"A mum dreading life for her six month" old daughter

I got an email from Raqiya, who has a 6 month old daughter, who is long sighted.

The Message read: 

"I would like to ask how have you tackled school years did you have help from send, I’ve read you’re short sighted my daughter is long sighted. 

Do u get along in life, what are you able to see."

I broke my answer down into three stages

School years:

My school years were fine. I dealt with the odd name calling here and there, but nothing too bad. I mean, we were all ripping on each other, kids will be kids, so I feel it would've maybe felt more excluding to have not been included in the banter. In terms of bullying though, or teasing, I was fortunate enough to never have to deal with it. I had a few kids make snide comments, but I just kinda ignored it....with any form of bully or teasing, I believe you should never let that person believe they have got under your skin, that's what they want and they will keep picking at that. If you can bypass it most kids will eventually get board and move on. I know it's easier said than done, but it's worth giving it ago.

School work, I used to have to sit at the front in all of my classes, which I didn't like, but it was fine. What I did struggle with, was even at the front of the classes I'd still struggle to read the black/white board, so I'd have to copy the teachers' notes on the board from my mate(s) sat next to me....that was a pain.

When I did my GCSEs (end of school exams) I got given 25% more time with all of my tests. Personally I don't think I needed the extra time for my eyesight, but I wasn't going to complain, I used that extra time where needed especially when doing my English exams..... there's a lot of writing to be done in those.

I never really put my lack of ball sports abilities down to my eyesight, I just assumed I wasn't very good at them...but if we're making excuses, I suppose we could blame my nystagmus and short sightedness..

What I can see:

My vision is pretty blurry at the best of times. I can read text close up, but even with glasses I struggle to make out text and faces from a distance (and it doesn't need to be too far away).

Do I get along in life:

I suppose the short answer to that question is, yes. The slightly longer answer, I feel that I do pretty well. There's a few things that I can't do, like driving, and that does limit me with some jobs and getting around, but there's still plenty of options available to me, and I seize them when I can.

And I suppose the full answer to that question, is slowly getting answered along the way on this website....

Thanks for great your question Raqiya, I hope that helps. And I wish you and your daughter all the best for the future.

For any further questions, please get in contact, and we will do my best to reply and in due time