Catholic • artist • gardener • seamstress • lover of all things domestic • and sometime attorney
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Some Good News for Felix
National Merit Finalist this weekend. I love this for my boy that couldn't read until he was seven, could barely write til he was thirteen. But brilliant, and it all came together in his own time.
Really, this warmed my heart, to hear how he has overcome some pretty big hurdles. It gives me hope for two particular lads I work with that just really hate writing.
That's just wonderful news Anna! What a comfort to know that everyone needs to find their own way and we just need to be patient enough to wait on it. It's no wonder that the Psalms exhorts us to wait so much...
That is so neat, and so encouraging for me! I have three boys with different learning issues....and sometimes I struggle with knowing how to keep going!
Congratulations both to Felix, and to you for having taught him so well!Well done!
Anna, I wanted to thank you for teaching me one thing too:how to think and say:'better'.I have suffered from permanet sulking I think, because I was such a miserable perfectionist. But I have learned this here- things can be 'better', and that is good enough. I say as often as I can now, it sounds like music to my ears...! I hope you don't think I am odd for saying so. I am just grateful.xx
Congratulations to Felix! I had three finalists and one winner--a very wonderful distinction, and a great testimony for homeschooling, and letting a child move at his own pace.
Anna, Thank you for posting about Felix. This little bit of information has brought confort to me. My son Joshua just turned 13 has had a very hard time remembering phonics and he struggles with letter formation along with putting together a simple sentence. After spending so much money on the "perfect" curricullum I've just decided to start over. Do you have any advice for a mother who loves her son so much but is at a loss. I know he's so smart, kind and loves to serve others and I really believe God has a special plan for him and for his future but I just don't know what to do anymore. Kim
Congratulations to Felix! And to you and your husband, too!
Our daughter is a second generation home schooler who is home schooling our grandson this year (6). Just the encouragement she needs right now. I sent her the link to this page. Thank you!
Congratulations to Felix! That's wonderful! Job well done, to his mom! It just shows that God's plans are not always our own, but they are so much better!
Even though I have no children, nor will I ever have any, this is so fascinating to me! The idea of treating people as individuals is only from God, nowhere else.
Sometimes I wish that you'd be able to find the time to go into these things in more detail - not personal stuff necessarily, but how you knew enough to let them go at their own paces. If it was scary for you, or if you knew women who told you it was okay. (when you mentioned in your "good-bye Q&A" post about leaving the formal schooling till age 8, I told my friend Debra, and she just nodded her head - it wasn't a foreign concept to her.) It must be difficult for parents doing it this way; I imagine there is pressure from relations and others who are appalled at this sort of method. But it all seems like blessedness to me.
Congratulations, Felix, and thank God every day for your special parents! The respectful way they dealt with you through your life, is a illustration of how God deals with us - or, wants to, if we let Him.
Congratulations! How wonderfully encouraging to any parent. Children are so different and the way we school them often does not allow for that.
This is also germane to me as my husband and I try to figure out what to do about kindergarten next year for our oldest.
I was something - finalist? semifinalist? back in the day. I remember being a little surprised at the fuss, the newspaper, the school assembly. And did a very average SAT and went to state university. Very happy overall!
I love that! I had no idea Felix had difficulty in the past ... I've actually just imagined all your children as very early intellects. What a great story!
I'm with Randi ... I imagined your children the same. I agree ... it would be so helpful to have advice from a mom who has done this. I am home educating five children, as well. One has tested for dyslexia and likely a couple more. So we are working pretty hard over here and hearing from someone who has come out on the other side as well as your children have/are doing - would be so helpful.
Congratulations to Felix! Placing anywhere in the National Merit program is a big honor, and one you don't receive without both the student and the parents working very hard!
I homeschool my four kids and my only boy didn't read well til he was 8 and at almost 9 he is still having a lot of trouble with spelling and writing. This post made me very hopeful! Like everything he's done since he was a baby...he does it when he's ready and then just takes off regardless of how much weeping and gnashing of teeth I do. So happy for you and your family. Thank you for sharing Anna! Your blog continues to inspire me all the time.
Your comment about him not being able to write well until he was thirteen is so encouraging to me. I have a brilliant (in my opinion) son who draws amazingly, and thinks profoundly, but spells so atrociously and still writes letters and numbers backwards. I would love to hear a little more about what you did about writing for Felix. I try not to push mine very hard in this subject because it is so discouraging to him.
If you are comfortable could you touch on what made the difference for Felix??
I have a 10 year old daughter that we homeschool and I am so discouraged. She has difficulty with reading, writing, remembering basic math facts. Maybe a late bloomer, I don't know? She has been tested for learning disabilities and while there isn't anything clear, everything seems hard for her.
It is a struggle not to see it as a reflection of me as a mom/teacher... although my other homeschooled daugher is doing well :)
This gives me hope for my 7 year old. He struggles with reading and barely writes. I would love to hear more about your journey with Felix and homeschooling.
Congratulations! Thank you for the view from the other end. With a younger learner for whom things come more slowly, I need to be reminded that she will get there in her own time, and that's fine. I'm so glad to be reading your blog again. dorothy
Bravo! Wonderful news, and thank you for sharing about his 'late start' to reading. I have a dear friend whose (very smart) daughter is still struggling at seven, and I'm going to pass along a link to this post.
Wonderful news! Congrats to Felix. Thank you for mentioning Felix's "late bloom" I dislike saying that. I have a little one who very recently turned 6. He does not read and is just beginning to show an interest in writing. His speech is not that of other 6 year olds. While it is improving, there is still work to do. His mind is always working. A definite thinker. Very mechanical. He's my gentle one. Tender hearted. At times my heart breaks for my little one. We've had some testing done. Now we are seeing an allergist. It seems difficult to always stand firm when others believe that we should not keep our children at home.
Congratulations to Felix!
ReplyDeleteReally, this warmed my heart, to hear how he has overcome some pretty big hurdles. It gives me hope for two particular lads I work with that just really hate writing.
Yay! How wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOn the reading subject. My son is reading now and it is just.so.amazing to watch.
Enjoying the fact that God is blessing your *boy*, and in doing so has blessed you and your family.
ReplyDeleteSo happy for all of you.
Maria Ricci
Congratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's just wonderful news Anna! What a comfort to know that everyone needs to find their own way and we just need to be patient enough to wait on it. It's no wonder that the Psalms exhorts us to wait so much...
ReplyDeleteLilian
That is so neat, and so encouraging for me! I have three boys with different learning issues....and sometimes I struggle with knowing how to keep going!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations both to Felix, and to you for having taught him so well!Well done!
ReplyDeleteAnna, I wanted to thank you for teaching me one thing too:how to think and say:'better'.I have suffered from permanet sulking I think, because I was such a miserable perfectionist. But I have learned this here- things can be 'better', and that is good enough. I say as often as I can now, it sounds like music to my ears...! I hope you don't think I am odd for saying so. I am just grateful.xx
Felix congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It helps so much to know that when you have late bloomers...it's OKAY!
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting time! It's so easy to get worried and anxious in the early years, but what an encouragement to how far he's come.
ReplyDeleteWell done Felix!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Felix! I had three finalists and one winner--a very wonderful distinction, and a great testimony for homeschooling, and letting a child move at his own pace.
ReplyDeleteSo, congratulations to *you*, as well!
--Barbara
That's not just an accomplishment. It is a testimony! Congratulations, Felix.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Felix!!!
ReplyDeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting about Felix. This little bit of information has brought confort to me. My son Joshua just turned 13 has had a very hard time remembering phonics and he struggles with letter formation along with putting together a simple sentence. After spending so much money on the "perfect" curricullum I've just decided to start over.
Do you have any advice for a mother who loves her son so much but is at a loss. I know he's so smart, kind and loves to serve others and I really believe God has a special plan for him and for his future but I just don't know what to do anymore.
Kim
Congratulations to Felix! And to you and your husband, too!
ReplyDeleteOur daughter is a second generation home schooler who is home schooling our grandson this year (6). Just the encouragement she needs right now. I sent her the link to this page. Thank you!
Congratulations to Felix! That's wonderful! Job well done, to his mom! It just shows that God's plans are not always our own, but they are so much better!
ReplyDeleteEven though I have no children, nor will I ever have any, this is so fascinating to me! The idea of treating people as individuals is only from God, nowhere else.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish that you'd be able to find the time to go into these things in more detail - not personal stuff necessarily, but how you knew enough to let them go at their own paces. If it was scary for you, or if you knew women who told you it was okay. (when you mentioned in your "good-bye Q&A" post about leaving the formal schooling till age 8, I told my friend Debra, and she just nodded her head - it wasn't a foreign concept to her.) It must be difficult for parents doing it this way; I imagine there is pressure from relations and others who are appalled at this sort of method. But it all seems like blessedness to me.
Congratulations, Felix, and thank God every day for your special parents! The respectful way they dealt with you through your life, is a illustration of how God deals with us - or, wants to, if we let Him.
Lisateresa
Congratulations to Felix and to a Mom who had the confidence to follow what was best for her son.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's certainly something to be proud of! Way to go, both to Felix and to the parents who taught him to love learning.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! How wonderfully encouraging to any parent. Children are so different and the way we school them often does not allow for that.
ReplyDeleteThis is also germane to me as my husband and I try to figure out what to do about kindergarten next year for our oldest.
I was something - finalist? semifinalist? back in the day. I remember being a little surprised at the fuss, the newspaper, the school assembly. And did a very average SAT and went to state university. Very happy overall!
So wonderful!! Congratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteI love that! I had no idea Felix had difficulty in the past ... I've actually just imagined all your children as very early intellects. What a great story!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Randi ... I imagined your children the same. I agree ... it would be so helpful to have advice from a mom who has done this. I am home educating five children, as well. One has tested for dyslexia and likely a couple more. So we are working pretty hard over here and hearing from someone who has come out on the other side as well as your children have/are doing - would be so helpful.
ReplyDeleteThis is so encouraging. I have one of these late bloomers and it's good to see that others have "made it through"!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Felix! Placing anywhere in the National Merit program is a big honor, and one you don't receive without both the student and the parents working very hard!
ReplyDeletewonderful and a good reminder about what is important in these sweet years with my children at home. Mary Brooke
ReplyDeleteI homeschool my four kids and my only boy didn't read well til he was 8 and at almost 9 he is still having a lot of trouble with spelling and writing. This post made me very hopeful! Like everything he's done since he was a baby...he does it when he's ready and then just takes off regardless of how much weeping and gnashing of teeth I do. So happy for you and your family. Thank you for sharing Anna! Your blog continues to inspire me all the time.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Felix! Do they really write "Dear Finalist"?!?!?
ReplyDeleteYour comment about him not being able to write well until he was thirteen is so encouraging to me. I have a brilliant (in my opinion) son who draws amazingly, and thinks profoundly, but spells so atrociously and still writes letters and numbers backwards. I would love to hear a little more about what you did about writing for Felix. I try not to push mine very hard in this subject because it is so discouraging to him.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations from one National Merit scholar to another. Well done. Brace yourself for the barrage of college recruitment!
ReplyDeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteIf you are comfortable could you touch on what made the difference for Felix??
I have a 10 year old daughter that we homeschool and I am so discouraged. She has difficulty with reading, writing, remembering basic math facts. Maybe a late bloomer, I don't know? She has been tested for learning disabilities and while there isn't anything clear, everything seems hard for her.
It is a struggle not to see it as a reflection of me as a mom/teacher... although my other homeschooled daugher is doing well :)
I could write a book but will close now.
Thank you,
Tammy
Yahoo! You know, two of our biggest readers are the two that read "late". Go figure!
ReplyDeleteWow - congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThis gives me hope for my 7 year old. He struggles with reading and barely writes. I would love to hear more about your journey with Felix and homeschooling.
ReplyDeleteI love this.
ReplyDeleteAs one who is starting the homeschooling journey, I too am so interested in how it was for you when your children were younger.
Well done, Felix!!
Congratulations! Thank you for the view from the other end. With a younger learner for whom things come more slowly, I need to be reminded that she will get there in her own time, and that's fine. I'm so glad to be reading your blog again.
ReplyDeletedorothy
Congratulations, Felix!
ReplyDeleteBravo! Wonderful news, and thank you for sharing about his 'late start' to reading. I have a dear friend whose (very smart) daughter is still struggling at seven, and I'm going to pass along a link to this post.
ReplyDeleteWonderful news! Congrats to Felix. Thank you for mentioning Felix's "late bloom" I dislike saying that. I have a little one who very recently turned 6. He does not read and is just beginning to show an interest in writing. His speech is not that of other 6 year olds. While it is improving, there is still work to do. His mind is always working. A definite thinker. Very mechanical. He's my gentle one. Tender hearted. At times my heart breaks for my little one. We've had some testing done. Now we are seeing an allergist. It seems difficult to always stand firm when others believe that we should not keep our children at home.
ReplyDeleteGo Felix, Go Felix, Go Felix! Woo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you as well Anna for being patient and persistent.
Felix is an inspiration!
ReplyDelete