Replies

I can't believe some of your statements here about ADHD meds. I agree they are overused and children who shouldn't be on them are, but some kids actually do need them and have better lives because of it.

My 8 year old son has ADHD and is on Strattera which is a non stimulant, however it is for ADHD. My son get all the love and attention I can give him and than some. He also eats his vegeteables, fruits, and sweets he only eats now and than. Heck, he turns down birthday cake at his brothers party last month, that is how much he doesn't have a sweet tooth!

I have ADHD and in was untreated. If I could go back and do it all over again I would have medicated, but there were no drugs existing at that time. My son had inherited my learning disabilities and my ADHD. I know exactly how it feels and what is going on in my sons head, I have been there. It is a hard thing to see him suffer everyday and his poor self esteem be affected the way it has been. I ask myself what kind of mother would I be if I didn't help my son? I will do whatever it takes.

So before people here think it is all about just giving your child attention and you must not be giving them enough attention I say that is rediculous! It has nothing to do with that!! I am a stay at home mom by choice so that I can go almost everyday to my sons school and eat lunch with him and play on the playground with him. I also go on every field trip, an involved with every school function he is in, and never miss a beat!! Is this a child that is not getting enough attention from his mother and father? My husband when home spends all his time with our boys outside playing sports, cars, whatever he can!

ADHD is real and I'm sorry there are few here who just think children need to eat less sweets and get more attention at home to be cured. I've done both and continue to do both and my son still has suffered. I hope and pray no one has to go through seeing your child beg for help the way I have seen my son beg!

We are no Ozzie and Harriet, that's for sure, but my son has all you mention. We have what some have described as the picture perfect family life. My son has both parents in the home, get lots and lots of love them they get more. They are disciplined, we attend a great church, we are finacially sound, my husband and I get along so there's no tension there, my family eats together every morning and every night. We are balanced in that the kids are not overextended in sports and such. We discipline our kids accordingly. You get the picture?

Of my 4 kids, my youngest is the one who struggles with academics. It's not that he is incapable of doing the work, he just has a problem staying on track and finishing what he starts. He gets lost with long sets of insstructions. He tends to wander mentally when a task exceeds certain amounts of time. Because of his inability to stay on task he gets frustrated and acts out behavior wise.

I believe there was ADHD in the olden days. It wasn't nowhere near as "common" as it is now. Those kids then were the daydreamers or the slackers. Looking back, I believe my brother had ADHD, and it is possible I did too. I know kids are energetic and sometimes hyper and believe it is normal for them to be. The difference in then and now, of course, is kids aren't allowed to expend the energy they need to expend. I do allow my kids to "be kids". At what point do I say this is more than normal "little boy energy" and see there is a problem?