“Nobody Asked Me What I Thought”: One Mom’s Journey from Exhaustion to Hope for Her Struggling Son

Pauline Rivera
20 hours ago
4 min read

For years, Jaime Beck watched her son Charlie fall through the cracks of the traditional school system. Diagnosed with ADHD at eight years old—and much later with severe dyslexia—Charlie never fit the mold. Sitting still was nearly impossible. Reading felt like punishment. He dreaded school so deeply that even in preschool, when asked about his favorite part of the day, his answer was always the same: “Going home.”

By the time he reached middle school, Charlie’s confidence had crumbled, and Jaime was exhausted.

Now, as Charlie enters his senior year at Freedom Prep, everything has changed. In this heartfelt interview, Jaime reflects on their long journey—one marked by years of misdiagnosis, tears, and frustration—and how finding the right learning environment has restored her son’s joy, confidence, and sense of belonging.

Diagnosed Too Late, Supported Too Little

Charlie spent his early years enrolled in public schools where he consistently tested in the 2nd or 3rd percentile on state reading assessments. Despite working with reading specialists both during and after school—and summers filled with tutoring—he never met grade-level benchmarks.

By first grade, school officials recommended he be held back. Jaime was heartbroken, especially when Charlie quietly told her, “Nobody asked me what I thought.” That moment confirmed what she already feared: her son didn’t feel seen or heard.

Although he was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia in 7th grade and received an IEP, accommodations came late. Even when support was in place, Charlie often refused to use it. He didn’t want to stand out. He didn’t want classmates to know he needed help. Instead, he shrank into himself—once telling his mom he would try to make himself “as small as possible” in his desk so no one would call on him.

Socially, things weren’t much better. His immaturity and unique personality made him an outsider. Birthday parties were sparsely attended, and Jaime worried about his ability to build real friendships.

A Turning Point: Finding Freedom Prep

Everything changed in 2021 when Jaime stumbled across a Facebook post from Candace Fish, a former public school teacher launching a new microschool called Freedom Prep. Intrigued, Jaime attended an info meeting and immediately felt a deep sense of peace—like an answer to prayer.

Freedom Prep wasn’t traditional. There were no rows of desks. No rigid schedules. No masks (a major issue during COVID for the Beck family). High schoolers got a full hour of lunch and recess—ample time for students like Charlie to move, burn energy, and reset. Most importantly, Jaime didn’t have to fight for accommodations. Everything Charlie needed was built into the school’s model from the start.

And it made all the difference.

From Tears of Frustration to Tears of Joy

At his first Freedom Prep conference, Jaime was bracing herself for bad news—just as she had year after year. Instead, she sat in shock as teacher after teacher praised Charlie’s engagement and progress.

In one standout moment, his teacher—who also has ADHD—shared how she let students apply to manage the class store. Charlie applied, and the teacher hesitated, wondering if he could handle it. But not only did he rise to the occasion—he thrived. His teacher turned it into a custom entrepreneurship class just for him. He learned how to track inventory, manage “employee” payroll, calculate profit margins, and more.

“What public school would give that experience to him?” Jaime asked, tearing up—not from grief, but gratitude.

A Whole-Person Approach

At Freedom Prep, Charlie isn’t just accommodated—he’s known.

Instead of changing teachers every year, he’s had the same instructors for all four years of high school. For a student who struggles with transitions, that consistency has been a gift. He’s built deep relationships with both peers and adults, something he never had before.

And it’s not just academics that have flourished. Spiritually, Charlie is growing too. He participates in Bible class discussions, attends a men’s group with an older mentor, and is asking questions that reflect deepening maturity.

“He used to just go to youth group for fun,” Jaime says. “Now he’s actually thinking about what it means to be a man of faith.”

A Ripple Effect: Inviting Others into the Freedom

Charlie’s transformation didn’t go unnoticed—especially by Olivia, a longtime friend struggling in public school with similar challenges. Charlie kept telling her, “You need to come to Freedom Prep. People are nice here.”

After a year of watching her daughter spiral into depression, Olivia’s mom finally made the switch. Within weeks, she told Jaime, “Everyone here is just… kind.”

Today, both of Olivia’s siblings attend Freedom Prep too.

For Parents in the Trenches

To other moms still fighting for their child to be seen, Jaime offers this encouragement:

“Don’t ignore that nudging inside. If you find the right place, trust it. It will be worth it. And don’t stop fighting. It’s exhausting—but you can find the right fit if you keep looking.”