My son is almost eight and relies on ADHD medications. I can practically feel the judgment raining down on me. But let me first share what life is like without those meds. We’ve experienced it, and it turns our household into chaos—not just for him, but for his siblings and our family as a whole. He makes loud, strange noises that eventually annoy his brothers, leading to shouting matches that leave him in tears. He isn’t even aware of the volume he’s projecting, and he struggles to understand why his behavior is upsetting.
His inability to handle frustration is even more troubling. In school, he simply refuses to write. His penmanship isn’t perfect, and after just thirty minutes of trying, the tantrums ensue. Math becomes similarly impossible when the concepts start to challenge him.
Making friends is a challenge for him, too. He has various behavioral issues and doesn’t mean to hurt his brothers or swing that plastic sword too hard.
So, we medicate him. Yet, there are those who insist he doesn’t require it. They give me that concerned look and attempt to convince me, someone with ADHD myself, that the condition is a myth. “ADHD is just a result of kids not getting enough time outside,” they say, despite my children spending hours playing outdoors and attending diving practice multiple times a week.
Then they say, “It’s because kids watch too much TV.” My kids hardly watch any; they have an ancient Nintendo and use the Roku for educational content. They claim, “Kids just struggle because we expect them to sit still,” but my children are homeschooled and don’t even have traditional desks.
Then comes the push for “natural” cures. They question whether I’ve tried giving him more outdoor time, skipping the complexities of ADHD meds. But my kids are outside constantly, digging holes and exploring nature. Yet, despite all this, he still struggles with simple tasks.
Next, they suggest Omega-3 supplements. We tried them, but as ADDitude Magazine points out, there’s no definitive proof they help, and you can’t test for Omega-3 deficiency. My son still had his volume cranked up to eleven.
When CBD oil is mentioned, I roll my eyes. The market is full of unregulated products, and I wouldn’t trust something from a random store over an FDA-approved medication from a pharmacy.
People have even suggested ginseng. Then there’s the inquisition about his diet. We’ve eliminated red dye, but they want me to cut out all artificial ingredients and feed him strictly organic foods. Pesticides can aggravate symptoms, they say, as if I’m not aware.
I’ve heard that hidden allergies might be the culprit, too. They insist that if I just identify these allergies, we can eliminate the ADHD diagnosis altogether. The list of what he might be allergic to is daunting, but isn’t it worth it to avoid medication?
Honestly, I’ve had it up to here with these suggestions. My child’s ADHD medications are lifesaving. They allow him to function like a typical kid, to bond with his brothers, and to learn. I had to teach him to read three separate times before we started the meds. You think this was an easy decision? No way. We took the only option that worked.
So please, refrain from questioning my parenting choices. My child takes ADHD medications, and they work. Your natural remedies simply don’t cut it. Keep those opinions to yourself.
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