Director’s Corner
Discovering Dyslexia in My Dad, and Hope for My Son
My dad has always been the person I could go to for anything, preparing for a job interview, filing taxes, even figuring out how to start a leaf blower. He seemed to have all the answers. But it wasn’t until a few years ago, on Christmas Eve, that I realized he had struggled with reading his entire life.
We were sitting with our son, cookies, milk, and carrots carefully laid out, and I asked my dad to read The Night Before Christmas. Donning matching striped pajamas, he began, but he stumbled over words, got lost mid-sentence, and seemed to ad-lib large portions. At first, I thought it was the late hour, the dim lighting, or maybe the “festive” beverages we’d enjoyed. The next morning, I asked if he’d been feeling okay, and he shared something I had never known: he was dyslexic.
As a child, he had been sent from one boarding school to another. No one realized he was falling behind because of a learning disability. Yet somehow, despite struggling with reading, he compensated by becoming a master of connection, he learned to build relationships, read people, and communicate in ways that came naturally to him. His struggle didn’t define him. It shaped him in ways that reading never could.
Thinking about my dad made me reflect on my own experience. I don’t remember learning to read. It came naturally to me and became a foundation for success. But when I watched our son struggle in kindergarten and first grade, I suddenly understood the stakes. Reading felt like work he hated, and he resisted practicing sight words at home. It wasn’t until we switched schools, introduced him to the color method, and let him explore comic books that reading became fun, empowering, and meaningful for him. That early support made all the difference and now our son is a proficient and enthusiastic reader.
Reading has always been a bridge for connection in our family. Every night since our son came home from the hospital, we have a ritual: one parent reads while the other lays on the floor, cuddling the dog. Everyone is happy and relaxed before bed. The power of reading isn’t just in literacy; it’s in connection, confidence, and joy.
Reflecting on my dad, I can’t help but wonder where he might be today if someone had recognized his dyslexia and supported him when he was younger. Challenges can build strengths, but our children deserve the chance to succeed without unnecessary barriers. By noticing children who are having difficulty early—whether that means adjusting the method, identifying a learning disability, or providing support—and by investing in early literacy initiatives, tools, and teacher training, we can help every child not just survive, but thrive, gaining the confidence, joy, and connection that reading brings.
Through organizations like Parenting Matters, we can ensure that no child has to wait until Christmas Eve to discover their potential.
About Executive Director Katie Becker
Katie Becker joined Parenting Matters as the Executive Director in May of 2022 after being a long-time supporter and board member. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College, and has spent her career in the nonprofit sector, including the YMCA and United Way Suncoast. She has enjoyed honing her skills in fundraising, marketing, and strategic leadership to advance missions close to her heart. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania and has been a Florida resident for fifteen years. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with her family and pets, making art, and being active outdoors.