I used to think dyslexia was just about flipping letters—b, d, p, q. A quirky little mix-up that kids outgrow with enough flashcards and phonics drills. But watching Eli struggle has shattered that shallow understanding and replaced it with something far more personal, far more emotional.
Eli has wrestled with reading and writing since day one. Not just the occasional stumble, but deep, persistent frustration. I brought it up at every parent-teacher conference. I mentioned it during speech IEP meetings. I asked, I waited, I hoped. For three years.
Three years of watching him feel “less than.”
Three years of seeing the sparkle in his eyes dim when he was asked to read aloud.
Three years of him saying, “I’m just bad at this,” and me trying to convince him otherwise.
And then came the moment that broke me:
“I’m the dumbest, stupidest boy.”
I finally stopped waiting for the school to take action. I took him to Children’s Hospital for an evaluation. Because I needed answers. Because he deserved validation. Because I couldn’t let another year go by with him believing he was broken.
What I’ve learned is that dyslexia isn’t just about letters—it’s about how a child sees themselves. It’s the invisible weight they carry when the world expects them to learn in a way that doesn’t fit their brain. It’s the anxiety before class, the tears over homework, the quiet shame of feeling “different.”
And it’s not just academic. It’s emotional. It’s social. It’s identity-shaping.
🧠 What Dyslexia Really Is
Medically speaking, dyslexia is a neurobiological learning disability that affects how the brain processes written language. It’s not a reflection of intelligence or effort—it’s simply a different way the brain is wired.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Phonological processing difficulties: Trouble breaking words into sounds, which makes decoding and spelling hard.
- Slow, effortful reading: Even familiar words can take longer to recognize, making reading feel exhausting.
- Memory and retrieval issues: Forgetting words just read or struggling to recall vocabulary, even when they understand it when spoken.
- Writing challenges: Spelling, sentence structure, and organizing thoughts on paper can feel overwhelming.
Kids like Eli are smart. They’re capable. But when their learning differences go unrecognized, they start to believe the problem is them—not the system that’s failing to meet them where they are.
💪 What I’ve Learned
Dyslexia isn’t just about letters. It’s about how a child sees themselves. It’s the invisible weight they carry when the world expects them to learn in a way that doesn’t fit their brain. It’s the anxiety before class, the tears over homework, the quiet shame of feeling “different.”
And it’s not just academic. It’s emotional. It’s social. It’s identity-shaping.
Eli is brilliant. He’s creative, curious, and kind. Dyslexia doesn’t change that—it just means he learns differently. And now that we know what we’re dealing with, we can support him in ways that actually help.
If you’re a parent who suspects something deeper, trust your gut. Advocate fiercely. Don’t wait for permission to seek answers. Because every child deserves to feel capable, seen, and celebrated—not just for how they read, but for who they are.
Leave a Reply