Dyslexia Mom Life™ | Education, Encouragement & Real Life

When you're a mom and you begin to wonder if your child might have dyslexia, there are so many questions running through your mind. Where do I start? Who can help me get answers? Should I go through the school, seek a private evaluation, or somehow navigate both? And honestly, how am I supposed to know which path is right for my child?

I remember how much there was to learn as we navigated our own journey, and I know how overwhelming it can feel when you're trying to make the best decisions for your child.

Today, I'm taking you behind the scenes of dyslexia evaluations and sharing our family's experience with both public school evaluations and private testing. I'll walk you through what we experienced, what I learned along the way, and what I hope other moms can take away from our journey.

I'm sharing our story because hearing another mom's experience can help you feel less alone and more prepared for the road ahead. I'll keep our family's private information confidential, and while every child's journey is different, I hope our experience gives you helpful perspective as you consider your own options.

So, if you've ever wondered about the differences between public school evaluations and private dyslexia testing, or you're trying to figure out what questions to ask next, this episode is for you. Hit play; let's do this!

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Understanding Your Child's Dyslexia Workshop - Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

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Have you ever sat in a meeting about your child's learning and felt like everyone was speaking a completely different language? You hear terms like IEP, 504 plan, phonological awareness, structured literacy, and specific learning disability—and you're trying to keep up, take notes, and figure out what it all means for your child.

If you've ever walked away from a conversation with more questions than answers, I want you to know you're not alone. When you're navigating dyslexia as a mom, there's so much to learn, and sometimes it feels like you need a whole new vocabulary to understand what's happening.

Today, we're breaking down dyslexia terms, terminology, and acronyms every parent should know. We'll explore some of the common words and abbreviations you may hear during evaluations, school meetings, conversations with educators, and discussions about reading instruction.

My goal isn't to overwhelm you with a dictionary of unfamiliar terms. It's to help you feel more confident asking questions, understanding what professionals are saying, and advocating for your child's needs.

And here's something I want you to remember: you don't have to learn everything overnight. You're learning as you go, and every new term you understand is one more tool to help you navigate your child's journey.

So grab a notebook if you'd like to jot down a few definitions, and let's start decoding the language of dyslexia together!

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Follow Dyslexia Mom Life on Substack for behind-the-scenes and real-life stories.

Understanding Your Child's Dyslexia Workshop - Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

All things dyslexia and parenting --> www.dyslexiamomlife.com

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What happens when a child begins to believe that dyslexia is who they are?

After years of struggling with reading, writing, homework, or keeping up in school, some children internalize the message that they're "not good at school" or that they're not smart. As parents, it can be heartbreaking to watch—and difficult to know what to say or do.

In this episode of Dyslexia Mom Life, we’re talking about the emotional side of dyslexia and how repeated school struggles can affect a child's confidence, self-esteem, and sense of identity. Nicole will explore how to help your child separate who they are from how they learn, recognize his/her strengths, and develop a more positive view of themselves.

Nicole will also share the role we play as parents in helping your child move beyond labels, navigate frustration and fear of failure, and understand that struggling in one area doesn't define their potential.

Because dyslexia is something your child has—it is not who your child is!

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Follow Dyslexia Mom Life on Substack for behind-the-scenes and real-life stories.

Understanding Your Child's Dyslexia Workshop - Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

All things dyslexia and parenting --> www.dyslexiamomlife.com

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Are you a mom raising a child with dyslexia who constantly wonders, Am I doing enough?

Maybe you’re researching dyslexia after everyone else has gone to bed. Maybe you’re wondering if your child needs more tutoring, more reading practice, more advocacy, or more support at school. Maybe you feel guilty when you’re frustrated, guilty when you need a break, or worried that you’re missing something your child needs.

Welcome to dyslexia mom guilt—the pressure to do everything possible to help your child succeed.

In this episode of Dyslexia Mom Life, Nicole is honestly sharing about the fear, guilt, and pressure that can come with parenting a child with dyslexia. We’ll explore why moms often feel like they should be doing more, how comparison can fuel that guilt, and why being your child’s advocate doesn’t mean you have to become their therapist, tutor, teacher, and full-time dyslexia expert.

Because supporting a child with dyslexia isn't about doing everything. It's about trusting yourself!

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough to support your child with dyslexia, this episode is for you.

You Got This!

Follow Dyslexia Mom Life on Substack for behind-the-scenes and real-life stories.

Understanding Your Child's Dyslexia Workshop - Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

All things dyslexia and parenting --> www.dyslexiamomlife.com

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Since before my daughter was born, I can remember buying her books. We read to her when she was young, and as she got older, we would take her to the library and bookstores to spark her reading. There are many books in our house that she has never opened. We know that reading is essential to her success - we live in a reading world. 

Now, you wouldn’t know that our daughter didn’t always love to read. She carries a book with her everywhere she goes now - to school, to dinner, in the car... anytime she has downtime, she is reading. 

Want to know how that happened? Let’s dig into the 3 steps that led her to become an avid reader.

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Understanding Your Child's Dyslexia Workshop - Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

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Learn how to help your child organize his backpack for a successful school year!

Truthfully, this episode is a great listen any time of the school year as a reminder and reset - we revisit the backpack throughout the school year. I know how hard it is when your child is frustrated and feels defeated with homework, and it starts with knowing where they left it and what is due, so that’s why I’ve put together 3 things you can do right now to help your child organize her backpack for success! 

As a parent, helping your child to stay organized isn’t about the work; it’s about helping your child stay emotionally regulated and feeling supported. So if you’re ready to take the unorganized backpack from chaos to calm, grab your favorite journal and let’s dive in!   

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Learn parenting tips for parenting during middle school 

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To win at school meetings, focus on active listening, clear communication, and collaborative problem-solving. Instead of rambling or presenting information passively, try to frame your thoughts to encourage participation and build consensus. For example, instead of "We need to address this," try "What are your thoughts on how we can best approach this?"

In this episode, Nicole provides 3 winning strategies for your next school meeting.

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Understanding Your Child's Dyslexia Workshop - Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

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One of the things that I learned early on our dyslexia journey is that dyslexia often co-occurs with other difficulties. In other words, most of the time, dyslexia is not the only struggle for dyslexics. I call these co-occurrences, dyslexic sisters. Sisters may include speech, anxiety disorders, developmental language disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The research estimates that 30% of people with dyslexia are also AD/HD. 

Both children with dyslexia and AD/HD may be underachieving in school, even though they are often bright and motivated. The goal is to meet their potential. Children with these disorders must be carefully evaluated because treatment for one disorder is different from that for the other. Inaccurate diagnosis can lead to inappropriate intervention and a delay in timely, effective intervention. Early intervention is key for both dyslexia and AD/HD.

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Understanding Your Child's Dyslexia Workshop - Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

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Early in my dyslexia parenting journey, I took every piece of business advice as gold. I was so eager to learn everything I could get my hands on about dyslexia that I rarely stopped to ask, does this make sense for my parenting journey and the best way to help my daughter? 

But over the years, I learned a valuable lesson: not all advice is good advice. Some of the most common expert tips can steer you in the wrong direction.

The truth is, every child with dyslexia is different, and what works for one child might not work for another. That’s why your intuition is so important! 

Some of my biggest wins have come from doing the exact opposite of what the so-called “rules” say to do.

Today, I’m sharing five pieces of bad dyslexia advice I’m so glad I ignored. 

You Got This!

Understanding Your Child's Dyslexia Workshop - Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

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All things dyslexia and parenting --> www.dyslexiamomlife.com

Free Dyslexia Mom Life Podcast Community --> www.facebook.com/groups/dyslexiamomlife

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