Hi, I was diagnosed at 4 with ADHD and by 2 my mom was told something was seriously wrong with me but they didn' know what.
So, I have known since my son was quite young that he had ADHD. I am exhausted everyday, half the time I truly feel I hate my son and feel life would be better if he lived with my parents. Previously I had hoped to wait before putting him on medication (till he was 6), and when we moved last year didn't have a family doctor so I've been waiting for one - and just haven't gotten around to going to a walk-in clinic. I have an appt with a doctor this week so hopefully she will either give medication or a referral for psychiatrist.
My son is now 5.5 and in SK. At home, he doesn't listen to me, he doesnt' acknowledge I'm talking unless I'm screaming at him (it isn't hearing because if I ask him nicely once to do something sometimes he does it [5% of the time] or sometimes I repeat "what should u being doing?" and he does it or tells me what he's supposed to do. We have a set morning routine. He wakes up at 6am and watches tv till 6:45/7am when I wake up. During that time he is supposed to put on the clothes I set out, brush his teeth, brush his hair, get on shoes. And he gets his own dry cereal in a bowl (his breakfast of choice). Some mornings he gets everything finished on his own, a couple times he put away all the dishes and cleaned up his toys :) Most mornings I have to give 3 reminders to get dressed (one for shirt, one pants, one socks), 1 to brush teeth with me or full-blown argument on days he doesn't want to brush, and 2 to get shoes and coat on. If he does everything on his own he gets 2 timbits/donut holes, needs simple reminders he gets 1, and none if it becomes an issue.
When he is misbehaving I either tell him what I want him to do then count down from 5, or just count down when he knows what to do (usually he knows correct behaviour) if i reach 0 he gets a 5 minute time out. He NEVER stops talking unless he is asleep. He likes fighting shows so he can act them out as he watches, with moves and loud sound effects.
He is a very smart boy, he is starting to read, has lots of site words memorized, and at home he easily understand 2 digit addition with regrouping (he's in SK).
At school, the teacher says he is not having problems. He is slow to try new things and cried a lot at the beginning of the year when he had to try new work. He has work sent home a few times to redo, and he has a tulip he coloured, cut, glued - and put the top on wrong so it is an umbrella - says he knew what to do but someone was talking to him. His teacher doesn't feel he is more distracted than other kids and does not see any hyperactivity - she says he is a very shy, VERY QUIET child - more so than others.
Sorry this is so long, I'm just trying to figure out what more I can do to help him, and help myself feel happier, less stressed when I'm around him. And wondering if anyone else has a child who is great at school, but horrible when at home??
Melissastar39936.5041898148My boy 11, is horrible off his meds. Mornings and after homework is a horrible time in our house. Many meltdowns over homework, lot's of Drama! He does have a Focalin 2.5 if he needs it after school or in the evening as he is heavily involved with Boy Scouts and can use it for his meetings but he refuses to take it. Sorry my kid is good in school and horrible at home. It is something we are working on.My son functioned, but was hyper in kindergarten without meds. It all came crashing down in first grade. Meds had to enter our lives.
Keep an eye on things.
My son couldn't survive a day without them