Posting HERE about our journey with my daughter has been an amazing thing. So many people have come out of the woodwork to say that they also have learning disabilities. That's awesome.

I find it interesting that according to ldonline 15% of the US population, or one in seven people, have learning disabilities of some sort or another. In IS genetic, and in my family, my mother is dysgraphic, and my brother is dyslexic. I won't speak for my husband, but it runs along his genetic line as well.

And yet Phoebe's teacher says she hasn't done a learning disabilities work up on a kid in over SIX YEARS! There are currently four kids (including my own) who I could name who should have a work up. Yet Phil makes an interesting point - and one that I can see as very likely. He said that most parents, especially of younger students, do not want to "label" or "stigmatize" their child by having them evaluated. I know this is true with one of my neighbors who's child is in my daughter's class.

So I'm fighting upstream, so to speak. I WANT the label. I WANT my daughter to understand that she's NOT stupid, her brain is just wired differently, and it's telling her things that aren't quiiiiiiite right all the time. I want the services that will help her to learn in a positive way. I-want-my-daughter-to-like-to-learn.

Today I turned in my formal written request for a meeting. According to the principal the meeting is already scheduled, and yet I don't know anything about it. You bet your arse, though, that I'm gonna be there, I don't care if it's Christmas Day.

Michael, thank you so much for your e-mail. It meant a lot to "hear" it.

I have received some VERY nice, and helpful comments on my dyslexia posts. Thank you to Liz for your perspective, and to Jessica, for your experience. It makes me feel good that I'm on the right path.

Liz said something about that it's not just the switching we should be on the lookout for. I agree completely, Phoebe's been frustrated and angry for almost two years now. Last night she was crying that Monday was a school day. I'm certain that her lack of focus is a compensatory method to the fact that she's frustrated. She's even called herself "stupid" a couple of times.

These things make me sad. As I noted before, our goal for the second grade is not for her to excel at standardized tests, or to be at the top of her class for grades, rather our goal is for her to learn how to learn, and to love learning. Right now, the methods employed by the school are not methods that work for her to learn, and so it's making her dread learning.

This is not acceptable.

So, for THIS moment, I will go along with the school's process, and today I will submit our request for a meeting, in writing. From what I understand they have 60 days to comply. That's a LONG time for a kid to stay frustrated, let's hope it doesn't take that long.