Dyslexia and Me – From Struggles at School to Running My Own Business

When I look back, I can remember my very first dyslexia screening as clearly as if it was yesterday. I was in Year 2 at primary school. Later, during my college years, there were more screenings — and every time, the results came back the same: on the cusp.

Not severe, but enough that things like spelling, grammar, and proof-reading would always be a challenge. Even now, I can read something over and over and still miss little details. Sometimes I’ll check something five times and think I’ve nailed it, only to realise minutes before an important moment — like an interview — that I’ve completely missed something vital, like a document I should have brought. Dates and times are another minefield for me.

It’s tripped me up plenty of times and caused a lot of frustration over the years. (Just last week, I managed to order 1,000 leaflets of the wrong version — proof that these things still happen!) But I’ve always tried to remind myself that I can do anything I put my mind to.

I count my lucky stars for the tutors I had at college. They were incredible. I had set my heart on a future in childcare, and while the ideas for my assignments were always there, writing them out was the hard part. Proof-reading wasn’t my strong point, and grammar never came naturally. But with their support, encouragement, and belief in me, I kept going.

One memory stands out so vividly. A job came up at the school I’ve just left, and I was only 19 at the time. The deadline was tight, and I’ll never forget how my tutor sat with me that morning and helped me pull my application together. That moment changed everything. Because of their support — and after six years in college — I passed with a Distinction and achieved a Level 6 in childcare.

At that point, I had a choice: do I push on to become a teacher, or do I stay in the early years world that I loved so much? I chose the latter, which eventually led me to my years as a teaching assistant.

But even then, I often felt like a fraud. How could I help children learn when I didn’t fully understand grammar myself? How could I support them when words sometimes felt like my enemy?

The truth is, I always tried. If I didn’t know something, I went out and found the answer. And I never let my dyslexia stop me from giving my best.

Fast forward to now — I’m running my own business. For a long time, I told myself I couldn’t. That someone like me, who struggles with spelling, emails, and written communication, wasn’t “capable” of being a business owner.

But here I am. ✨

And I’ll be really honest — part of the reason I’m able to do this is thanks to tools like ChatGPT. It helps me take the jumble of ideas in my head and turn them into something clear and professional. For the first time in my life, I don’t feel “silly” for getting it wrong.

I’ll never forget being in a group chat with mums once, when someone shared a letter from their child’s nursery that had spelling mistakes in it. The replies were all criticism: “How embarrassing!” they said.

My heart sank.

I instantly remembered all the times I had been the one to send letters home to parents as a key worker, worrying endlessly about how they’d come across. Now, I remind myself: I tried my best. I am human. Mistakes happen, and that’s okay.

The full-circle moment came recently. Some of my college tutors still support me today — not in the classroom, but as customers of Baby Ellor. They now buy my toys for their grandchildren.

This week, after dropping an order off, I sent a message to one of them to say thank you for always supporting me. Her reply stopped me in my tracks:

“No problem. I just think what you’re doing is brilliant and all your knowledge about child development shines out in your podcasts and toys ❤️. Ah Megan, all the staff at college thought a lot of you, as we could see how hard you tried and always put your heart and soul into things. That is what will really help you in your business and being such a great mum. Keep going 💪🏼😃.”

Reading those words, all these years later, meant the world to me.

Because yes, dyslexia has made things harder. But it has also taught me resilience, creativity, and determination.

Standing here now — with two children of my own, a growing business, and the support of people who believed in me all those years ago — I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

And if you’re reading this while struggling with dyslexia, or simply doubting yourself, please know this: it doesn’t define you.

Yes, it might make some things harder. But it will also make you stronger, more determined, and more creative. You don’t have to be perfect with words to make an impact — you just have to keep trying, keep learning, and keep putting your heart into what you do.