[myrabach]

"I think that there is a middle-ground that needs to be reached where the schools and drug companies need to be taken out of the equation. I don't doubt some people need medication, I do doubt that every so many kids has ADHD..."

Actually, there are many MD's trying to classify ADHD and ADD as diseases or syndromes, etc. The reason for this is that once its reclassified, only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe. As it stands now, as a disorder, any lay person such as a teacher or school "therapist" can diagnose a child. This is part of the reason so many children are diagnosed and medicated. Once the school has diagnosed the child... the parents then are more or less forced to medicate.

So there are very serious medical experts working on the problem to quantify symptoms and monitor progress as in the case of other syndromes.

Those of us with children and in my case, grandchildren, appreciate the seriousness of ADHD and ADD. We also appreciate the effects of medication in allowing our children to live worthwhile lives. We also appreciate the dangers of those "experts" who continually ignore the seriousness of ADHD and those of you who feel that somehow a "swift kick in the rear" will magically clear out the raging storm in an afflicted child's brain.

[Politicalmom]

My parents refused to accept my assertion that there was something wrong with my son. I cried buckets of tears over my father's "He just needs to be spanked more often". I would have been beating my son constantly. I broke down in tears when my mother finally admitted that she could tell my son could NOT control his behavior and that there was a problem.

I hope your children appreciate you and your support. : )