So Far So Good!

Well, we have survived the first two weeks of private school. Yes, there were a few mini dramas and traumas but nothing that stopped us. We have learned things like ironing our uniform really stinks so the dry cleaners will be our first stop after school tomorrow. We also learned in a small school of 21 kids it is much easier to get caught doing things appropriate and inappropriate. Motivation can be in the smallest form and have the biggest payoff.

At this point, we are thinking one of the best thing my husband and I have ever done for our son is tell public school stick it and enroll him in a private school for learning disabled kids. He gets to be himself, ADHD and all, and not be berated and told he just isn't applying himself. He is learning that if he does not learn to control his behavior then there are consequences; consequences that he could of avoided with his own actions. He spends his day with other kids that do not criticize him for being different and, sometimes, difficult because all of these kids have their moments as well. Teachers that treat the kids with respect and understanding while still being firm and in charge is a welcome change to the experiences of being treated with little respect and no tolerance.

Do you know what the best part of the this experience has been? My child is happy. He is happy when he comes home from school. He has interesting stories to tell me about the day, and lunch, and this class or that. And...the best part...he is proud of himself for achieving different things everyday. All most parents hope for for their children is happiness. My child is at least achieving a little happiness when it comes to school. So all of the worry and extra hours of work and looking for a new job to pay for the tuition is well worth it and will continue to be worth it if the end result is the happiness and success of my beautiful, special child.

What makes a family?

A few days ago I typed up a whole rant about family and what constitutes a family. But I was not comfortable with it and I saved it to come back to. I realized the reason I was not comfortable with it was because it did not convey the message I was trying to get across.

The answer is simple...family is who cares about your well being, who loves you even if you make mistakes, and who is there to help when you need it. Family does not care what color your skin is or if you related by blood. Family can be friends just as much if not more than those that are related to you by blood. Family can be your neighbors who lend moral support when needed or even when not needed.

Maybe, we should remember what family is the next time we see someone in need.

How ignorant are some people?

I was bored at work today so I went on CNN to look for current news. There was a plethora of issues - iPhone 4 issues, different stars with personal issues, BP, etc. What caught my eye was a small article about ADHD teens having a higher drop out rates than non-ADHD teens. This is an article from the Journal of Psychiatric Research. I don't necessarily agree with the article but the article is not the ignorant part. The ignorant part were some of the comments people had the guts to post about the article and ADHD itself.

Let me say many of the readers seemed knowledgeable or at least open to more information. Then there were the readers I wanted to reach through the computer and choke. Some said there is no such thing as ADHD, some felt it was an excuse society used to excuse bad behavior, and some believed schools made it up to ignore children they did not know what to do with. This is what I say to all non-believers...GET A CLUE! Yes, there are some labeled as ADHD that are not and some parents do use it as an excuse for their child's bad behavior but there are many children that are legitimately ADHD.

ADHD really does exist and it is more than just hyperactivity and not caring. I knew my son was truly ADHD when I ask him to put on his shoes and then throw away some piece of garbage he had and he threw away his shoes and we still have no idea where that garbage ended up. The next time you ask your child to clean their room pay attention to how they do it. Most will complain, stomp around, and clean their room eventually. An ADHD child will sit on the middle of the floor and literally break down from the stress of not knowing how to clean their room. They do not have the ability to decide how to take care of multiple tasks at one time, and let's face it that is what cleaning entails. School also requires being able to handle multiple tasks at one time while most of the time having your intelligence questioned on a regular basis. Have you ever tried to concentrate on one thing when a million things are going through your head? The stress of school and being a teenager is hard enough without being ADHD and then being accused of "faking" a learning disability. Yes, ADHD is considered a learning disability. But we will cover that another time.

So, the next time you or someone you know emphatically denies the existence of ADHD or ADD for that matter, please think of my child. Think of how hard it is concentrate when you have a million things going through your head at one time. Then, think about feeling like that all the time and being accused of "faking it". Please, get some education people and help educate others or we will continue to alienate and torture our children unnecessarily.