When my son started kindergarten, it was a whirlwind of chaos. He attempted to bolt from the classroom, resisted any attempts by the teachers to rein him in, and threw epic tantrums that left us all bewildered. Naturally, the school reached out to us, concerned about the behavior they were witnessing. We were taken aback, as this was not the child we knew.
Before kindergarten, we had noticed some quirks. At age two, he would spend hours mesmerized by the wheels of his toy cars, crying if we dared to interrupt his focus. He struggled with speech and fine motor skills, but he had always been sociable and affectionate in pre-K, thriving in a typical classroom setting.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, we began meeting with the kindergarten staff, and after a couple of months filled with assessments and discussions, our son was diagnosed with ADHD.
Now, fast forward to third grade, and many of the same challenges persist: he often neglects his homework, tunes out during lessons, struggles to connect with peers, and frequently drifts off into his thoughts. It hasn’t been for lack of effort on either side. We’ve tried everything under the sun. I’ve kept a record of our attempts, and here’s what we’ve come up with:
What We’ve Tried
- Love
- Consistency
- Structure
- No screen time
- Limited screen time
- Screen time only for good behavior
- Rewards for good behavior at the end of the week or day
- Rewarding just for trying to be good
- No sugar vs. allowing all the sugar
- No gluten vs. allowing it
- No dairy vs. allowing it
- Setting strict rules
- Yelling
- Time-outs, or “just a break”
- Counting to three, then two… One!
- Relaxing the rules
- A variety of therapies: talk, behavioral, physical, and more
- Eye and hearing tests
- Autism spectrum evaluations
- Guilt trips about behavior affecting family life
- An Individualized Education Program (IEP) at school
- Advocacy to ensure the IEP is followed
- Engaging classroom aides
- Choosing his summer camp classes
- Reading parenting books
- Showering him with unconditional love daily
What We Haven’t Tried Yet
- Medication
What We Plan to Try Next Week
- More love, because honestly, that’s never a bad idea
- Medication
If it turns out medication doesn’t help, I guess we’ll just add it to our growing list of approaches. But for now, we’re hopeful about this new avenue. Whatever lies ahead, we’re ready to tackle it, even if we often feel unprepared. That’s just the adventure of parenthood, right?
So here’s a cheer for all of us in the same boat—let’s dive headfirst into whatever comes next! Geronimo!
For more insights on the journey of parenthood and related topics, check out our other posts like this one on privacy policies and resources on infertility.
Summary
Navigating the challenges of parenting a child with ADHD can feel overwhelming. From experimenting with various strategies to seeking professional help, the journey is filled with ups and downs. As you continue to explore different approaches, remember that love and support remain at the core of this adventure.