Thanks PurpleFlyingMonkeys! It's really nice to not feel like the "only one".

I'm like that with listening too.

I tend to process things when I do them myself. It's easier if someone shows me an example and removes themselves, but makes themselves accessible while I try to work it out and am able to ask a question when I get stuck. The answers need to be a bit short, because if they talk too long, then I can't keep all the information in my head, and only remember one thing they said.

I'm also very visual. If someone shows me how, chances are I'll get it faster. As long as I can picture myself doing it from the example.

I remember when I was a kid in kindergarden and I coudln't figure out how to tie my shoes for the life of me, no matter how many tricks people showed me. I was the last kid to get it. Even the teacher got frustrated.

I once remember my teacher not letting me leave the classroom till I tied my shoelaces, so while she wasn't looking my best friend in kingergarden tied them for me, as she always did, cuz I didn't know how. I don't remember how it happened, whether the teacher made me stay again till I could tie them and my friend patiently worked with me till I got it, risking getting into trouble herself for being late. But I remember that she was patient and non-judgemental, so I relaxed and was able to concentrate on what I was doing to learn it.

I was always told me I was smart in school, but not meeting my "potential". While I was put in accelerated classes, I still had problems with the work. I felt like I was bored in slower classes, but couldn't keep up with the faster ones. I would see other kids do homework quickly and efficiently while I'd struggle with the same thing. Sometimes I would process things quickly, and I'd be impatiently waiting for the class to catch up, other times, I'd get stuck on one thing then miss the rest of the class trying to understand what I missed.

Math was one of the things I'd struggle with most. Even the multiplication tables when I was really little. I remember one of my teachers pulling me aside because I was several assignments behind after she found where I had hidden my mathbook workbook in the classroom.

It's frustratingly murky, and I haven't figured out how to fix it. I was always envious of the kids in "special programs" who got the tools to do what I couldn't. There is something missing...