A Whole New World...

[swgiles]

I have only posted a couple of times...once in the roll call and once at the ODD thread. The ODD post was rather ominous...coming at a fairly awful time with my 5 1/2 yo ADHD son. Right before Xmas we consulted a new psychiatrist and made the decision to start him on a really low dose of ritalin plus clonidine to help with sleeping.

The holidays are now over and I can honestly say it was a wonderful time. My son attentively played with all his toys, had very few meltdowns, slept well even though we slept in two different hotels and two houses during our holiday travels. He hung up his coat, didn't launch his shoes off his feet when he came in the door. He didn't hit or kick or scream when it was time to leave or if he lost at a game. We got stuck in Chicago O'Hare airport for 7 hours coming home and he was patient and understanding and cooperative.

I can't tell you how guilty I felt over this decision. I wanted to try some alternative therapies. I thought I could handle it. But the hugs and happiness from my son, his willingness to sit on my lap and be with me and his own admission that he feels better makes me feel happier than I have in two years.

I hope everyone who's working through the frustrations and heartaches of helping an ADHD child gets moments like I've had the last two weeks.

Thanks for listening,
Shannon

[rosyred45]

Shannon, I'm glad to hear you had a nice holiday season. I do have to say, I DON'T think I could have sat patiently waiting at an air port(then again, I'm afraid of heights, so never been on an airplane)

Every child has their own chemical make up and personality. Don't feel guilty about doing the best for your son, feel happy that you have found something that is helping him.

I've tried a few different things, not medicinal, but alternative. They didn't happen to work for us, although, they have worked for others that I know.

I guess it's that live and learn thing.
Take Care
Kaiti

[swgiles]

Thanks Kaiti!

I'm now actually excited about sending him to school to see how he does on his meds (we have a snow day today so we haven't been back to school yet). He's got such a freaky kindergarten schedule--all day Tuesday, Thursday and every other Monday--that we don't have many days left this year. I wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could as quickly as we could to make sure he's able to be successful through the rest of the year.

I'm also finding out that we may also be dealing with some other issues. The psychiatrist doesn't think he's ODD, he's worried about Fetal Alcohol effects (he was adopted from Russia when he was 3) so who knows what we've yet to work through. But if we can get him liking and doing well in school and enjoying his homelife, crossing those bridges will be a lot easier later on.

Shannon

[rosyred45]

You're welcome.

I think that as long as you are trying to put your best foot forward and help him put his best foot forward, things will turn out ok, he'll see how much you love him and care!!!
And working with kids, I know just the feeling. As soon as they accomplish something that they thought they couldn't do, you just want to give themthe biggest hug, the most stickers and the biggest dish of love that youcan.

Good Luck Shannon, hollar if you need anything. My husband might have big shoulders for me, but I have a big ear for others.
Kaiti

[jachkldavis]

Thanks for sharing your good experience with us. I love reading these kind of stories!