I lead, he follows....
By Feona1962
@Feona1962 (7526)
United States
April 1, 2008 2:32am CST
I got a writing lesson from my son who is left-handed...otherwise known as a south-paw..The way he holds his pen and the position of his hand are totally foreign to me because I am right-handed...
I tried to imitate his style...this was not easy to do...I kept trying to go back to my way..I had to laugh because it was so awkward for me...
He explained that "I lead" meaning that I am writing ahead of my words, and "he follows" meaning he goes over what he has already written, and ends up with graphite smudges on his hand..
Have any of you tried to write with the opposite hand? How did it go? Can anyone write well with both?
I don't think I would win any awards but if I practiced I think I could do well..
7 people like this
15 responses
@Darkwing (21583)
•
1 Apr 08
I had to do it once, when I was in my early teens, and fell of my bike, breaking the bone between my wrist and thumb. It was very scrawly at first, but I was excused using the nib pen and ink, and allowed to use a biro. In the end, I got the hang of it, and was getting quite proficient, but I haven't tried lately. In fact, I'm going to try it now, just to see... Ok, I can do it, and it's legible, but a little bit shaky and spidery. lol.
Brightest Blessings.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
2 Apr 08
Well, if I couldn't still do it, there wouldn't be much point to life, now would there? he he.
A nib pen... the only way I could think of to describe it, was a piece of dowel, with a nib pushed on the end, which you had to dip in ink, and write with at school. A biro, is a ballpoint pen. Sorry, I forgot the language difference. 
Phew... I'm so glad I can still do it!!! 
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
1 Apr 08
You made me laugh..I am so glad you can still do it..*smiles*..I have never heard of the nib pen and what is a biro?
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
12 Apr 08
Thank you for explaining..I am so glad you can still do it...
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
1 Apr 08
am right handed in my writting and yup I have tried the left handed writting which isnt very good . Now I watch my Grand d aughter right ledft handed and then picks up pencils in both hands a writes with both at teh same time right no she is gid on ohs and H.es but neat to see her do this. she is 3 and been a lefty since she has held a crayon or pencil. As we are trying to get her in to writing the alphabet and reconize her letters for what they are is a challenge.
She loves singing the alphabet song and getst hem all right where they are surpose to be even if you go kl she say mnopqrst.
no matter where we start she finishes it.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
1 Apr 08
The story about your granddaughter is so very sweet..thank you for sharing...she is very smart...
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
2 Apr 08
I have been teaching my grandsons the alphabet in sign language too!. I've taught them how to hand spell my name..It is alot of fun..
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
3 Apr 08
Well, I can write some with my right hand, as I sprained my left wrist many years ago, and had to learn how to write with my right hand. I have been a lefty for many yrs. and I could never switch permanently. And yes, people would know something was different if I wrote with my right hand very long, as it is not as neat for sure.
@kat_princess (1470)
• Philippines
7 Apr 08
The right part of my body got paralyzed back when I was 12 and I was right-handed.I was taught how to write with my left hand.At first it was hard but in 4 mos. it got so much better.I'm left-handed now and I like it because it boosted my artistic skills.But I wish that my right hand would move again.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
10 Apr 08
Hi Kat...I am sorry to hear about your right hand..but am glad to hear about your left hand helping you with your artistic skills..that is wonderful..
@lancingboy (1385)
• United States
1 Apr 08
lol I have an ink smudge on my left hand right now! In my household of 5, 3 of us are left-handed. They have special spiral notebooks for left-handed people that are pretty neat. It doesn't eliminate the smudges, but it'll be easier to write because he won't have to struggle with writing with the spiral part being in the way. Does that make any sense? lol. I couldn't think of the right wording.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
1 Apr 08
I never thought of that..It makes perfect sense..When my son was in school he would turn the paper upside down but he got in trouble because the holes ended up being on the wrong side of the page..he was just telling me this..*smiles*...I hope that made sense...LOL
@lancingboy (1385)
• United States
1 Apr 08
lol, yeah that made sense. Why didn't I think of turning the notebook upside down? That would've kept the indentions of the metal from being in my hand all the time hehe. Your son must be really smart to think of that.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
3 Apr 08
I tried but I cannot do it, my aunt is left handed and her daughter the right the same way as we do, they just use a different hand,
my son can write with either hand, but he is naturally right handed.
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
1 Apr 08
Feona My son too is left handed, he is a brilliant child yet his hand whriting is atrocious, and he has no artistic abilities what so ever. I do not think the child can draw a straight line or make a circle. LMAO so glad he is brainy to compensate for a few of the things he lacks there.
I did have to try and right once in school left handed due to a broken wrist. What a struggle I was so glad when I could manipulate my fingers on my right hand so I could once again at least make my letters legible.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
1 Apr 08
LMAO...way to funny...My son won't write unless he absolutely has too! He is always drawing something or another..He has taken drafting classes and he loves the architectual part of all of it..
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
1 Apr 08
That's interesting to look at it that way - you lead, he follows! My son is left handed too and I have tried writing left handed and boy it's tough but my son has adapted and writes quite well for a 5 year old. Messy in parts but readible :)
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
1 Apr 08
That is great..He must have taught himself to write left-handed...
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
2 Apr 08
I'm right handed, my roomies are both left handed.
I've known a lot of left handed people and I do know how and why they write like they do (trying to get their hand off their writing surface.)
I can barely write with my left hand, but I worked with a gal who could sign her name nearly the same with both hands. It was AMAZING!
I could actually write better than some of the people in the group because they had never really tried it before.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
2 Apr 08
She is gifted for sure..I know if I practiced I could do it...
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
1 Apr 08
I guess it is like anything else..if we have to do it then it will happen..
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
1 Apr 08
I am left-handed and I hate those smudges..I know some left-handed people write almost up-side down to avoid the smudges, but I was never able to write that way..I have tried writing with my right hand, but it looks very sloppy..
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
1 Apr 08
I am glad I am right-handed because the smudges would get the best of me..*smiles*
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
2 Apr 08
I was in some class, do not rememberwhich one, in junior college many yearsago and the prof had us all write or try to write with our left hand, think it was a psych class. my writing look like hen tracks all over the paper. I am ambidexterous but cannot write with my left hand Now because of a metal and plastic shoulder joint in my left shoulder I am having problems using my left arm much.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
2 Apr 08
It's okay..hen tracks are better than no tracks..*smiles*..I can understand about your shoulder, and how hard it must be to do things...
@chesseakay (36)
• United States
2 Apr 08
yeah, i'm pretty fluent with both hands. i'm so ambidextrous, i do everything with both hands but i'm naturally a lefty. i smudge everything i write. that's really nice what you do with your son. most people should do that.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
2 Apr 08
Wow! That is great that you can write well with both hands..and do other things as well...thank you..
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
1 Apr 08
I can only write with my right hand. I can't hardly do anything with my left hand at all. I have tried to write with my left hand and you cannot hardly read it and I drag my hand through it also and get pencil lead or ink on my hand also. My daughter can use both of her hands pretty well but she is left handed also.
1 person likes this
