[Politicalmom]

You know NOTHING. I lived with "He just needs to be spanked." from the time my son was a year old. I guess I could spank him all the time, and have NO relationship with him, but that still wouldn't help. My parents even admit this. He has a PROBLEM, and everything we have tried up until medication was to no avail. My son went from having to be forced to read, to a child who got nearly straight As and was the top reader in his school that year. The teachers thought he was a different child.

Some of you are so ignorant I can hardly stand it. My son has two parents, rarely has sweets or caffeine, has been disciplined, and so on. We tried diet, occupational therapy, discipline plans......

You have no idea what kind of hell a child with a chemical balance can put a family through. Too bad. Maybe you would be a little kinder.

The comments on this thread are truly sickening.

[ShadowDancer]

I don't think anyone was directing it towards you or your child specifically. We all know it is a real issue but the problem is, most unruly children are labled this now because it is easier than doing the right and the hard thing-actual parenting. Drugs are much easier. It is far over diagnosed and I think if you were to be honest even you would admit that. People here just hate to see that happen to kids. In cases such as yours, you have people's total faith in your parenting and in whatever is needed to help you and your child.

[SouthernFreebird]

I hear ya, only I'm a single mom so I get the crap that if only he had a dad or I was a slacker in discipline.

Nothing but ignorance of the part of those who sit in judgment, much as Autism used to be blamed on a cold mother. People like to assume they have control in this world. It makes them very uncomfortable to think there are things they cannot fix or avoid. All I can say is Thank-God some of these people didn't have children with ADHD.

I will love the child God gave me, warts and all.

[ContraryMary]

While there truly are some kids with a medical problem, ADHD is truly the most over-diagnosed and mis-diagnosed disease. It has become a catch-all for any kid who deviates even the slightest from the norm. Most of the comments here are right-on -- and that does not detract from your son's condition.

[Mygirlsmom]

Mom, I'm glad your son was helped. I think, however, that the treatment that helps those who really need it is often extended towards kids who are just...well, kids.

I have a child who genuinely has trouble sleeping. She simply cannot turn her brain off at night and relax into sleep. The only effect her lack of sleep has on her is she tends to be a bit crabby in the morning, but she usually shakes it off by the time she heads out the door for school. Her twin, by contrast, falls into a dead sleep on her way down to the pillow.

[Fairview]

I agree with Politicalmom. Some of you are writing out of ignorance. It's very easy to see a wild-child little boy misbehaving and chalk it up to bad parenting, lack of sleep, or too much sugar. But ADD and ADHD are real problems, not just something a swat on the backside will fix.

We have no difficulty believing that something can go wrong with a child's liver or kidneys or heart. We can accept that he might get a lung disease or be born with a flaw in his digestive system. So why can't we believe that a child could be born with a malfunction in the chemistry of his brain?

[tfecw]

Well I'm sorry your took my comments as a personal attack.

As someone already pointed out ADD is a highly over used diagnosis and used as an excuse for lack of discipline. It seems your son seems to be one of the select few and I'm glad he got helped.

40 years from now they are going to look at this Ritalin craze the same way we look at giving hysterical women prone to irrational ravings Valium today. Sure Valium has it's place, but when you are giving it to your wife, daughter, mother so she'll shut her yap it's being misused.

[ntnychik]

My daughter was diagnosed with ADD at 19. I understand what you've been through. She didn't have the outward hyperactivity to give us a clue. It was her thought process that was chaotic, but she concealed this with placid behavior. Her later school years and early college were a nightmare. The diagnosis was the greatest blessing. She is now successfully finishing up college. Nobody can judge this unless they've walked in our shoes, and those of our children.

[Raycpa]

My son went from having to be forced to read, to a child who got nearly straight As and was the top reader in his school that year

This happened to our daughter. It was amazing change. She is presently a successful sophmore in college who wouldn't dare take classes without meds.

In fact the few times she forgot her fellow classmates notice something is different before she does.