SORRY!

You know that game...you just about get your piece home free & then you get bumped all the way back to the beginning while someone is saying, "Sorry" (very insincerely, I might add).  That seems to be how we are feeling with homeschooling right now.

With the affirmation of Dyslexia & Dyscalculia comes the "back to the starting point" feeling.  I wish I had gone through with the evaluations last year as originally planned, but something always stood in the way.  I'm sure this is the time that it was meant to come out in the open.  I'm not in shock.  I've suspected it for quite some time now.  Gigi is just very good at covering it.  She can sit down with a 30 page book, "read" it to you and not miss one word!

Referring to this as having learning "disabilities" is NOT the way we want to go with her.  We'd rather just explain to her that everyone learns differently and we are going to discover the unique way God would have her to learn things.

We quickly found that many people react strangely to this news.  They suddenly started treating her differently when they heard the word Dyslexia.  For example, I thought I should let her children's church teacher know.  We have a small church right now.  There are only 2 children's groups.  One is toddler/preschool aged kids and the other for those who are 5-10.  There are 2 teachers for Gigi's class.  They rotate every 2 weeks.  The one teacher is, well, 3 fries short of a Happy Meal.  The kids love her, but she is so ditsy.    I sat down with her privately to tell her that Gigi has Dyslexia.  She got this horrified look on her face and said, "Oh dear!  I guess we should move her back to the toddler group where she will feel more comfortable."  I just kind of stared at her for a minute and then replied, "OR you could just not put her on the spot by asking her to read out loud."  Then she started laughing and said, "Oh, that would totally make more sense!"

When Gigi came over and gave this teacher a big hug, the lady started talking to her in this loud, very slow manner.  "H-e-l-l-o, G-i-g-i.  H-o-w  a-r-e  y-o-u?"  Gigi looked at her like she was nuts and replied, "I'm fine.  Are you?"  Gigi ran off & I tried desperately not to laugh. 

As we have been letting more people know we have found the same response.  It's like they assume she is now mentally incapable of doing things that she's been doing for years!  It is absurd!  Gigi is wondering why people are reacting to her so strangely now.  I have to admit that I'm wondering the same thing.  She has Dyslexia – not the plague!

We have chosen not to disclose the IQ testing to anyone other than those who have read it on this blog.  We feel that it would put undue pressure on Gigi.  We want her to be self-confident, but not prideful.  Our fear (especially with DH's family) is that if her high IQ score was known it would become her identity.  I want her to remain our spunky little Gigi.  It's just one of many numbers that will be assigned to her in her lifetime.  We didn't even want an IQ test in the first place.  The testing facility required it.  I was very happy with the testing facility other than that.  Those who evaluated her are state certified so everything is "official" for her records.  What I liked about it is that it is a private facility and they will not disclose any information without our written consent. 

Gigi is intelligent, but she is not scholastic.  This has been a tough one for me because I was always scholastic.  I absolutely loved schoolwork.  I had this idea in my mind that she would love it as well & would beg to continue doing school each day.  (Yes, I am delusional.)  She may not be scholastic, but this kid forgets NOTHING!  I wish I had her memory.  I'm going to start pumping Bible passages into her more & more.  We've always done verses, but I going to bump it up a notch.

Gigi is theatrical – not dramatic, but theatrical.  She loves the arts.  Singing, dancing, acting...those are her strengths.  She also loves drawing, painting, and doing things with her hands.  She has so many gifts.  Once we can overcome this current challenge I know that she is going to soar.

So, we are starting over.  Right now we are just talking and taking things at her pace in school.  With so much going on at the same time (health issues & other private things), we are stepping back and seeking God's wisdom with our decisions.

Poor little Gigi...she's so sick right now.  I got her to the doctor yesterday & he put her on a sulfur antibiotic.  (She's allergic to the penicillin family.)  She's a trooper.  That stuff tastes nasty, but she takes it anyway.  Her temperature was spiking to 104 over the weekend.  Thankfully it has been staying under 102 the past 24 hours.  She's dehydrated, though.  I've been trying to get fluids in her.  Hot tea seems to be the only thing that she'll drink, so I've been pumping that into her.  She can't seem to keep anything down.  She has a sinus infection and bronchitis.  Pray that she feels better soon.

I didn't go back through & proofread this.  Sorry for any grammar or spelling errors.  I'm so tired.  We haven't been getting much sleep with Gigi being so sick.

Stacey

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3:21 PM, Apr. 30, 2008 .. Posted by psalms16vs2

I understand about the 'label' thing, as our son was diagnosed either autistic or severe learning disability. Like you, we just choose who to tell it too. And truthfully, my dear, close friends, don't act different at all to him. It's a blessing.
Sorry she is so sick. I hope she feels better soon. :)
JoAnn

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5:25 PM, Apr. 30, 2008 .. Posted by SandBetweenMyToes

Wow. I know that can feel overwhelming, but the good thing is that now you have some answers you can set to figuring out how to proceed from here. I'm lifting up a prayer for you on learning how to teach her, for her health, and yours. May God bless you this day!
Letitia

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