2 of 6 flower arrangements to sell at the October Craft Fair and I made them all!
(Didn't find out the clear glue used to look like water takes up to 6 mos to solidify)
Now for the real post...
DYSLCALCULIA
One of the several learning disabilities under Dyslexia and I discovered it over the weekend. I must admit I had come across it before but only looked at the Dyslexia and decided I did fall somewhere in that, but the description didn't fully fit me the way I thought it should, so I just ignored it.
AND then along came this past weekend and for a reason I don't remember, I looked up dyslexia again and saw the "calcul" part of the word and was curious, so I clicked on it. Oh my... I still haven't really believed that there on the screen was nearly a perfect description of me and my experiences in learning and maintaining what I did learn. After all these years it's hard to believe there is an explanation for all the doubt and difficulty and wondering about why I just couldn't get it with numbers!
The thing is there's more to it than just not being able to memorize the multiplication tables when I was in elementary school. When I graduated from High School it was with only having completed General Math. No other math! None! And I barely passed it. When I was very young my grandmother lived with us, and she took care of my sister and me while my parents both worked. When I was, I think the 3rd grade she had me evaluated, with the permission of my parents, for mental retardation.
That didn't answer her concerns about my learning abilities because I passed just fine. That was in the mid 1950's, and I don't think the knowledge of the whole stream of dyslexia learning disabilities had yet been widely known if known at all. I was always a little concerned that she thought along those lines but now at 80 I realize that she knew something wasn't right. She just didn't know what. She had been a grade schoolteacher in her younger years.
Along with not being able to think of numbers the way my classmates did is also a glitch in understanding things connected to what numbers are related to. To put it in real life I've always had difficulty with balancing a check book, even with a calculator. I worked at a bank several times and I could handle the money for the customer at my window. Make change, cash checks and take deposits. What I had extreme difficulty with was balancing at the end of the day. When things didn't balance, I could look at the calculator tape and not see anything. But the Head Cashier would take one look and find the mistake immediately. That was without comparing it to anything but the cash count.
There are many other things this disability touches which I won't go into...just google it if you are interested. The real excitement came when I saw the following paragraph title "Superpowers"! As I read it, actually word for word the tears began to well up but never quite overflowed. The description was nearly perfect about things I can do artistically, how I intuitively know things, the insight that seems to turn out to be right usually and so on. And the way I think! How I seem to think of things outside the box in problem solving. Redesigning something that doesn't quite meet the need. The ability to rebuild, redesign and make a poor design of my own into something that works even though. As long as |I don't have to measure, or it doesn't have to be perfect in that aspect it's all good.
I once bought an old armoire redesigned it into an office piece with a fold out work surface for a desk, holes for the wires to go through in the back, shelves under the computer, shelves above for binders and papers. Instead of using the doors to the original piece, I replaced them with a couple of swing out rods that opened in the middle and hung curtains on both so that the inside of the cabinet could be closed from view. It worked great for a couple of months but then I noticed it was beginning to lean. That continued to continue until one day it became too obvious as I was sitting at the computer as it was moving. Ah phooey! I had a friend take it outside and break it apart and throw it in the dumpster. I knew then it was the measuring etc.
The Cabinet 👀
That's my cat Iris. First is the cabinet being dismantled in part. Second is the working cabinet. The piece propped up on the side is the inside of the front door.
I'm so thankful even at this moment that all those years that I struggled with the reading, spelling, grammar and particularly numbers. Never be able to understand how grammar worked or math. With those two things being so primary, basic, in everyday living and I couldn't figure out why I just can't do either without a great deal of frustration and event tears at times. There's an answer, it's real and it's has absolutely nothing to do with my intelligence. And the plus is that in some areas I'm on the top side of above others.
If this post at all interests, you for personal reasons...look it up!!!
This is me, Judy once again sitting at my monitor attached to my laptop on the desk, I assembled from two file cabinets and a board which resides in my craft room! This is where I create. Believe it or not I am apparently somewhat gifted with creative writing. I'm so much better for this information. It explains me to me. Blessings to you each one. In the Cottage, I'm Gramms of Gramms Cottage Creations. Not a business just a name for my creations.
Comments