Comments on Blogs Are Stupid: Sometimes, There Isn't a Band-Aid Big Enough

Oh. So true. It's gut-wrenching to watch the pain,...

2007-09-10T14:25:00.000-05:00

Oh. So true. It's gut-wrenching to watch the pain, to feel it right along with them.

But with you by his side, he's destined for greatness.

This reminded me of my brother growing up so badly...

2007-09-10T13:08:00.000-05:00

This reminded me of my brother growing up so badly! He is by far the smartest person EVER but he had ADHD and he didn't feel smart because he learned differently. He's back at school now -- doing great (all 100%'s) -- getting some sort of electronics degree -- but he's 42 and this is the first time in his life he's felt smart. He had issues with Math too and is such a great artist & writer! So

Aww, poor boy. I don't even know what to say. I ca...

2007-09-09T23:09:00.000-05:00

Aww, poor boy. I don't even know what to say. I can imagine quite well how he feels about what the other children will think.

Does he have any friends who are good at math? I didn't like math in school, either, and didn't want to learn my multiplication tables, either, and I always thought I sucked at math, and was always ashamed of this, until one year I found a good patient friend who

This is exactly why my kids go to the good school,...

2007-09-09T10:59:00.000-05:00

This is exactly why my kids go to the good school, in the bad neighborhood! They are in prek and 1st grade. The 1st grader has ADHD mild, but he needs prompts to do tasks. We switched from a female teacher to a male teacher, and we have seen a huge diffrence already! We also noticed that having a few kids with disabilities in the class, that had them last year, was a big help, so when the

Nice recipe. It will come in handy.

2007-09-09T08:11:00.000-05:00

Nice recipe. It will come in handy.

I totally know what you are going through. My ADHD...

2007-09-08T23:40:00.000-05:00

I totally know what you are going through. My ADHD daughter is also in 4th grade and struggles with math. I so agree with you that having a teacher that knows how to handle our kids makes such a difference on their school success. I'm really excited about her teacher this year because she also has a child with ADHD and she's big on behavior modification. Both me and my daughter need behavior mod!

As a former 4th/5th grade teacher and a current in...

2007-09-08T22:46:00.000-05:00

As a former 4th/5th grade teacher and a current instructional coach, please let me know if I can offer either you or your son any assistance this year. (You can e-mail me from my blog) I know his teacher is lucky to have such an enthusiastic volunteer - I would have loved to have had you in my room!

Ooh! Ooh! I get the Horshak reference!Good luck ...

2007-09-08T21:37:00.000-05:00

Ooh! Ooh! I get the Horshak reference!

Good luck to your little guy. He knows his mama has his back.

Oh - you just nailed my worst fear. I'm not the p...

2007-09-08T17:19:00.000-05:00

Oh - you just nailed my worst fear. I'm not the praying type but I pray that my guy will 'graduate' from special ed this year so that by the time first grade roles around, he's not on 'the short bus' and being pulled out of class. Kids are mean and it's not fair.

I'm so sorry, I wish I could make you, and most importantly him, feel better.

Man, that mom thing can be hard on the heart, huh?...

2007-09-08T13:58:00.000-05:00

Man, that mom thing can be hard on the heart, huh?

OMG, that is the first time a blog entry brought t...

2007-09-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

OMG, that is the first time a blog entry brought tears to my eyes.

"A word to Moms whose children are young enough th...

2007-09-08T11:55:00.000-05:00

"A word to Moms whose children are young enough that their ailments can still be kissed away...sometimes there isn't a band-aid big enough to cover the hurt. And sometimes, you, as a mother, will feel crushingly powerless."

OOOf. I so look up to you BA. Thanks for the wise words of warning.

I love you and your son's honesty.You're right--th...

2007-09-07T21:33:00.000-05:00

I love you and your son's honesty.

You're right--there are no guidebooks for dealing with this stuff. Dealing with a toddler who is afraid of the wind (the wind!) is nothing compared to this.

HI! I don't think I've ever left a comment on you...

2007-09-07T21:19:00.000-05:00

HI! I don't think I've ever left a comment on your blog, but this post demanded I chimed in.

I know exactly where you are coming from. I don't know if this is an option for you or not but we used Sylvan last year. I can not express how quickly and amazingly this program worked for my child.

He was reading at a level 2 years behind and in 6 months he is now able to read and

He isn't stupid, his brain just works differently....

2007-09-07T20:33:00.000-05:00

He isn't stupid, his brain just works differently. That's the most important thing for him to understand. Working with LDs is tough, but if he gets that he's just as smart, if not smarter than the other kids, but his brain has a different way of getting the information, then it's easier for him to be able to defend himself if other kids are mean.

My daughter has two severe LDs, CAPD and

You know as the Creative Curriculm room parent, yo...

2007-09-07T19:39:00.000-05:00

You know as the Creative Curriculm room parent, you can come up with interesting ways to learn math for him. Math applied outside of the classroom will put it into perspective which may help your son be more encouraged and want to try to learn it. Like you say - it may be the way he's being taught right now.

This just about broke my heart. But ice cream doe...

2007-09-07T19:25:00.000-05:00

This just about broke my heart. But ice cream does help. And hugs, even if he pretends not to like them. Keep hugging.

I've been reading your blog for quite a while and ...

2007-09-07T19:09:00.000-05:00

I've been reading your blog for quite a while and just had to comment. I have a 23 year old son who has struggled through the school system, and thankfully graduated from high school on schedule, but not without lots of love, support, meetings called by me and creative solutions. Hang in there. You are doing all the right things. Your full time job is being your son's advocate.

I work as

BA - Since you are going to help with curriculum, ...

2007-09-07T17:52:00.000-05:00

BA - Since you are going to help with curriculum, check out this link: http://teachers.yahoo.com/

If you find something you like or that might help, you can share it with the teacher. It's a very cool place. I had hoped to use it myself, but it's aimed at younger kids than those I teach.

I have no idea if knowing how others sometimes struggle would help Diminutive One or not,

Oh, I hear you. We seem to have a good teacher thi...

2007-09-07T16:25:00.000-05:00

Oh, I hear you. We seem to have a good teacher this year, too. Hope his continues to work out for him. I guess another thing to say would be that people can tell if you're struggling withOUT the help. Getting the extra help is no surprise. Yes, kids will be mean. Yes, some might think they are better than he is because they don't need extra help. But that doesn't make it right for them. And it

I didn't like to take my asthma medication for the...

2007-09-07T16:22:00.000-05:00

I didn't like to take my asthma medication for the same reason your son doesn't want a math tutor (well i thought i would look like a nerd instead of stupid but same thing). after gasping for breath all the time I figured out it was just part of what I had to do to stay involved in things. Maybe he will come to that point as well? I also don't know my multiplication tables, once I was allowed a

Oy. Poor kid. Your recipe sounds like just the thi...

2007-09-07T14:22:00.000-05:00

Oy. Poor kid. Your recipe sounds like just the thing for an injured heart.

That is a recipe for success! I just love the way ...

2007-09-07T13:55:00.000-05:00

That is a recipe for success! I just love the way you tackle and handle these situations. As a mom of a two year old, your wisdom will resound in my ears for years to come.

I know your heart is breaking for your son, as mine would be too! I still agree with you that a little pain now is worth saving a lot for the future. Not that the future helps today's pain at all. Wouldn't it be great

Poor little guy. I so relate to his frustration.Hi...

2007-09-07T13:44:00.000-05:00

Poor little guy. I so relate to his frustration.

High school: Failed Algebra II - had to take summer school

College freshman year: Couldn't pass a required university test, so had to take Basic Math. Um. Yeah.

College junior year: Required to take a 5-hour Trig/Pre-Cal class for a journalism BA (stupid!) Took me two tries to pass it.

College junior year: Also

A wonderful recipe indeed... I hope his hurt heals...

2007-09-07T12:43:00.000-05:00

A wonderful recipe indeed... I hope his hurt heals quickly and that this is the year that Math "clicks" for him so he won't have to feel bad about it anymore!!