I learned early that Hayden was a tactile learner.  When I taught math he always had manipulatives. When we studied history there were always projects whether it was building pyramids or making bricks like the Egyptians. But Hayden was still struggling with reading.  I went through six reading programs and nothing worked until I found another angel, a tutor who specialized in Orton Gillingham. I sat in on the session and saw how the multi-sensory style of learning clicked with him.  So I signed up for Multi-Sensory Education classes and Orton Gillingham classes.  In one year my son went from reading little readers to reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I was so ecstatic about the progress he was making. Each person God brought to me led me to someone else that taught me so much. And I often wondered how can I give back everything I have been blessed with? The answer came to me one afternoon while visiting with a dear friend and mentor. We were talking about our journeys in life and she said to me, “The biggest sin of all is not sharing the knowledge that God has given you”.  She was right.  If I could help other mothers not make the same mistakes I made and not go through six different reading programs to find the right one that is what I needed to do. So I started tutoring. 

I’m not saying it is easy.  We all know it is not.  But what makes its go so much smoother is when you have a strong family and/or friends who pick you up when you fall and are there to cheer you on. It’s a learning experience.  Some things worked great for my son, some failed miserably.  Sometimes he was accepted, sometimes he wasn’t.  But through it all our family remained strong and was able to help him through those times of rejection and defeat. And because of our faith, our strength, our friends and our family we have watched him grow into an amazing young man whose heart is as pure as gold and who sees the world as an adventure and not as an obstacle.

Lei Rhyne
Mother of Hayden Rhyne
Director, Hayden’s Way
770-351-6304