As I watch my daughter continue to struggle with schoolwork – observing how organization, memory & follow-thru are so difficult for her, I’m reminded of what many of the speakers at the NILD conference mentioned this week. There are skills that we want these students to gain, but their sense of value & connection is of utmost importance. Helping them accept, & even more, appreciate their uniquenesses as individuals is key. That they be able to read, write & spell is necessary, but without love in their hearts, there will be no purpose in what they read & write. As a therapist, and especially as a mom, I must first love, encourage & appreciate my child exactly the way she is, and THEN help her to move forward assured.