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When you’re navigating school struggles, homework battles, and advocating for your child’s needs, it’s easy to let stress take over. But here’s the truth— the number one resource your child needs is not a tutor, an advocate, or a structured reading program. They need you!
Your number one purpose and goal is to put your relationship first and this episode shares ways to put your relationship first, even in the toughest moments.
The Emotional Toll of Dyslexia – On You & Your Child
As moms, we feel every struggle our child faces. When they hurt, we hurt. And dyslexia, with all its frustrations—school struggles, self-esteem dips, endless advocacy—can take a toll on both of you.
What happens?
- Homework becomes a battle.
- Your child starts feeling like they’re not good enough.
- You start questioning if you are doing enough.
The pressure to “fix” things can make you forget the most important thing— your child’s heart. When frustration builds, you risk turning every conversation into a correction instead of connection.
At the beginning, I felt a lot of personal pressure to find the best school, figure our how many sessions of tutoring and speech therapy our daughter needed and with who, and how to explain dyslexia to our first grader. Years later she told me that she knew something was different as other students learned to read chapter books with easy and writing was not as much as a struggle for her friends – not to mention how long it took her to complete an assignment in class. There were many days that I felt hopeless and out of my comfort zone. Once I focused on my daughter and not the dyslexia, everything changed. We wanted her to enjoy childhood and we spent time deciding on a dyslexia school and how to protect time after school for her to explore her interests and have time to rest.
Shifting from Fixing to Supporting
It’s natural to want to ‘fix’ the struggles and make life easier for our children. But dyslexia isn’t something to fix—it’s a difference to understand.
So, what if you shifted your focus from “How do I help my child read better?” to “How do I make sure my child feels loved, safe, and confident—no matter what?”
❤️ Listen Before You Teach – Before jumping in with corrections, validate their feelings: “I see this is really hard for you. I’m here to help.”
❤️ Separate Homework from Your Relationship – Try using an outside tutor, so you’re not always the one enforcing reading and writing drills. This way, you can be “Mom” first, not just the homework enforcer.
❤️ Celebrate Their Strengths Daily – Make it a habit to point out the amazing things about them that have nothing to do with school. “You have such a creative mind!” or “I love how kind you are to your little brother.”
Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship
Now, let’s talk about some simple ways to strengthen your connection, even in the midst of challenges.
📌 1. Create a No-School Talk Zone – Whether it’s bedtime, dinner, or weekend mornings, have a time where school isn’t the focus. Talk about dreams, interests, travel, and life instead.
📌 2. Build in “Success Moments” – Find activities where your child shines. Art, building, music, storytelling—whatever makes them feel confident.
📌 3. Use Laughter as a Reset – When stress is high, find something silly to do together—a joke, a dance party, or a funny voice reading a book.
📌 4. Show Up Just to Love Them – Surprise them with an unexpected hug, a love note in their lunchbox, or a ‘just because’ treat. Let them know they are valued beyond their reading ability.
How to Support Students with Stealth Dyslexia
What can parents, teachers, and even students do?
✔️ Look Beyond Grades – If a student is struggling with reading and writing but still making good grades, dig deeper. Are they overcompensating?
✔️ Get a Dyslexia Screening – A formal evaluation can uncover hidden challenges. International Dyslexia Associations has a free screener.
✔️ Teach with Multisensory Methods – Using audiobooks, voice-to-text, and hands-on learning can reduce the strain of traditional reading and writing.
✔️ Encourage Strength-Based Learning – Focus on their creativity, problem-solving, and verbal strengths.
✔️ Normalize Dyslexia – When students understand their brains work differently, they can build confidence instead of self-doubt.
Releasing Guilt & Trusting the Journey
I know the weight you carry. You wonder if you’re doing enough, if you’re making the right choices, if your child will be okay.
Let me tell you—you are enough. And your child will thrive, not just because of how well they learn to read, but because of how deeply they know they are loved.
So today, let’s take a deep breath and remind ourselves—before anything else, before reading levels and school struggles—our relationship comes first.
Remember, you are not alone. You got this!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Episode 130: Understanding Your Child’s Dyslexia Workshop
- Subscribe to the Better Together Newletter
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Remember, You Got This! You are not alone!
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