A few years ago, when my son was in second grade, his teacher told me he needed to be tested for learning disabilities. She suggested he had dyslexia because he reversed more letters than was typical for kids his age, and sometimes he reversed entire words. She also thought that he wasn't as focused as he should be and should be tested for Attention Deficit Disorder. She recommended that we put him in the school's special reading program for kids with learning problems.
I left the meeting distressed. But I also realized that this was an opportunity for me to take a stand for who my son really was—the child of God, as I've learned through my study of Christian Science. I knew I had to see him as complete—not lacking in any ability to express God, who is infinite intelligence. And I realized that I had accepted some common educational beliefs about little boys: that they lack fine motor skills and are less mature and focused than little girls. I needed to see my son as having the same focus and completeness as his sisters.
My husband and I decided to arrange for a reading tutor, but not to enroll our son in the special reading program. I also contacted a Christian Science practitioner, who agreed to pray for him each day. The practitioner recommended that he take some time each day to read from the Bible and from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. In addition, my son and I read and talked about many inspirational hymns.
