Mommy ADD

Sleepwalking? You can't be serious?

Because apparently having ADHD and ODD wasn't enough. The princess likes to keep us on our toes, which translates to "mom and dad will not get a full night of sleep."

You see, it all started a few nights ago with the Princess waking us up shortly after she fell asleep. It took a few days for us to realize what was happening - the walking aimlessly, the closed eyes, the incoherent sleep.

She was sleepwalking.

It was bad one night, where she pulled something out of her closet, seemingly just so she could try and walk on it. It happened to be a playground ball and that didn't end very well.

We tried to gently put her back to bed each time, but that is a pretty hard task when you have a kid screaming things like "No!" and "Okay, I'll get it!" and "fjdkal;fdjiofqwerfhn."

So, now we can deal with the anger issues with a few less hours of sleep. Sounds fun, I know. :)

PS - If you are experiencing this as well, here are a few sites to check out:

ADD/Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking

"You medicate your child?"

Man, I really hate that question.

Yes, I willingly medicate my children. Don't judge me for it. If I had a kid who had diabetes or epiliesy, you wouldn't say anything about me giving my kid a medication, but because it is for ADHD, you question me.

I get this sentiment from family members, colleagues and even complete strangers. Trust me, I have done my research on this. My kids being able to focus and get good grades in school and to me, that is what is important.

You are at my house when the princesses meds wear off and she is having a meltdown and throwing stuff at me and her brother and she is trying to kick a hole in the wall. You are there when the old man has a meltdown because he doesn't understand why he has so much trouble concentrating when other kids don't.

With over a decade of classroom experience, I have seen what can happen to a kid who needs to be medicated and isn't. I have also seen what happens when a kid who needs meds, gets them. Trust me, you don't want to be the parent who could have helped your child, but didn't because you are against the idea of medication. It's not worth it educationally.

So, yes, I medicate my kids on a daily basis and I am completely at peace with the decision.

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How do you deal with this question? Please share! :)

Appt #2 with the psychiatrist...and why I am learning patience

So, Friday we had another appointment with the child psychiatrist. I wasn't sure what to expect, since our first appointment was very different from my expectations. I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised.

I was prepared to have to switch doctors if necessary. I'm glad I didn't. This time around, there was more chatting about the behavior issues at hand, which seem to flip flop every time. One time its the old man, next it's the princess.

So, mom has officially learned to be patient with situations. Patience is especially important when dealing with ADHD and sometimes I can't seem to remember that. Yet another mantra I need to engrave on my brain...LOL

I'll have a post later about the princess and the ODD - we are going to see if we can get a med situation to help limit the issues. This is a tough decision for me, because I am already getting "suggestions" from family members about the kids being on meds, which is a conversation for a different time.

Every minute. Of every hour. Of every day.

The princess takes a lot of work. A. Lot.

Sometimes I make the mistake of taking my eye off her. Not in public, because then she would run (and she has). I sometimes make the mistake of thinking she is doing something that isn't destructive - like the time she painted the bathroom counters with toothpaste.

You would think that I would have learned my lesson. Apparently not.

Yesterday I was grading papers. Yes, on a Sunday, which goes against one of my cardinal rules of teaching. The princess was finishing up her meds and she was having a tough time. Then she was quiet.

Blissfully quiet. And that should have been my first clue.

I thought she was just reading books in her room. I should have known better. This morning I discovered coloring. On the walls. On the door. In the closet. In crayon. In pen. In permanent marker.

Yeah. It was that type of morning.

What I have to learn about her is that she can't be left alone like that. Yes, other kids can, but she isn't like other kids. And I cant let my guard down for even a minute, because if I do, there is NO telling what might happen.

*Pictures of her artwork will be posted tomorrow, especially since I have to buy a new magic eraser to clean the walls. :)

Three Tips For...End of Semester Review

If you have a child in middle or high school, the end of the semester can be a stressful time for you both. Before we get the feedback of final grades, our ADHD kiddos need to make it through final exams.

Final exams pose a special problem for our kids. It asks them to recall information from the entire course of the semester, organize study materials and time efficiently and then do well on timed tests. Here are three tips to help your child through final exams.

1. Look at those accommodations. If your child is already on a 504 or IEP plan, look at what accommodations you have in place for testing. Even if your child hasn't needed them throughout the semester, you may want to consider making them take advantage of them during testing time.

If your student isn't already on an accommodation plan, talk with the individual teacher(s). Many will be more than willing to make adaptations to help your child, especially if you have been in contact with them and working with them all semester.

Some possible modifications are: smaller testing group, extended time, or a reader for test questions. Modifications can be as simple as a fidget toy or chewing gum during the exam.

If you ask for an accommodation to be made, please make sure you are being reasonable. The purpose of an accommodation is to level the playing field, not give your child an advantage.

2. Begin reviewing early. Once you know when finals are, sit down with your student to come up with a review plan, then help them to implement it. Make sure you pay attention to the subjects that need more time and review and plan accordingly.

Another way to help your child is to review with them. You can test them, either by asking them questions or helping them actively review. Help them make charts diagrams, graphs - anything that will help them conceptualize the concepts and ideas they need to remember.

3. Talk with the teacher. Once you have a game plan, make sure you have all the materials your child needs to review. If you are missing anything (or suspect you are) contact the teacher asap. Don't wait until the day before the final to ask about a concept your child is having trouble grasping - ask early.

If you are finding that your child needs extra help, email the teacher about tutoring. Many teachers hand out a review packet as well - make sure your child has one and if they are prone to losing things, ask the teacher for an extra. This will save a huge headache when it's the day before a final and your child can't find their review packet.

Finals is a stressful, but necessary time in every student's educational career. Work hard to help your student develop the skills they will need to make it through this time successfully. It will take a bit of work, but it will pay off in the long run.

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Alana Morales is the author of Domestically Challenged: A Working Mom’s Survival Guide to Becoming a Stay at Home Mom. You can learn more about her at www.AlanaMorales.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/alanamorales for mom and ADHD tips. Do you have an ADHD/ADD educational issue you would like to see addressed? If so, please email me at info@mommyadd.com and I will try to feature it in a new column or on my blog at www.MommyADD.com.