Life with ADHD

My ADHD son took a class on regulating his energy levels. 

One of the first activities was to make a collage of his energy levels, when he feels "Low", "Just Right", and "High".

Here are the pictures he cut out to correspond with those levels:

For "Low", a motorcycle.  For "Just Right", a motorcycle.  For "High", a motorcycle. 

Now some, like my dear son, will argue that each motorcycle is different, and in different scenarios, so they do depict different energy levels. 

I, the mother, only see motorcycles.  Fast moving motorcycles. 

:::sigh:::

Life With ADHD

When it comes to school, some days are better then others.  The beginning of the school year is hard as he learns the routine.  Winter, in terms of bad days, comes in a close second.

And then there are the days, for whatever reason, he is elsewhere.  Last week, he had one of those days.  We could blame it on the rain.  Everyone was dragging that day; for him, it was his focus level ... kaput. 

His explanation of the day wasn't concise, but that usually means he lost focus throughout the day.  Imagine my surprise, when the next day his teacher told me he had stood up, on his chair, in the middle of math class. 

Sorry, Mr. C, for laughing.  We chalked it up to an ADHD moment. 

That afternoon I asked JT why he stood on his chair, in the middle of math class.  I was fully expecting a blank stare, and no memory of said activity.  He did remember, and this was his explanation:

"Mr. C. announced that the class was a bunch of airheads; so, I acted like an airhead, by pretending to float up to the ceiling." 

:::sigh:::

Sorry, Mr. C, for laughing once again.  I  must say, I'm rather relieved that he had a reason, and that it wasn't an act of an ADHD cloud.  

Life with ADHD

While at this year's well-visit for one of our children, the Doc asked if we had had any follow up visits with the diagnosing Doc of our son's ADHD (um, no), and how the whole behavior modification was working?

My answer? I have absolutely no idea what it is I said. I mumbled something, while suddenly focused on whatever my son was doing.

I am fairly certain there is something written in my son's file about my mumbling. Probably something about us not doing anything. I don't blame him.

Though we are "doing something." The problem is, how do you describe it? Because we aren't doing anything different. Maybe this, or that, has been tweaked, but we have not rearranged our whole household structure for one child.

And there is the answer. Any "tips" given for dealing with an ADHD child, are the same tips any, and all, good parenting books will recommend. Granted, a book on ADHD will provide a little bit more understanding on the specific issue you are dealing with, by helping you to place your child's behavior into context, and remind you not to pull out your hair.

It is one of the few things I remember from my education classes, when in college. Classroom techniques recommended for students with challenges, actually benefit all children, regardless their learning level.

Sure, some of the books will outline a complicated point/peg/reward process, which we don't do since I'm not good at following those.

And then there is the whole question of "how is it working?" When you are in the middle of parenting, especially on a bad day, it is not working too great. This is when I rely on friends, those who tell us that he is improving. And, on his teachers. And, everyone around us, who has a slightly more objective view, then us, the parents, who are on the front line.

So, now I know what I will say when asked "how is the behavior modification working?" It is a daily battle. We have seen improvement in his behavior, and though it is not consistent, we are working with him to learn self-control. He gets good grades in school, and though he is not the most organized child, once again, we are working with him to be responsible for his school work and belongings.

Now, why couldn't I think of that in the Doc's office? And, will I remember this at the next appointment?

Life With ADHD

It is true, it gets (physically) easier as children get older. They are able to accomplish more, with minimal supervision from parents.

However, with a child who's brain shifts into overdrive at any given (and many unforeseen) moment, sometimes what I need to give him is "maximum security."

JT wanted to finish a sewing project, which I had started for them during one of our blizzards this past winter. This morning I pulled down the sewing box, threaded the needle for him, and wished him well.

Ah the bliss, he finishes the project while I make breakfast.

And, then my peaceful thoughts turned to worried thoughts. His mind could shift into hyper drive at any moment, and before we could say "do re mi" (oh, he was also singing "Do Re Mi" as he sewed) a needle could be sticking out of his head, out of a sibling's hand, out of the ceiling, dropped somewhere, possibly left sticking out of a sofa cushion....

When you give an ADHD kid a needle and thread ....

Thankfully, all that happened was he finished the project, and the needle was returned to it's proper place.

Now, the scissors? Well, they were absently left on the kitchen counter by Mom, as I moved onto another project.

And, the cookies JT made this evening? Again, it was nice to set him to work on one project while I washed the dinner dishes.

However, this time that ADHD gear kicked in; he would turn the mixer on and then take off around the house. As the baking project continued I seemed to be completing more and more of it.

:::sigh:::

It could have been worse. At least he remembered to place the lid on the mixer before turning it on high.

Life with ADHD

Life with a child diagnosed with ADHD can be ... interesting.

If you have a better adjective please leave a comment, I would love to read them.

When it comes down to it, all one can really do is laugh, and find some effective behavior management technique.

If anyone has any good behavior management ideas, please leave a comment.

Absentmindedness is a quality of ADHD. An ADHD child (or adult) can be easily distracted and forget why they walked into a room, what they were supposed to d.,

Or, say ... that they wore their coat out to the school track, but took it off half way through recess, and then went inside ... sans coat.

His new coat. Well, not the whole coat, the outer shell of his brand new winter coat.

Did I tell you we just bought it this winter?

I believe our conversation went something like this ... "You better find it or you will be cleaning the bathroom/windows/floors/dishes/laundry for the rest of the year in order to pay for a new one."

The coat was not recovered, by the time I was at their school later that week, so I took a look at the lost and found rack.

No jacket, but I did find a sweater of his.

The custodian was near by, and I asked her if there was another place they kept lost & found items. They did not have another "official" holding area; but, she told me, the art room had become a holding place for left behind clothes, so off we went.

No jacket, but I did find a shirt of his.

Then she mentioned the office. There were some jackets lying in the office. So, off we went.

Yes, his jacket.

And, off I went, home, with half his wardrobe.

Life with ADHD ... or in that case, any child who takes off an article of clothing and leaves it behind.

Life with ADHD

When you find the funny in ADHD then life for you, and your child, becomes a lot less stressful.

Tonight I walked into JT's room to drop off some clothes. He just took a shower and should of been dressed by the time I walked in. But no.

He is standing there. Buck naked. Changing his pillow case.

Backing up. Earlier in the day we had just gotten home from a weekend at my parents. This was JT's first time home since leaving Wednesday for camp. While he was gone I had changed the sheets on his bed and this afterenoon told him that he would need to change his pillow case; "not now, but sometime before going to bed."

Now this is the fun with ADHD (or the frustration, depending on the situation.) Soon after walking into his room he saw his pillow and remembered what I said about changing the pillow case, and forgot about getting dressed.

Apparently, not even the breeze was jogging his memory.