From Homework Battles To Happiness

You don't know what frustration is until your nine-year-old son spends three to five hours doing 4th grade homework every night...

From homework battles to happiness. One dad's story in his own words.

On The Front Lines

It's equally disturbing when he spends all recess finishing up his schoolwork while his peers are outside playing, forming the bonds of friendship that he's left out of, while he sits inside...alone. The frustration is duplicated daily when quality time can't be spent with his siblings or my spouse because one of us is preoccupied at the kitchen table with a kid who just says, "I don't get it," or he immediately forgets what was just taught to him seconds prior. Tears well up in his eyes and his familiar smile disappears.

I spent the last three years in denial about Hunter. I assumed that things would improve with time. Sooner or later the light would come on and he would be fine. But this year, in the fourth week of school, his teacher said he needed more help than she could give. She said he would likely fall behind and fail if things continued on the current course. She carefully hinted there were medications we might want to discuss with our pediatrician. I was no longer in denial. Fortunately, my wife had already been looking around and had a brochure for LearningRx that she absconded over the summer. That's how we were introduced to the people and principles behind LearningRx.

On our first appointment, I was skeptical. I didn't personally know of anyone who'd been through this unconventional program. It sounded expensive, yet promising.

The LearningRx Director seemed very sensitive to our situation. She appeared confident and knowledgeable about her skills and conveyed a sense of trust to us that seemed to lift the weight off my shoulders. We had Hunter tested and the results correlated well with our suspicions of the areas where we thought he might be weak. That gave us hope. While we weren't promised the world, she guaranteed improvement with hard work. She also suggested that improvement would continue after the program was over.

Going into this, our son had a full workload. He had homework (which we were struggling with), baseball (3 weeks left in the season which he needed to continue since this was his only physical release and sustainer of any self-esteem), 3 nights a week at LearningRx, and 4 hours of home training. I wasn't sure he could maintain the schedule. Then there was Sara, his very focused and serious trainer. I also wasn't sure she would mesh with his very immature, playful nature. After the first session, however, Hunter came out to get me with a great big smile on his face - the same carefree smile I used to see when he was a toddler running on the beach - without a worry in the world. It melted my heart and I knew I was committed from that point on.

For several weeks, we juggled homework and the LearningRx schedule as well as the daily occurrences of family life. Slowly we started to see changes. Through all the work, Hunter looked forward to his appointments with his trainer. At home, the LearningRx assignments were a fun challenge and break from the seriousness of schoolwork. On occasion, after the allotted time for LearningRx homework was fulfilled, he would ask to do more. The same kid who hated school was beginning to like it more and more each day. Just before the halfway point of our 12-week schedule, he produced a 100% on a math test!

Right after Christmas, an amazing thing happened. The nightly battle with hours of homework was reduced to less than two hours a night. His argumentative and rebellious behavior diminished. For extra credit in his social studies class, he had to memorize a poem about Christopher Columbus. Together we approached the project much like the list of Presidents he was trained to memorize the first few weeks of LearningRx. Our son was one of a handful of students that achieved the maximum points on the extra credit project. Thank goodness we didn't choose medication.

I believe the key to our success with the program lies in the commitment to follow through with the home training portion. We worked together as a family and fulfilled our obligation to the program in time and effort. We made it fun and kept the atmosphere friendly. If Hunter struggled with a task, we took a break, but then pressed on. I don't know how many times I choked back tears of joy when I saw his self-confidence building at the end of each session.

One day, on the way home from LearningRx, Hunter, said, "I am so happy, Dad. Now I can do things that were so hard before." Hunter still continues to mature. But, the extra time without so much homework allows him to be in his favorite place...outside. Just a few months ago, I would pick him up from school only to find out he hadn't even attempted to do his homework. Now, it is done almost every time. His gains are not just limited to the classroom. I see it at home with the, "Yes, sir," or, "Yes, Dad," and, "I'll do it!" I also see it on the ball field...with greater confidence and effort.

I don't want to paint too perfect of a picture. Hunter still has a marathon homework session every once in a while. He regularly fights with his brother and still makes some careless mistakes on a test. But, it is so much easier to deal with now because he really listens, doublechecks his work, and looks for his own answers by way of reading and asking questions. And on occasion, he even agrees with his brother!

Hunter "gets it" and now I do, too. "Thank you," to the LearningRx Director and Sara, his trainer, for opening my eyes to cognitive skills. Thanks for your help teaching me how to maximize home study skills and for the extra supplies. Most of all, thank you for helping me improve the quality of my son's life in a fun way that helps him develop as a great kid.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Hunter's experience is not unique. Lots of parents wait, expecting learning problems to disappear as the child matures. They rarely do. At LearningRx we offer affordable, accurate testing with no further obligation. We welcome your questions and the opportunity to help your child. Please give us a call. Look for the number to your local center.