Natalieclare
02-26-2008, 07:07 PM
My 11yods started medication for ADHD a couple of days ago. Yesterday was the first day we did structured learning activities while medicated.
WOW, what a difference.
He was able to complete a whole spelling word without being redirected.
He was able to whip through several pages of math, without me sitting right next to him.
He read a chapter of a book, painlessly. In fact, I found him on his bed reading his book, VOLUNTARILY.
He played for 3 hours on Saturday with his 3yo sister without pestering. In fact, he was very thoughtful and helpful with her. He's always been a kid whose heart has been in the right place, he just couldn't seem to stop himself from being annoying.
It's as if the crisis between industy vs inferiority has been conquered! He had been getting so discouraged with himself, feeling like he couldn't DO anything. He was kind of a wanderer with his free time; his brief periods of screen time were the highlight of his day. Yesterday, he told me, "I used to live for screen time, but now the highlight of my day is building things."
He said that it used to take him a lot of effort just to focus on an object, but now he can just "look at it".
I have agonized over this poor sweet hearted boy, watched him flail around trying to get into something. And I can't believe how much he can get into when he is able to FOCUS without all the effort and strain.
A couple of things have been discouraging: he's had an extremely hard time getting to sleep and he feels a little weird having things come easier because he's taking medicine. He said, "I just wanted to overcome this stuff on my own, Mom." That was really hard to answer. I mean, I gave him a little talk about how he's the one who has to make good choices, the medicine can't do that for him, blah blah blah. But I'm not sure he's satisfied with my explanation.
Anyway, it feels a little weird to me too, to have such a weight lifted off. I guess I'm still a little conflicted feeling about the whole drug issue, but when I see the results, I'm only overjoyed.
WOW, what a difference.
He was able to complete a whole spelling word without being redirected.
He was able to whip through several pages of math, without me sitting right next to him.
He read a chapter of a book, painlessly. In fact, I found him on his bed reading his book, VOLUNTARILY.
He played for 3 hours on Saturday with his 3yo sister without pestering. In fact, he was very thoughtful and helpful with her. He's always been a kid whose heart has been in the right place, he just couldn't seem to stop himself from being annoying.
It's as if the crisis between industy vs inferiority has been conquered! He had been getting so discouraged with himself, feeling like he couldn't DO anything. He was kind of a wanderer with his free time; his brief periods of screen time were the highlight of his day. Yesterday, he told me, "I used to live for screen time, but now the highlight of my day is building things."
He said that it used to take him a lot of effort just to focus on an object, but now he can just "look at it".
I have agonized over this poor sweet hearted boy, watched him flail around trying to get into something. And I can't believe how much he can get into when he is able to FOCUS without all the effort and strain.
A couple of things have been discouraging: he's had an extremely hard time getting to sleep and he feels a little weird having things come easier because he's taking medicine. He said, "I just wanted to overcome this stuff on my own, Mom." That was really hard to answer. I mean, I gave him a little talk about how he's the one who has to make good choices, the medicine can't do that for him, blah blah blah. But I'm not sure he's satisfied with my explanation.
Anyway, it feels a little weird to me too, to have such a weight lifted off. I guess I'm still a little conflicted feeling about the whole drug issue, but when I see the results, I'm only overjoyed.