Back a few months ago, I asked for prayers for Dustin and I as we made some choices regarding 2 of our small peanuts. With a humble heart I am posting about something that was very tough for me as a mother to take. I am a very open person, a quark I sometimes wish I didn't have, however for some reason getting to a place where I can talk about our family stress was a hard thing for me to do.
So, bare with me if I ramble...
Towards end of Kadyn's Kindergarten school year, we found out Kadyn really struggled with reading. This was a hard news to hear. As a parent, I don't require my kids to get perfect grades, I just want them to do their best and give their personal best. For Kk, school was a different experience the it was for Gaby. Gaby picks up on subjects very quick and does not require a lot of studying, as of yet. Kadyn, we are learning, has to work a lot harder for her results. I don't know why I didn't see this earlier- I feel like I should have known or picked up on it sooner. We read her books every night, she read to us when the books came home, we worked on her sight words. However, it just doesn't click with her yet.
I felt like a failure. When I got the news from her school that she could attend the summer tutoring program, I broke down. I felt I let my daughter down as a parent and it was our fault for her struggles. The tutoring didn't work out due to transportation and other concerns. That lead to another melt down. What if she doesn't get it? What if she hates reading like I did growing up? All of these thoughts flooded my mommy brain and I shut down. I didn't talk to anyone about our choices to not tutor her, her reading struggles, and my failing parent thoughts. I had to get to a better place where I didn't see myself as failing Kadyn as a parent. I am not embarrassed that she needs extra help- I was overwhelmed at what to do to meet her needs and to help her be successful. I didn't know where to start. I needed direction.
I spent a lot of time in prayer- we finally told a close friend and our small group from church our stresses and sought out advice on directions to go. It felt good to start talking to other parents/ friends and learn that we are not the only ones that have ever dealt with this. We have heard success stories of kids that were behind after their first year and are doing great now. I pray that Kadyn will be added to those stories soon...
So, we have a path. We are homeschooling. (Those are words I never thought I would ever say) It is just for the summer. We are trying to balance a day of daycare activities with some reading, workbook time, journaling, flashcards, and educational games. Kadyn and I have made a list and a chart to keep us on track. We do 3 sessions a day that rotate activities for her.
She is a trooper. This is her summer and she is giving her all when it comes to her lessons. We still have a long ways to go and hopefully she will be ready for first grade soon.
This is Kadyn, working on her journal...
So, bare with me if I ramble...
Towards end of Kadyn's Kindergarten school year, we found out Kadyn really struggled with reading. This was a hard news to hear. As a parent, I don't require my kids to get perfect grades, I just want them to do their best and give their personal best. For Kk, school was a different experience the it was for Gaby. Gaby picks up on subjects very quick and does not require a lot of studying, as of yet. Kadyn, we are learning, has to work a lot harder for her results. I don't know why I didn't see this earlier- I feel like I should have known or picked up on it sooner. We read her books every night, she read to us when the books came home, we worked on her sight words. However, it just doesn't click with her yet.
I felt like a failure. When I got the news from her school that she could attend the summer tutoring program, I broke down. I felt I let my daughter down as a parent and it was our fault for her struggles. The tutoring didn't work out due to transportation and other concerns. That lead to another melt down. What if she doesn't get it? What if she hates reading like I did growing up? All of these thoughts flooded my mommy brain and I shut down. I didn't talk to anyone about our choices to not tutor her, her reading struggles, and my failing parent thoughts. I had to get to a better place where I didn't see myself as failing Kadyn as a parent. I am not embarrassed that she needs extra help- I was overwhelmed at what to do to meet her needs and to help her be successful. I didn't know where to start. I needed direction.
I spent a lot of time in prayer- we finally told a close friend and our small group from church our stresses and sought out advice on directions to go. It felt good to start talking to other parents/ friends and learn that we are not the only ones that have ever dealt with this. We have heard success stories of kids that were behind after their first year and are doing great now. I pray that Kadyn will be added to those stories soon...
So, we have a path. We are homeschooling. (Those are words I never thought I would ever say) It is just for the summer. We are trying to balance a day of daycare activities with some reading, workbook time, journaling, flashcards, and educational games. Kadyn and I have made a list and a chart to keep us on track. We do 3 sessions a day that rotate activities for her.
She is a trooper. This is her summer and she is giving her all when it comes to her lessons. We still have a long ways to go and hopefully she will be ready for first grade soon.
This is Kadyn, working on her journal...
Now onto my next peanut, Kendal!
Kenni is 16 mo. old. My little runt of a baby is not walking. Our kids have always been late walkers for whatever reason. However, at a year old Kendal wasn't pulling up, she wasn't cruising, and had no desire to try to walk. As a early childcare educator, I know she was behind. Really, this is my field however it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see she is behind on gross motor.
I made the call. I called TARC (which is a foundation that works with young children with special needs) to get Kenni evaluated and to see if she qualified for services. They called back to set up her appointment the very same day I got "the call" from Kadyn's teacher about her reading struggles. Let me just say, that day sucked. One of my peanuts isn't reading and another not walking! Epic Fail!
Since May, Kendal was accepted into their program. She is currently getting monthly home visits from physical therapy specialist. She is now pulling up, cruising, and she might have taken 1-2 steps tonight! She will need inserts for her shoes for a while. When Kendal is standing, she is rolling her feet in which makes balancing harder for her. It is something she will most likely out grow as she gets older.
As a mom to these perfect little girls, I have struggled with these issues. It has been a humbling experience as we figure out what are the right choices to make for our kids. I am so grateful for our support system that has been in praying for our peanuts. I am also reminded that God is our perfect parent and as much as I struggle with knowing what to do, how to advocate for my girls, and how to be the best parent I can be- He already knows.
Kenni is 16 mo. old. My little runt of a baby is not walking. Our kids have always been late walkers for whatever reason. However, at a year old Kendal wasn't pulling up, she wasn't cruising, and had no desire to try to walk. As a early childcare educator, I know she was behind. Really, this is my field however it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see she is behind on gross motor.
I made the call. I called TARC (which is a foundation that works with young children with special needs) to get Kenni evaluated and to see if she qualified for services. They called back to set up her appointment the very same day I got "the call" from Kadyn's teacher about her reading struggles. Let me just say, that day sucked. One of my peanuts isn't reading and another not walking! Epic Fail!
Since May, Kendal was accepted into their program. She is currently getting monthly home visits from physical therapy specialist. She is now pulling up, cruising, and she might have taken 1-2 steps tonight! She will need inserts for her shoes for a while. When Kendal is standing, she is rolling her feet in which makes balancing harder for her. It is something she will most likely out grow as she gets older.
As a mom to these perfect little girls, I have struggled with these issues. It has been a humbling experience as we figure out what are the right choices to make for our kids. I am so grateful for our support system that has been in praying for our peanuts. I am also reminded that God is our perfect parent and as much as I struggle with knowing what to do, how to advocate for my girls, and how to be the best parent I can be- He already knows.
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