Meet Lefty-Brained ... and answer some questions

[Write-brained]

I just verified tonight, at least I think I did, that my 4 1/2-year-old daughter is a southpaw.

You'd think we would have known sooner, but she's always used both hands almost interchangeably - eating, drawing, writing, throwing, batting.

It came up tonight while looking at baseball gloves. She said her stronger arm was her left, so after a few warm-up throws inside the store, I bought her a glove for the right. It's pink with blue trim.

Questions:

1. Any lefties out there with advice on growing up lefty? While I won't insist she use one hand over the other, should I be shopping for those green scissors? I'm not trying to treat this like she has some drastic affliction, but I am trying to be thoughtful.

2. The glove is a Wilson for 5 year olds. A lot nicer than the gloves for younger kids. Should I oil it and tie it up with the ball (soft t-ball) in it? She can close it pretty well but I'm not sure how the oil would stain the blue and pink. Girls are sensitive about that type of stuff.

We had our first real catch tonight. She didn't want to take the glove off.

Last question: Who did you first play catch with? Do you remember it? My first catch was with my mom. Dad didn't understand the game too well.

 

[Overrated]

Whatever you do, don't let her open a store geared strictly for lefties in a mall. And, do not validate parking if she does decide to open such a store.

Seriously though, use that foam on the glove. It should keep the pocket purty.

 

[spup1122]

Don't let teachers try to teach her to write like a right hander. My teachers understood pretty early that I was a lefty so I write like a normal person, but when a teacher doesn't know how to teach a lefty how to write, they end up doing that upside down writing thing where they're writing their letters backwards because the teacher can't teach them.

Most teachers are learning, but just make sure they're teaching her correctly when she's learning to write.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Whatever you do, don't let her open a store geared strictly for lefties in a mall. And, do not validate parking if she does decide to open such a store.

Who do you think she is, Ned Flanders?

 

[StevieNicks]

I just verified tonight, at least I think I did, that my 4 1/2-year-old daughter is a southpaw.

You'd think we would have known sooner, but she's always used both hands almost interchangeably - eating, drawing, writing, throwing, batting.

It came up tonight while looking at baseball gloves. She said her stronger arm was her left, so after a few warm-up throws inside the store, I bought her a glove for the right. It's pink with blue trim.

Questions:

1. Any lefties out there with advice on growing up lefty? While I won't insist she use one hand over the other, should I be shopping for those green scissors? I'm not trying to treat this like she has some drastic affliction, but I am trying to be thoughtful.

2. The glove is a Wilson for 5 year olds. A lot nicer than the gloves for younger kids. Should I oil it and tie it up with the ball (soft t-ball) in it? She can close it pretty well but I'm not sure how the oil would stain the blue and pink. Girls are sensitive about that type of stuff.

We had our first real catch tonight. She didn't want to take the glove off.

Last question: Who did you first play catch with? Do you remember it? My first catch was with my mom. Dad didn't understand the game too well.

No. I do not remember the first time I played catch.

 

[Write-brained]

Don't let teachers try to teach her to write like a right hander. My teachers understood pretty early that I was a lefty so I write like a normal person, but when a teacher doesn't know how to teach a lefty how to write, they end up doing that upside down writing thing where they're writing their letters backwards because the teacher can't teach them.

Most teachers are learning, but just make sure they're teaching her correctly when she's learning to write.

Holy ****, pup, thank you very much - you may have just solved a puzzle for me.

Lttle lefty is already writing (with both hands). She's not spelling much, but she's writing. She's been writing her S's and G's, among others, backwards. We haven't said much about it, but you may have just helped me figure out why, since my wife and I (both righties) were the ones who taught her. I'll have to pay more attention to which hand she's writing with when she gets them backward.

How does someone teach a lefty to write?

 

[forever_town]

Don't let teachers try to teach her to write like a right hander.

That doesn't seem to be quite as bad as what teachers used to do. Back in my grandmother's day, if you were left handed, they still made you write with your right hand.

Not saying the situation you wrote about is any great shakes. But it could be even worse.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

A left-hander stuck in a desk designed for a right-handed child is a sort of cruel and unusual punishment.

 

[StevieNicks]

Don't let teachers try to teach her to write like a right hander. My teachers understood pretty early that I was a lefty so I write like a normal person, but when a teacher doesn't know how to teach a lefty how to write, they end up doing that upside down writing thing where they're writing their letters backwards because the teacher can't teach them.

Most teachers are learning, but just make sure they're teaching her correctly when she's learning to write.

Holy ****, pup, thank you very much - you may have just solved a puzzle for me.

Lttle lefty is already writing. She's not spelling much, but she's writing. She's been writing her S's and G's, among others, backwards. We haven't said much about it, but you may have just helped me figure out why, since my wife and I (both righties) were the ones who taught her.

How does a lefty teach a lefty to write?

No "holy ****" for me not remembering?

 

[Diabeetus]

Whatever you do, don't let her open a store geared strictly for lefties in a mall. And, do not validate parking if she does decide to open such a store.

Who do you think she is, Ned Flanders?

You su-diddly-uck KY!


Not really.

 

[forever_town]

Why?

I once sat at a left-hander's desk when I was in college. You adjust.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Don't let teachers try to teach her to write like a right hander. My teachers understood pretty early that I was a lefty so I write like a normal person, but when a teacher doesn't know how to teach a lefty how to write, they end up doing that upside down writing thing where they're writing their letters backwards because the teacher can't teach them.

«raises hand»

Can't write for **** right-handed, was never allowed to write left-handed when I was learning to write. I throw, kick, ... whatever, everything but writing I do with the left hand or foot.

**** you, Mrs. W******r, wherever you are. *****.

 

[spup1122]

Don't let teachers try to teach her to write like a right hander. My teachers understood pretty early that I was a lefty so I write like a normal person, but when a teacher doesn't know how to teach a lefty how to write, they end up doing that upside down writing thing where they're writing their letters backwards because the teacher can't teach them.

Most teachers are learning, but just make sure they're teaching her correctly when she's learning to write.

Holy ****, pup, thank you very much - you may have just solved a puzzle for me.

Lttle lefty is already writing (with both hands). She's not spelling much, but she's writing. She's been writing her S's and G's, among others, backwards. We haven't said much about it, but you may have just helped me figure out why, since my wife and I (both righties) were the ones who taught her. I'll have to pay more attention to which hand she's writing with when she gets them backward.

How does someone teach a lefty to write?

This is what I had to do because I had horrible penmanship (I was writing slanted left and right which was bad)

Sit her at a table with the paper directly in front of her left hand. Make sure the paper is straight. She can't turn the paper at all. Then make sure she holds the pen/pencil straight up and down. Get her some of those workbooks for writing (usually with the coloring books) that have the letter then lines next to them to practice the letter. That should help her visualize it correctly and will make sure she's writing like a normal person and not with her hand wrapped all the way around the paper like most lefties.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

While taking an exam. Particularly an essay portion, when the sheer speed of your hand makes a difference.

**** adjusting to that.

 

[StevieNicks]

Don't let teachers try to teach her to write like a right hander. My teachers understood pretty early that I was a lefty so I write like a normal person, but when a teacher doesn't know how to teach a lefty how to write, they end up doing that upside down writing thing where they're writing their letters backwards because the teacher can't teach them.

«raises hand»

Can't write for **** right-handed, was never allowed to write left-handed when I was learning to write. I throw, kick, ... whatever, everything but writing I do with the left hand or foot.

**** you, Mrs. W******r, wherever you are. *****.

Doesn't this seem like a good forum to call out Mrs. W?

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

That's why we call it Anything Goes.

Have you fetched me a beer yet?

 

[Write-brained]

Don't let teachers try to teach her to write like a right hander. My teachers understood pretty early that I was a lefty so I write like a normal person, but when a teacher doesn't know how to teach a lefty how to write, they end up doing that upside down writing thing where they're writing their letters backwards because the teacher can't teach them.

Most teachers are learning, but just make sure they're teaching her correctly when she's learning to write.

Holy ****, pup, thank you very much - you may have just solved a puzzle for me.

Lttle lefty is already writing. She's not spelling much, but she's writing. She's been writing her S's and G's, among others, backwards. We haven't said much about it, but you may have just helped me figure out why, since my wife and I (both righties) were the ones who taught her.

How does a lefty teach a lefty to write?

No "holy ****" for me not remembering?

Stop dragging my heart around.

 

[spup1122]

While taking an exam. Particularly an essay portion, when the sheer speed of your hand makes a difference.

**** adjusting to that.

Most schools have moved from those desks to tables with two people sitting at them for that reason. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some law suit claiming discrimination because of those desks.

 

[sportschick]

Teachers aren't really allowed to force children to be right-handed any longer. It's pretty frowned upon in the classroom.

And WB, be prepared to pay more for sports equipment. My sister's middle kid is a lefty. His stuff always costs more. It's discrimination, I tell you!

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

While taking an exam. Particularly an essay portion, when the sheer speed of your hand makes a difference.

**** adjusting to that.

Most schools have moved from those desks to tables with two people sitting at them for that reason. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some law suit claiming discrimination because of those desks.

I wouldn't be surprised one bit.