Education | Lessons from my daughter

The summer before Emily started high school, we decided to have her math and English reading skills tested at our local Sylvan Learning Center

Emily was missing skills normally acquired in 1st grade.

We don’t know what Emily can or can’t learn but we know that she is learning so with that in mind, we invested in her. So far, a small fortune has been invested in her private tutoring but to see her reading skills improving is priceless.

Today, she received a card.

When she opened the card, she started to read out loud so I stopped her and recorded her.

Click on the link to witness this amazing event.

Emily is reading

Here you have it.

My baby can read. She’s awesome, she’s a rockstar and I adore her for not giving up and continuously trying.

Today I was inspired.

It happens regularly that Emily inspires me but today it was a whole community.

A mom to a new 10 weeks old beautiful child with cri du chat syndrome asked our Facebook support group if her baby would ever smile.

What was a really raw question generated the most amazing answer. Her post filled quickly with pictures of smiling kids of all ages.

We are a really special support group, we are a family and I would love to introduce you to our extended family.

I’ve reached out and it looks like many families are ready to tackle this journey with me.

My first interview will be with Emily.

Q: Hi Emily! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

A: Well… I have no idea. I play a lot of baseball. I have two dogs. I do some painting and that’s it. I am 16.

Q: Can you tell me about your syndrome?

A: My syndrome (giggle). I have cry like a cat syndrome. It effect my #2s. (Laughing out loud now). It effect my voice, my eyes and of course it effects… Yeah.

Q: Do you see yourself as different?

A: No

Q: Do people see you as different?

A: No

Q: Do you have hobbies?

A: Painting, puzzles, horseback riding, bowling and baseball.

Q: What do you like best about school?

A: Everything.

Q: What would you like to do when you grow-up?

A: That’s a really trick (tricky) question. I have no idea.

Thank you baby girl. You are awesome.

Going forward, I will have 5 standard questions for families and some for the person with cri du chat syndrome.