One tough cookie

Ok well I have a 14y/o son who was diagnosedwith ADHD at age 7. One of the first things I did was explain how the meds help him to control himself BUT that he was still responsible for how he acted. That meds are just a tool and that it's only until his body matures and he can control it himself. We have always made him responsible for his actions. Did he always take responsibility? No, but he knew it was expected and as he has gotten older has matured and worked very hard to control his impulseiveness and bounciness. Does he still ramble on a mile a minute about one single thing for hours on end? Yes, but he is much more aware and able to control it if he knows we are not listening or if we tell him it's not a good time.

We focused on giving him tools to help him learn to control himself, limiting screen time, certain activities (fidget sensory "toys"), empowering him in the direction of his care. He recently expressed a desire to get off the meds because he felt he no longer needed them. We agreed if his doctor would and so we made an appt and his doctor was ok with it. So he is now in total control of his own body, does he slip and act hyper? yes. Is he a much happier kid? YES! And that is even with being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes the very same night his doctor told him he could stop taking the meds for ADHD. He conquered ADHD and now has a battle to win over Diabetes.  He will be graduating 8th grade in about a month and I just can't say enough how proud I am of him.

From 2009-07 (Jul)