Mommy ADD

Med issues

So, it's now almost the end of summer and I have spent all ]summer trying to get a med that my son wouldn't metabolize to fast. It's been a bust.

First, we tried Vyvanse. This worked for a few weeks, but then we noticed an increase in his anxiety. For a kid with anxiety, this was unacceptable. And by anxiety, I mean things like worrying that he was having chest pains, that someone was going to break into the house and get him and on and on.

Then we tried Straterra. I was really wanting to try this, since it is also indicated for anxiety. Well, this was a bust too, since it caused some other organ issues that weren't worth it.

During this time, he was off all other meds, since the Straterra can take up to 6 weeks to fully get into their system. This means that he has been off of all meds for over a month now. Um, yeah. I think I have at least a few more gray hairs now.

I have spent the past month pulling my son off the ceiling, asking him to take some deep breaths, making him sit still for 30 seconds.

The good thing about the med break was that he started eating. A lot. In fact, he put on 5 pounds in a month. Finally!

So, after much debate on my part, I decided to put him back on his Focalin, despite the fact that he seems to burn through it so fast. Maybe he'll be more social because the meds wear off quicker. Of course, this also means that we have to employ more behavioral modification techniques.

I am really nervous for the year to begin this way, but its part of being a parent of an ADD'er.

Column: Three Tips...Improving Reading

Here's my latest column that first appeared on An Ounce of Ketchup at Go Ask Mom...Enjoy!

ADHD kids can be notorious for lots of different things (one of mine happens to be notorious for a famous toothpaste incident, but I digress) but when it come to school, many are reluctant readers. Being a reluctant reader isn't a term I particularly like - what it really boils down to is finding what your child is into. I am a firm believer that every kid can be a happy reader, its a matter of figuring out what subject they are passionate about.

This may be more difficult for the parents than you think. It will require you to relax your standards on what you think is appropriate for your child to read. Forget the classics (even if it's only for a little while) and follow these three steps to help them find their niche.

1. Start with what they like. If they are into skateboarding, find them some biographies of famous skaters or let them read about how skateboards are made or how the sport developed. it may be difficult for you to let go of your preconceived notions about what your child should be reading, but what is more important - them reading what you want them to or them reading willingly? Be willing to give them some freedom to find what they like. Kids are notorious for being into many different topics, which means that our ADD'ers might be interested in pirates one day, medieval torture another and then the origin of the shoelace by the end of the week.

Be willing to go with the flow and run with it. You may have to be patient, but again, the goal is to get them to read.

2. Take your time. It may take some time to find what they like. Become friends with your local librarian. their help will be invaluable with your search for the perfect book, author and subject. Once you befriend them, they will keep on the lookout for books that match your criteria. They can also tell you about similar authors and topics, put books on hold for you and even tell you about local author events, which can be a great way to get kids excited about reading.

3. Once you find "it", run with it. Once you find whatever "it" is that makes your child want to read, find as many ways as you can to foster that interest. Remember to think outside the box. Once you find a topic, look for biographies, magazine articles and any other genre of writing related to the topic. Again, your local and school librarians can be a big help with this. Other places to look are Barnes and Noble, Amazon and even Google. Look for websites specifically geared towards kids and the subject and you may even be able to find newsletters that you can subscribe kids to. Don't forget other, less traditional methods of delivery. Reading a comic book, newspaper or even magazine is still reading.

Remember - the goal is to show your child that reading can be fun. Loosen up and have fun finding topics together and they will appreciate knowing you care enough to take the time to help them and maybe you can even read with them. Enjoy!

Have a question about your child's education? Email me at add@alanamorales.com to have your question answered.

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Save Your Sanity tip o' the day - lists are your friend

As part of my kids treatment, we go to a child counselor about one time a month. One of the things we worked on is holding my kids accountable when they need to do things. She suggested making a checklist of everything they needed to complete and by what time, then giving them the power to get it done (or not)

I was very skeptical - I mean, my kids with just a checklist to keep them on track? Imagine my surprise when it actually worked!

Not only did it work, but the kids were so excited about it, they wanted me to write everything down on it, just so they could check it off. 

Basically, here's how it works: each morning after breakfast I make each kid a checklist of absolutely everything i want them to get done before lunch. Then, my kids bolt to their rooms, completing tasks and burning through their list.

I am a bit concerned about how this will work in 2 weeks when school starts, but I think I can make it work for us. I am thinking of a morning checklist, which I will prepare the night before, since both kids will be using alarm clocks this year, and an after school version.

So far, the system has worked wonderfully, with the exception of today. They appear to be more apt to finish things when given a list first thing in the morning, as opposed to the middle of the day like today.

I will update our progress soon. What do you think - is this something that might work for your kids?

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Blog Love - The Parenting Blog with ADDitude Magazine

I love blogs. (How many of you just had this flashback? Admit it...). I am always in the market for a new blog, so every other Friday, I am comitted to sharing a new blog with you.

This week's is ADHD Parenting Blog on ADDitude Magazine's website. I have been reading this blog for a while and it's a good one to follow.

Make sure to check out her post on "ADHD Formula for Trouble"  where she ponders - "Does (ADHD + delayed gratification) x (impulsivity + hyperfocus) = formula for trouble in your household?"

Enjoy!!

SYS (Save Your Sanity) #2 - Go Easy on Yourself

Today's tip is something that many ADHD parents have trouble with. it's pretty simple - go easy on yourself.

I give you permission right now to give yourself a break. Go ahead, say it to yourself, I'll wait.

Don't you feel better now? Being a parents of an ADHDer is a TOUGH job as it is. When you add parenting guilt to the mix, it's enough to give us ulcers. We aren't going to be a perfect parent every day. So what if you had a bad day? Go give your kids a hug and make a pact with yourself to have a better day the next day. If you were particularly horrible (maybe this only happens to me) that day, it's ok. We are entitled to have bad days too - our kids certainly do.

So, go easy on yourself today. You deserve it!!