MORNING HELP!!!!!!!!! | ADHD Information

Hi,

I have thought about waking my son up a bit early and giving his medication but, I worry that he would not eat an adequate breakfast. He is definately "weird" in the morning, makes noises, defiant and all around difficult. Some mornings are worse than others.  We started the marble system and it seems to help.  But, it's only been a week and the novelty of the marbles might wear off.  Good luck.

My son tends to be more difficult in the evening, but the "consequence" I am using now is earning "screen time". This includes TV, Computer, and Gameboy. So, he must cooperate at bedtime and he must do his morning routine to get his screen time. I agree that sleeping in clothes and giving meds early are great options. You HAVE to find a way to make it easier for yourself. I decided tonight that I will handle our son at bedtime (1 on 1) to get the teeth brushed and in PJs so my husband can read with my daughter. While the Concerta is a lifesafe, I still want to push to learn more self-control where we can. Good luck - we can all relate!I just used the marbles program. It's posted at the top. It literally turned my mornings from a nightmare into normal. The key is to have the child identify the rewards so that he/she is motivated.Okiemom,

I'm SO glad to hear you give him food in bed!!! Sometimes I feel I am so accommodating that I am enabling my son -warming his clothes in the dryer, letting him eat in the car, bribing him, etc. But it really does take a different set of rules with these kids. With the decreased appetite, I let him eat cereal before bed just for the calories, and some nutrition. Thanks - it just made me feel like it's okay to break the rules to get through the day with these guys.
I wake my son up about 30 min before he is suppose to actually up, I give him his meds and then he falls back asleep for awhile...by the time i need him to get goign the meds are in his system and he is ready to go....he also hates taking his meds so it helps that he really isnt awake enough to but up a fight he sits up, chews his meds, takes a drink and then goes to sleep for a little bit.

[QUOTE=edbson]I used to wake DD up and give her meds an hour before we actually had to be "up", then go back to sleep for an hour,......worked for us. [/QUOTE]

I do this with my son, it works for us.

Best of luck!

I put on my ds's Daytrana patch at 5am so it has "kicked in " at least 1/2
hour before we leave for school. I also let him go outside and ride his bike
or scooter after he eats and gets dressed. This helps both me and him. He
doesn't drive me nuts inside and he can work off some extra energy outside.
I have tried the yelling and screaming stuff and it just doesn't make a
difference. He just can't function in the morning until his meds kick in.
Arguing with him just starts off my day badly. I hate mornings and
bedtimes, so I sympathize. Hang in there.

I just don't know what to do anymore.  My 9 almost 10 year old son is totally out of control in the mornings.  There is no reasoning with him.  It is a constant battle for him to get dressed, he is just defiant, backtalks, screams, he runs outside in his pajamas..  I lay out his clothes prepare the night before.  I dread the mornings.  Once the Concerta is in his system he's ok but my gosh I just can't control him and feel totally helpless.  It's as if he's another child.....almost posessed...I hate to say that but it's not his personality at all.  I can't deal with this every morning.  We are tardy a lot and he says it's my fault.  Please help me!!!

I would probably try the following if giving the Concerta early in the morning doesn't help. 

I would have my son sleep in his clothes to wear for school in the morning (he doesn't wear a uniform, does he?).  A pair of shorts/sweats and a t-shirt could work).  That stops the getting dressed problem.  I would have everything he needs for the morning packed and ready - lunch made and backpack packed.  Then, he can get up in the morning, eat if he wants, and go right to school.  I think the key is to stop the fighting and battle.  It takes two to argue.  If he picks a fight ignore him until the meds kick in.  If he elects not to eat, fine.  I'd talk to his teacher and see if he can bring a snack to eat early if he gets hungry.  The teacher should also institute a tardy penalty.  If he is tardy, maybe he has to sit for 5 minutes of recess.  The key is to get you out of the argument.  He needs to be on time for HIM, not you.  Once it affects him directly he may start coming around.  It sounds like now its just a battle that he wants to continue each day.

Good Luck

 

We have the same thing. Our son fools around and acts ridiculous.

We give him his meds then let him sleep almost another hour. When he wakes up, the meds are in his system.

Mornings are so much better for both him and us!

a lot of people have this problem.

A couple of things, we did, at one point use a 5 mg regular release Ritalin, very early. I would wake my daughter up a half hour before she had to get up and she'd take it and go back to sleep, or you could just get him up a little early and take it. This takes effect within  15-20 minutes (usually), then he could take his Concerta before he leaves for school. The Ritalin would be coming out of his system as the Concerta was taking effect.

Or several people use Tenex (Guanfacine) for a "24 hour coverage" to hlep with the time before and after meds. There is a very long thread on Guanfcaine here.

I used to wake DD up and give her meds an hour before we actually had to be "up", then go back to sleep for an hour,......worked for us.

It sometimes helped when I used a timer and then let him earn something he wanted (like T.V.). If the timer went off and things weren't done he would loose a priveledge at night. Somehow it helped to have as little interaction as possible.  good luck and it will get better over time.

I read this with my jaw dropped, we have the SAME issue at our house!! I don't know about you but I was looking for more non-med. methods of getting them going. HOWEVER, the eating in bed could possibly work with us...I may try that. He does love to eat.  And I will tell you, which someone else did mention, we bought a timer. I also set his alarm for him to get up to. (He's ignoring that at the moment...we're working on it) The timer is set for so many minutes for him to get dressed and make his bed, eat, and brush his teeth. His priviledge is to get to watch a little TV before the bus or to play UNO with me, if I'm able. (I have two other sons).

So far it SOUNDS good, huh! It's a work in progr ess, you and I should keep in touch. Let me know if you find anything that really works! I'll be watching this post. Good luck to you, maybe we should get the CD "Walking on Sunshine" and play it to get us alll in the 'new day is a blessing' mood, instead of our battling morning.

ilovemyboys39353.5484143519

We had this exact problem also.

  No amount of reasoning or consequences or preparation worked UNTIL we started waking him up one hour before his regular wake up time to give him his Concerta.  We'd give it to him with a light breakfast, like Ovaltine or instant breakfast....something he could drink with the Concerta.   Then he'd go right back to sleep for another hour. Sometimes I also give him peanut butter toast, a banana, cereal, etc, right in his bed while he is taking the early med.

This technique literally saved my sanity.  No more arguing, chasing, begging, pleading, shouting, etc.  Combine this trick of early meds with the other suggestions, and you should see improvement.  You may have to add an afternoon booster of a short acting stimulant med later in the day to off set the early med wearing off earlier.

This is a technique tried successfully by many on these boards.      Good luck!

Okiemom

I'm dealing with the EXACT same issues with my 13 yo ds.  It has been getting considerably worse and we me with the dr yesterday b/c we were thinking that his medicine (Adderall) might need to be increased.  After doing a lot of talking we realized that he's having a TERRIBLE time going to sleep at night.  We always catch him up late, playing a game or reading a book in the dark in his room.  Our pediatrician said that especially kids with ADHD have a hard time settling down at night, which makes for not nearly enough sleep and a VERY grumpy morning.  She also said that when he doesn't get enough sleep that his body is on over-drive, which actually burns up his medicine faster.  That explains why it's wearing off earlier in the day.  Our dr (who doesn't like to push medicine) prescribed 'Clonindine' to use temporarily before bedtime.  He went to bed last night at 9:30 and by 10:00 was sound asleep.

My son gets up for school at 6:15, so there's no way I could him up earlier to give him his meds.

Our mornings used to be pure hell, but with the marble system they now fluctuate between livable and total chaos (which I can deal with if I've had my  coffee).  I don't give him his meds till 8:00 so that they last long enough after school to get homework done. 

I about died laughing the other morning though- ds was a little worse than usual and had been tormenting his 6 yr old sister since the moment she walked downstairs.  After about 20 minutes of non-stop harrassment, she turn and yelled "Will you just go take your pill already? Jeez!"  The best part was, he went in the kitchen and took it!  My daughter told me later that day that she was going to do that every morning he drove her nuts because it worked so well.  

I am struggling same thing.  my son (almost 8) runs around noisy andmakes all kinds of noise.  good at school/daycare and focused, behaved but at home before/after meds horrible.  Just does anything to be silly and act crazy.  I am trying to get ready for work at the same time along with getting my older son out the door.

my question is I have him on Adderall XR and love it.  only 10 mg.  but if I give it to him at 5 which is 30 min to 1 hour before he gets up, my nighttime dealing with homework, etc will be worse.  he begins his homework after dinner when we get home at 6:30.  does anyone give an afternoon pill like a short time acting one? I am nervous about doing this but am more than willing to stop the fighting every morning.  I come to work in tears some days because I am rushing (no matter what time I get up) and he is just acting all over the place.

The pm ritalin is a MIRACLE worker for us. He gets 15 mgs around 5-6 pm, it starts working fast, and helps with dinner, homework, and going to bed. Ask your dr about it. And it comes in generic too, cost at walmartMy 8 year old adhd and odd and ocd is always making unwarrented noises and always has to have control.  In school he is pretty focuses and still but I have him before meds and after day care and meds.  It is a constant struggle that is wearing on me.  The mind games get to be way to much.  He seems to charish in doing the opposite of what I tell him to do.  He crawls up the stairs and rolls on the floor when he is suppose to be brushing his teeth.  It really is maddening.  I have to believe he doesn't want to act this way and it is his condition but my it takes all of my patience to deal with these situations.  So Frustrated so I know how you feel. Omg Im so glad im not the only one here who has to warm her kids clothes in the dryer in the am! Mac used to be HORRIBLE about this, and with winter coming im sure he will start it all over again. Ive even put shirts in teh microwave before lol! I too give him his concert at LEAST 30 min before he really has to get up and get ready in the am. 45 min works better tho. The down side is the getting breakfast down him part. He doesnt eat alot on this medication, tho he did manage to gain 3 lbs over the summer break (he takes his meds year round). At most i usualy get him to eat a granola bar in the car on the way to school and sometimes he will eat breakfast at school.