There she goes into that big brick building. Am I afraid for her or me? She does not talk too much and she could care less about reading. I thought the third child would be easier. Something is different. I have been through chronic asthma, ADHD, insomnia and every childhood dilemma imaginable, but I cannot seem to put my finger on this one.
             Tia is a five year old girl with a wonderful imagination who loves the outdoors. She always loves when I read to her but now that she is older she does not want to learn to read. She cannot write her name and has no desire to write her name. At the pre-screening for kindergarten and old militarian looking woman proceeded to lecture me on how far behind Tia is compared to most kids her age, suggesting I had failed her.
             Now the day has come. Tia has to face her future and I have to face the fact that she is going to struggle. I really don't know who is more scared. Well, the first year proceeds as expected. Tia struggles and finds school frustrating. At parent teacher conferences I express my concerns but am met with smiles and comments that I should not worry. "Some kids are late bloomers," I am told. By years end my fears are validated. Tia is not going to go to first grade, she is going to pre- first grade. This is a great thing I am told. She gets an extra year to mature and catch up with her friends. She gets to be in a very small classroom where she will get lots of one on one instruction. However, I get to deal with all the down sides. Her friends move ahead and she does not. Tia questions her abilities because she is not moving one. Plus, now I will have a daughter who goes through puberty in fourth grade instead of fifth grade with the other girls. Tia will turn sixteen as a freshman and will not graduate high school until she is nineteen.
             We all go into pre- first grade with a good attitude and high hopes. Parent teacher conference comes a...