Who is welcome???

Ogram,

I was just kidding about my sister checking out this site..she'd learn SOOO Much.  I just hope she has... but I'm surprised that she wouldn't post something.  Guess I'll get off this board and give her a call in the morning after I delete all the messages that are in my email from that one certain thread.  That should keep me up until in the morning...

Talk to ya later

Ogram,

Thanks, and yes I know how easy it is to get caught up in all the B.S.  - I was lovin' most of it  and although sparks were flying initially ...  I could tell many turned it into a "fun" thing.  I was laughing at many of the comments but then I thought, OMG, I hope my sister doesn't decide to check out this site now with all those initial exchanges.

aunti:  you're not the only person that doesn't have a birth child with adhd.  It's good that you care for your family members so much that you would seek help and understanding for them.  stick it out.  we are a good group.  but you have to know that when a touchy subject such as adhd, medications, and discipline are brought up, people get up set.  It's hard to not get caught up in all the b.s. 

welcome.

Sweetsilly,

I appreciate your comment but I haven't had it hard by a long shot - not compared to most of you.  Actually, I've had a great life and still am.  I am just a little befuddled as to who is welcome due to all the ""I bet she doesn't have kids" comments in other threads - which by the way, I couldn't draw myself away from...I love drama.  

Just so you know who I am……. My first experience with rearing a child was with my older sisters son.  I was the swing-shift baby sitter.  I was also living with my sister so I was with my nephew nearly 24/7.  He was adorable, spoiled, and a genius skipping grades in elementary school to prevent boredom. He could argue a point at age 4 leaving my sister and I dumbfounded as what to say…my sister was 20 and I was 18 at that time.  We were just stupid and didn’t know the first thing about raising a kid.  To this day he is my favorite person to have a debate with and he turned out fine regardless of our many, many, many failures, thank God!  He calls me his 2^nd Mom.

Later on in life I married a man with two adorable boys,  at age 2 and 4.  We would have the boys alternating weekends and for a good part of the summer/alternating holidays.  This was years ago and they are all grown now but they were just the most well-behaved kids and I give credit to their natural mother & father and not me, the step-mom.  I was just the step-mom who loved them dearly.

Fast forward – to 9 years ago - I was divorced and single again. My niece couldn’t deal with her daughter anymore and so temporary custody was given to me.  I had my grand-niece for one year and she came to me a very troubled child.  Thanks to a wonderful school, loads of love, strict rules, and after many nights crying myself to sleep  from frustration and heartbreak for what she had gone through in her life - she left my care caught up in school and a pretty happy kid. I’ll never forget when I told the principle and her teachers she was going back to her Mom – there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. (They were all aware of her background) Note:  I DID NOT WANT TO SEND HER BACK TO HER MOM  and she didn’t want to go, but that is a whole other story.

Now -  my sister is desperate for help because of her daughter with AD/HD.  I came to this board to learn more about ADHD to help my niece and sister.  I came totally ignorant, and since, have learned so much from all of you – I thank you!  

I have never given birth to a child of my own and I tell you this because I get the impression that if you don’t have kids you are not welcome to this board and especially don’t have a right to voice your opinions or give suggestions.   To be honest, I don’t understand that.  Just because someone has never done  “something”  or isn’t presently “doing it” doesn’t mean that person can’t plan the best way to “go about it” or remember “how to do it.”  We all have opinions on things regardless of whether we have had the personal experience or not.  On the other hand,  I will give the most consideration to those with experience.   So anyway,  I guess I’m asking – am I welcome to be as much a part of this board as anyone else?     

One last thing about myself – I LOVE A GREAT DEBATE and admittedly have gotten so caught up in some of the “drama” that is happening at this site that I have almost forgotten why I came here in the first place. 

Sounds like you have had it hard. Sorry. There alot of people here that will help you out with any questions you have. I hope you like it around here