What is now named Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or ADHD) has been recognized, and perceived in many different ways, for probably hundreds of years. Stimulants were used for treating it more than seventy years ago. But I still believed about fifteen years ago that there really wasn't such a thing as ADHD and that it was probably just a way to excuse lazy parenting.
But then my first two children of my second marriage, despite my denial, grew into pre-teens who developed difficulties in getting school assignments done, although they were otherwise excellent students. These two had always resisted doing things they didn't want to, and they'd never been cooperative in doing their share of the household chores like my previous ten children had. But their floundering at school caused me to belatedly take them for thorough assessments, which resulted in positive diagnoses for ADHD and ADD.
The younger of the two kids, my daughter, had ADHD, plus she was Oppositional Defiant (ODD). Lots of parents with ODD kids apparently "give up" on them, letting the children take charge of themselves. I couldn't do that with my daughter, even though I felt like it, because it would have put her at even more risk in the community. But it was hugely challenging to stay "in charge" of her because of her constant resistance.
My son's ADD didn't involve hyperactivity, and his symptoms weren't as much "in my face" as my daughter's were. Now that he's an adult, he doesn't think he's had ADD. I had ten non-ADHD kids in my first marriage, though, and because these two children were diagnosed after thorough medical assessments, I'm convinced they've both been afflicted with this ailment (as has been their father). I was so frustrated with all of the challenges these two children presented that I was quite willing to medicate them. They tried the whole gamut of medications but didn't like the side effects, and they wouldn't take them.
During a particular discussion with this son as a teen-when I was thoroughly frustrated with his behavior-I offered an observation. He didn't laugh, so I guess he didn't appreciate the humor embedded in my emphatic remark, "You're the second most annoying person I ever gave birth to." And he was. His younger sister was the first. For years I despaired of them learning the things I was trying to teach them. But they both are doing quite well now.
Growing up, my ADHD children weren't different than my later non-ADHD children with temper tantrums. My first five babies all threw tantrums...and yet my last eight didn't. My fifth baby, at fourteen months old, was cured of his temper tantrums about a week after I figured out what to change in my parenting. What I learned with this baby about preventing temper tantrums worked as well with my ADHD babies as it did the rest of them. You can have a tantrum-free lifestyle with your ADHD child as well.
But then my first two children of my second marriage, despite my denial, grew into pre-teens who developed difficulties in getting school assignments done, although they were otherwise excellent students. These two had always resisted doing things they didn't want to, and they'd never been cooperative in doing their share of the household chores like my previous ten children had. But their floundering at school caused me to belatedly take them for thorough assessments, which resulted in positive diagnoses for ADHD and ADD.
The younger of the two kids, my daughter, had ADHD, plus she was Oppositional Defiant (ODD). Lots of parents with ODD kids apparently "give up" on them, letting the children take charge of themselves. I couldn't do that with my daughter, even though I felt like it, because it would have put her at even more risk in the community. But it was hugely challenging to stay "in charge" of her because of her constant resistance.
My son's ADD didn't involve hyperactivity, and his symptoms weren't as much "in my face" as my daughter's were. Now that he's an adult, he doesn't think he's had ADD. I had ten non-ADHD kids in my first marriage, though, and because these two children were diagnosed after thorough medical assessments, I'm convinced they've both been afflicted with this ailment (as has been their father). I was so frustrated with all of the challenges these two children presented that I was quite willing to medicate them. They tried the whole gamut of medications but didn't like the side effects, and they wouldn't take them.
During a particular discussion with this son as a teen-when I was thoroughly frustrated with his behavior-I offered an observation. He didn't laugh, so I guess he didn't appreciate the humor embedded in my emphatic remark, "You're the second most annoying person I ever gave birth to." And he was. His younger sister was the first. For years I despaired of them learning the things I was trying to teach them. But they both are doing quite well now.
Growing up, my ADHD children weren't different than my later non-ADHD children with temper tantrums. My first five babies all threw tantrums...and yet my last eight didn't. My fifth baby, at fourteen months old, was cured of his temper tantrums about a week after I figured out what to change in my parenting. What I learned with this baby about preventing temper tantrums worked as well with my ADHD babies as it did the rest of them. You can have a tantrum-free lifestyle with your ADHD child as well.
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Learn more about preventing tantrumsin ADHD children . Visit Leanna Rae Scott's site to learn how to help ADHD children.
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