Learning disabilities

It is about 5 years ago that the teacher asked me to come to school and have a talk. I knew that Jens was having problems at school but I wasn't prepared for this. She told me that Jens hadn't progressed one single bit all year and that things didn't look good. I didn't hear much of the rest she said. My world broke down. In a flash all my hopes and dreams for him scattered in a thousand pieces.

After that everything changed, I wiped off my tears, put myself together and started the journey. A friend gave me a phone number from an LD centre and he got tested. The educational psychologist said again that things didn't look good but there was a change he had learning disabilities and he got further tests. And yes the end rapport read Jens had moderate to severe level of specific learning disabilities (SLD) He started Occupational Therapy for his Dyspraxia and got a teacher once a week specialised in SLD. During that time I wrote this:\

My Son, You Shine

Arms and legs tangled,
not knowing where they go
no control,
a tear lost in your eyes.

Letters muddled,
a secret language on paper
no understanding,
a tear hidden in your eyes.

A stream of instructions
drowned in your mind
no direction,
tears flowing from your eyes.

My son, don’t cry.
No more wandering in the night.
I will be your light,
unveiling the secrets.
And know this:
you carry your own light.

You shine when
you pour a waterfall of words,
rising with your river,
living the truths of
charm and compassion.

You shine when
you juggle a smile onto my face,
and when I hear you negotiate,
I know these gifts will guide you
through the ocean’s waves
of your life.

He knows.
He smiles.
He shines.

Now after lots of help, practises, long struggles, homework fights and years of practice to learn to ride a bike He shines in nearly all areas. I knew he could do it.

At the moment Jens does homework independently, he is average at school (only spelling is still a problem) . Our house is always filled in the weekend with his friends. He is well-loved all around and likes to ride his bike and is good at chess. The teacher told me this time that he is still not confident, which was a pity because he has very good ideas. But he will get there. He is like any teenager and tries to outsmart me and his sister. I know the hard work behind this success and he has to continue working hard.