it goes.
I agree, it does help to handle a situation, knowing that I am not the only one. But, I have additional guilt for being too hard on my twins. They were 2 months premature, 3 pounds and 12 inches, when they were taken by c-section. To date, have NO "Premie" issues. How lucky am I, that they have no learning disabilities or physical limitations? I do not seek pitty. I just think that Proverbs 31's post really helped me to see where I was going so wrong and I felt the need to publicly appologize to my kids. I guess this is like a confessional? My words to other moms: Step back and get a grip on your personal priorities. Don't be your own worst enemy. Your kids are not out to get you. And, it is never such a big deal, that you can't let "Some" of it go. <<< What I am trying to teach myself!<<<< One reason that my children are not in PS, is my diss-like for the ridgid, impersonal education model. And like an idiot, I completely succeeeded in replicating that, at home. SHeeesh! On a lighter note; We are having a blast taking a week off. We are still learning though! Reading, Library, playing games, art time, and science experiments. Perhaps we are closet "Unschoolers"? Good luck, everyone! jen
Jen, that reminds me of what someone told me as I enrolled in college: "Never let studies interfere with your college education!" Sometimes I think we hs moms let studies interfere with life's education.
We have al heard that humor is good medicine.... This is for Prov 31 and anyone else like me, who could use a good laugh . . . . .
Prairie Mom, My ds15 did not read well in the begning because he 'wasn't gonna learn to read because he didn't want to!" I tried everything, and i worreid that maybe he had a learning problem. Then one day I noticed he really was reading something, a comic book or something, not just looking at the pictures. He was around 7-8 maybe nine or ten? When I found Dave Pilkey's books! Captain Underpants and the talking toilets" sounds grose but do you know it was just the thing! IT has part comic part story. He started with one, said yes he would probably read another. After the second book he was researching teh author at the library and getting every book the man wrote! He told me that he READ that Dave Pilkey had started writing at 11 years old! This is what got him encouraged to write and draw , and yes, even read! I used to not let him read anything that I thought was 'not appropriately titled: so when I saw this one I though you know what, he woul love it just for the toilet! lol He went from there to the ANimorphs series and tears of joy came to me the day two years ago .. my son said "Mom,I can't wait till we get home I cant wait to read my book!" Be patience and dont worry, but try loking up Dave Pilkey books! It is written in kid language and may just get his attention to want to improve his reading? Btw, I just bought my son the lastest edition , both my 9 and 15 yr old love the Dave Pilkey books now!
We just ran to the post office.... While waiting in trafic for a train, one of the 6 year old twins made an astute observation. (ie: reading). "Hey! Look! That truck says; "Toyota! Get it"? TOY -YODA! That's funny!" (They are MAJOR Star Wars fans) It was a giggle-fest all the way to the post office and back, while they made "jokes" out of every word they could think of. I was laughing so hard, I cried. My babies can not only read, they also find the humor in double entondras! (Spelling?) Glee! jen
Jen, my first 3 were all "preemies", just not as young as yours. My first was 32 weeks and a little over 4 lb. She was overall healthy, she just didn't know how to suck. She would open her mouth for the feeding tube like a little bird! My second and third were 36 weekers which is right at the cutoff. ANNNYWWAAAYY! Relax, my oldest is now 20, a beautiful healthy mother of 1 and due again next spring. The drs told me when she was born that she would be behind in everything and actually was always ahead! She stayed small at first but at 20 is 5ft6in tall. She was reading in kindergarten(PS) and was in advanced classes right up until high school. Each child learns on a different level. All my girls read real young and my son could barely read going into 2nd grade. Don't panic but always be diligent in making sure they don't have an underlying problem. With preemies you especially need to keep up with their vision appt. and let the dr know if they had been on oxygen at all. Sorry for rambling! Jennifer
