Reading David A Mother and Son's Journey Through the Labyrinth of Dyslexia

1The ProblemIt's Open School Night. It's my first Open School Night because David is my first child and he is in kindergarten. Speeding home from work, no time to count change, I toss a random handful of coins into the tollbooth on the Henry Hudson Parkway. Full of purpose and determined to do it right, I join the long line of cars at the school waiting to park on the lawn. Volunteers direct us, waving flashlights against a thick fog rolling in off the Hudson River on this late September night. Still wearing my ''Dr. Weinstein at work'' uniform, I am sweating in tasteful gray wool and pearls. Rushing to be on time (7:30--Introduction with the principal; 7:45--Meet with classroom teachers; 8:15--Meet with specialists), I catch a high heel and sprawl into the sandbox. It's an inauspicious beginning. The cornerstone near the entrance of the school announces the building's 1955 conception. A two-story redbrick structure built to withstand the Cold War, its functional, no-frills design and prominent American flag silently proclaim the down-to-earth values that are promoted here. The plentiful crimson leaves on the 300-year-old maple at the front offers further proof of the stability Larry and I sought in moving to this suburban town. Looking at the school, I'm sure we have made the right choice. David, still not even five, and Daniel, our two-year-old, need never know the precocious maturity of city children. Here a child can grow up in his own time and not be afraid to ride a bicycle in the street or walk alone. Inside, the halls are brightly lit. The chipped paint on the doors and window frames attest to the fact that sage green was a ''hot'' color for fall at some earlier time. Above the bricks on the half-masonry walls are bulletin boards filled with children's artwork and testimonials (''Why I love school,'' ''My favorite place''). Room 111...109... Here it is, 103. Ms. Miller. Entering the room, I am immediately enveloped by familiar smells--open glue pots, nontoxic poster paint, fading construction paper, dried snot. Sitting dutifully in a chair that is not the right size for this Goldilocks, I wonder which of the other parents can be my friend. To my left are cubbies where David hangs his new grown-up backpack, the one I worry is too big for him; near the windows is an area for block building. Looking to see if any of the constructions saved to show the parents belong to David, I find a drawing of stick figures with the caption: ''Me and my friends sitting around. We will share our toys.'' Comforted by the complexity of the idea, I ignore how primitive David's drawing is compared to the other kids'. Across the front of the room hangs the obligatory string of cut-out alphabet letters and numbers. At the kindergarten screening they said the school did not expect children to know their letters yet. Teaching them that would be the job of the kindergarten. I certainly haven't been able to teach him. David has dictated a note for me: ''Dear Mom, Welcome to Open School Night. I hope you have a good time.'' I write back: ''It was great to see your classroom and meet your teacher. I know you will love being in school just like I always did.'' Ms. Miller, an earnest twenty-two, sits on her desk, nervous legs crossing and uncrossing beneath a long floral skirt. It's her first year. She announces the class parents. I am one. She hands out materials on how children learn letters and begin to read and write and explains the kindergarten ''curriculum.'' With tears in her eyes, she recites a poem about the importance of play for children's creativity. She is passionate, dedicated. I pat myself on the back again. As I am about to leave, she stops me. ''I'd like you to go see...I'd like you to go talk with Mrs. Wilson, the speech therapist. I had her meet with some of the children in the class to evaluate their speech. The school has really goodWeinstein, Lissa is the author of 'Reading David A Mother and Son's Journey Through the Labyrinth of Dyslexia', published 2003 under ISBN 9780399529344 and ISBN 0399529349.