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Hi Joanna -
Thanks so much for sharing your situation.....

Here are my thoughts:

I was at a retreat this weekend in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and there
was talk of watering wholesome seeds - take care of your wholesome seeds -
joy, love, happiness, compassion - so that you are strong to handle the
unwholesome seeds - doubt, fear, frustration, anxiety - as they come up..... And when
the unwholesome seeds do grow tall and strong, recognize them, take care of
them, lullabye them - and attend to the wholesome seeds to help them be
stronger..... Nature is good for wholesome seeds.....

Find a middle road..... when two seemingly polar options are both distasteful
- pause, wait, let go of outcome, breathe, let go, and find something else to
do - especially something that nurtures you or your relationship with
Jack....

I have seen MAGIC happen when one lets go! I bet you have, too! Just when
you think it'll never happen..... BOOM - it comes from a different direction
and perhaps in a different form! Letting go frees us to SEE!

Here's our experience with reading (me and Jaclyn 9yo - who is writing this
with me):
When she was 7, it was hard not to be a 'reader' because other people were
reading and it sounded so fun. She was motivated but it seems her mind and body
were not ready. Now she is 9 and about 6 months ago (just after she turned
9), things just really clicked in incredible ways and she started reading
chapter books (esp. A-Z Mysteries series). She says that she basically didn't read
until she was 9. She has read all 21 books in that series.
I tried to do word cards with her when she was 5 or so and it was very clear
that her mind/eyes/whatever were not putting together the written information.

Similarly, it was a difficult for me sometimes bec. A. she's a girl and girls
read earlier, right? B. she's a homeschooler and homeschoolers read earlier,
right? and C. she was my oldest and the oldest reads earlier, right? and D. I
was a special ed teacher - and teachers know what to do with teaching
reading, right?
Phew! I guess watching her learn reading allowed me to 'water the seeds' of
trust - bec. I had to do it over and over and over....
And, also, I would not change anything about her struggle with reading and
her incredible satisfaction with having taught herself to read! She figured it
out on her own!! Like you said that Game Cube teaches reading, I think
Jaclyn learned from road signs while we were in the car! (Jaclyn agrees with me!)
Jaclyn says she likes how she learned to read bec. if she had read earlier
she probably wouldn't have read the books she likes so much now.

Anyway, Joanna, Trust yourself..... trust Jack..... trust the process.....
If it doesn't feel good, don't do it...... When in doubt, don't......
Let go..... let go..... and let the magic begin!!

Much love,
Jane


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joanna Wilkinson

--- In [email protected], JSUTFRAN@a... wrote:
>
Beautiful post Jane. Thank you!
This really hit home.

> And, also, I would not change anything about her struggle with
reading and
> her incredible satisfaction with having taught herself to read!
She figured it
> out on her own!! >>

I'm getting a lot to think about here.




> Jaclyn says she likes how she learned to read bec. if she had read
earlier
> she probably wouldn't have read the books she likes so much now.



Good point Jaclyn! Thanks for your input.


>
> Anyway, Joanna, Trust yourself..... trust Jack..... trust the
process.....
> If it doesn't feel good, don't do it...... When in doubt,
don't......
> Let go..... let go..... and let the magic begin!!
>
> Much love,
> Jane
>

It's so much easier said than done. I wish I had been at that
retreat with you!

Joanna