During my son’s first week of kindergarten, chaos erupted. He attempted to bolt from the classroom, resisted teachers trying to guide him indoors, and flatly ignored any requests made of him. Tantrums of epic proportions became the norm. Understandably, the school reached out, prompting urgent meetings that left us bewildered and concerned.
We had noticed some quirks before kindergarten. When he was just two, he could spend hours mesmerized by the spinning wheels of his toy cars, becoming upset if we tried to introduce a different activity. He needed support for delayed speech and struggled with fine motor skills. Yet, before kindergarten, he seemed to fit the mold of a typical child—making friends in pre-K and thriving with his teachers.
However, the kindergarten staff’s worries couldn’t be dismissed. After months of discussions, assessments, and questionnaires, our son was diagnosed with ADHD, a turning point that reshaped our understanding of his behavior.
Fast forward to third grade, and many of the original challenges linger: neglecting schoolwork, zoning out during instruction, difficulty in social interactions, and an apparent detachment from his surroundings. We’ve put in relentless effort—both he and we have explored every avenue imaginable. I kept a detailed record of our attempts, which includes:
What We’ve Tried:
- Love and support
- Consistency and structure
- Various screen time restrictions
- A variety of reward systems (daily, weekly, for effort)
- Dietary changes (no sugar, gluten, dairy, and the opposite)
- Different disciplinary approaches (counting to three, timeouts, etc.)
- Various therapeutic interventions (talk therapy, behavioral therapy, physical therapy, etc.)
- Comprehensive testing (eye exams, hearing tests, autism screenings)
- Guilt trips about behavior to encourage better choices
- An Individualized Education Program (IEP) at school
- Advocating for the IEP’s implementation with teachers and staff
- Summer camps tailored to his interests
- Reading numerous parenting books
- Expressing our unconditional love every single day
What We Haven’t Tried Yet:
- Medication
What We Plan to Try Next Week:
- Continuing our unwavering love and support
- Starting medication
If medication doesn’t yield the results we hope for, it will simply be added to our ever-growing list of attempts. We’re determined to find what works, armed with hope and resilience. Parenthood is a continuous journey of unpredictability, and we’re committed to navigating it all—together.
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In conclusion, the journey with our ADHD child is not just about coping but growing and learning together. Each step we take is a testament to our love and dedication. So, who’s with me? Let’s embrace this adventure!
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