In 1994 my husband and I divorced. Our son at the time was 5 years old. Kevin had always been an outgoing, friendly and sociable child however, the divorce affected him in ways that was not openly apparent.

In standard 2 he really started to struggle at school. He was included in the special needs program catered for at the school but progress was just not happening. My ex husband and I were called in for a meeting with the remedial teachers who proclaimed the child definitely had a problem and advised that Ritalin may help. I was completely opposed to this suggestion. What was of more concern to me was that the teachers had no idea what the actual problem was.

Obviously emotional problems resulting from the divorce were foremost in our minds, but he appeared to be settled and accepting of the situation. We took him to psychologists and psychiatrists both in Gaborone and Johannesburg. They acknowledged that there were emotional issues but they too could not put their finger on why there was such a problem with school work. It appeared nothing we could do was helping. I was starting to feel desperate.

He repeated standard 2, and things were starting to go from bad to worse. At my wits end I spoke to my mother in law who had just started training as a PKP Kinesiologist. She in turn got a name of a PKP Kinesiologist in Johannesburg who specialised in children’s learning problems.

I contacted Margie Donde [principal of the Kinesiology Centre for International Studies, South Africa] and an appointment was set up. This proved to be the best thing I could have ever done for Kevin, albeit the issues regarding both parents being gut wrenching on occasion.

Within a few short minutes of Kevin being there, Margie had identified the problem. The emotional trauma of the divorce had had far more impact than we could have ever imagined.  His own self esteem had also taken an enormous knock. The “blocks” that he had unconsciously set up were responsible for his learning problems. I honestly believe and acknowledge that no degree of modern technology could have diagnosed as quickly and accurately the problems that had been taken on board and buried.

Margie worked with Kevin to clear these blocks and gave him some homework to do in the form of brain gym. It was amazing during and after these sessions how verbal communication flourished. With the blocks being removed and the rebalancing he had found a conduit to express himself.

Following the second session with Margie I received a phone call from Kevin’s teacher late one evening. On recognising the voice I asked with some trepidation what the problem was. As it turned out there was no problem the teacher just wanted to know what I had done!  The children had been read a story about clowns and the circus and had to write their own short story in this regard. They had been asked to write a half A4 page. Devin had written four full A4 pages! This from a child who could hardly string four words together at one time! His other work was also steadily improving.

From here things just spiralled upward. Suddenly from constantly being within the last five of his class he was constantly within the top 10. His self confidence skyrocketed. His teacher and remedial teachers had absolutely no explanation for the sudden turn around. Their only comment was “this cannot be”. Well it was and still is!

Not only did things improve in the classroom but also on the sports field. With his new found self confidence he was enjoying the sports he had always so loved.
Unfortunately, lack of high schools in the area in which we live, dictated that he went to boarding school. He is now coping well and still enjoying good grades. His teachers speak very highly of him not only academically but as a person. He still utilises some of the “exercises” that Margie gave him whenever he gets stuck.
I resorted to Kinesiology in sheer desperation. What a pity so many of us dismiss these practices as hocus-pocus, thereby subjecting our children and indeed ourselves to invasive and very often detrimental options.   My opinion of this alternative approach has grown hugely. For me the proof is in the result. Now, I would never consider any other approach. I have a mature, confident 16 year old for which I cannot thank Margie and PKP Kinesiology enough.

My youngest child has recently been identified as having a few learning problems with which I am dealing in exactly the same manner. This time we have caught it early and I know that he will reap the benefits.

To Margie and Kinesiologists worldwide, continue your good work, the world and its people can only be a better place for your efforts.