Make sure everyone knows that, when it comes to the education of your ADHD child: You’re watching, you expect excellence, and you’ll complain if you don’t get it.

It’s day eight of summer school—four days to go. We stuck it out, and it’s gotten better. But, I came really close to pulling Natalie out. I consulted the director of special education a second time, to ask about the goals of the program. Is there an academic component, or is the goal to provide structure? She referred me to a new school administrator, in charge of the...
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I’m leaning toward pulling Natalie out of summer school. Even if Nat’s special education needs will be met, I’m not sure there’s a good fit.

Here I am at Stomping Grounds again, and I feel the tears coming--AGAIN. Not out of anger, this time, but from worry. This summer school shit--I don’t know if it’s worth it. The IEP business is resolved, and I expressed my gratitude by phone--without a single tear--to the director of special ed this morning. Now, I’m left with figuring out if the goals of the...
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Thank Goodness For Ritalin. There is a distinct difference between Natalie ON medication and Natalie OFF medication.

TGIF? Not this time! Friday afternoon, I picked Natalie up from daycare around 4:30. Whew! She was wild! Grabbing everything within her field of vision; not hearing a single redirect. Her friend Japanna stopped over to play right about the time we got home, and within minutes, he was gawking at Nat and me, as I half-drug her flailing body to her room for a time...
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I have the honor of being known forever as that psycho-mom who runs bawling to school admin every time someone looks sideways at her ADHD kid.

Stomping Grounds has gone from being my place to drink coffee and write my blog to my place to cry and write rants. If I keep this up, they’ll be calling for a psych consult, to see what drugs they should slip into my coffee. Or they’ll kick me out. “We’re sorry, but we must ask you to leave. This is a happy place. You’re ruining...
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ADDitude's Babysitter's Guide is a helpful tool for all caregivers of ADHD children.

The copy of ADDitude’s babysitter’s guide, ADDventures in Babysitting, which I ordered last week, was waiting in our mailbox when we arrived home from vacation on Tuesday. Fast service! I read it through — and I LOVE it! It does what ADDitude does best — summarizes information in a precise, easy-to-read, easy-to-apply format. I learned a lot that I didn’t know about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder...
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Like many kids with ADHD, Natalie sometimes has problems getting to sleep, and right now, her sleep schedule is as messed up as I’ve ever seen it.

Natalie starts summer school Monday morning, and she and I are both in for a rude awakening. Literally. The reminder postcard that came in the mail admonished: “Class begins promptly at 8:15 am”. It will be harder than heck for both of us to get up early enough in the morning to get ready and arrive at school on time. Me; I’m just plain lazy...
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It’s important for me to take a vacation from my ADHD child and spend some time reconnecting with the adults in my life.

Let me share a sentiment I just read in the bathroom (too much information!) at Arnold’s Perk, a funky coffee shop in Arnolds Park, Lake Okoboji, Iowa: “If you’re rich you live in Beverly Hills. If you’re famous you live in Malibu. If you’re lucky, you live at Lake Okoboji.” I feel lucky just to be here on vacation! To me, Okoboji is...
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I learned something from my impulsive, loving, ADHD child. Sometimes it pays to talk to strangers.

Sometimes, Natalie’s ADHD impulsivity and her loving personality are a winning combination. Friday night, Natalie, Aaron, and I got a jump start on a mini vacation. Don and I were scheduled to arrive at Iowa’s Lake Okoboji at 4:00 pm on Saturday to meet treasured friends, Steve and Joani Gent, and Mark and Debbie Flannery, for an annual reunion/vacation. The kids would stay with Aunt...
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If Nat believes an adult is going to hurt her, and she can’t stop it from happening, she tries to take control in her own ADHD way.

Gayle, our in-home therapist, stopped over last night. Nat’s behavior toward her was really weird, and, at first, I couldn’t figure out what was happening. Nat pestered Gayle. She nearly hit her with toys and faked Tae-Kwon-Do moves that she learned from Harry — almost making contact with her fists and feet. She only spoke to Gayle when her mouth was stuffed with food, and...
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Sometimes it feels like managing all of Natalie’s special services is a full time job.

Today, we started our morning at ChildServe, for Nat’s occupational therapy. We arrived home just in time for an appointment with Nat’s case manager, who oversees the services Natalie receives through a children’s mental health waiver. When she left, I called a therapist Nat saw in the past, to schedule a re-evaluation, to determine if Nat is eligible for another year on the children’s mental health...
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Mom used to claim that the things you worry about the most never happen. She was right more often than not. But she didn't have an ADHD child.

My mom used to say, “The things you worry about the most never happen.” She was right more often than not. We spent the long 4th of July weekend with Don’s family in eastern Iowa. We kicked off the festivities Thursday evening with dinner at Tuscan Moon, a beautiful upscale restaurant in Kalona, Iowa, in celebration of Don’s parents’ 44th anniversary. I worried about that dinner...
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I hate having to choose between Nat's safety and her happiness.

Natalie is not happy. Since I fired The Exorcist, I’ve been taking Natalie to Formative Years when I’m at work. Formative Years is a commercial daycare center near our home. Nat’s gone there off and on for several years — mostly after school and on some school holidays. It’s a really good place, as far as group care goes. Great staff. Lots of toys and activities...
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Now remember, I don’t have ADHD. My child does. But I sure do act like it sometimes.

Now remember, I don’t have ADHD. My child does. I don’t. Really! But I sure do act like it sometimes. The last time Natalie saw her pediatrician, Dr. Halbur, for a re-check, she told us that laws about controlled substances had changed, and that she could write out three prescriptions for Ritalin at a time, rather than only one. Wow! That’s a lot easier,...
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Today’s post is the third in a series about adults who misunderstand and react horribly to our children's ADHD behavior. This is my rant!

Today’s post is the third in a series about adults who misunderstand our children's behavior. For example, a college-educated young adult who BELIEVES MY DAUGHTER IS POSSESSED BY DEMONS! This post is my rant about the topic. Please bear with me, because I will be insensitive. I will be disrespectful of your religious beliefs... if you believe in demon possession. Someone messed with my loving, innocent...
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More tales of poor ADHD child care: There’s nothing wrong with her that a little discipline won’t cure. Yeah right!

In yesterday’s post I described an incident where a substitute teacher showed a lack of skill, finesse — even plain common sense — when Natalie wasn’t attending to a task. She grabbed Natalie’s head and forced her to look at her work. I can imagine the circumstances that led up to the incident: the sub is still asleep when her phone rings. She’s asked to sub...
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