What is now named Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or ADHD) has been recognized, and perceived in many different ways, for probably hundreds of years. Stimulants were used for treating it more than seventy years ago. But I still believed about fifteen years ago that there really wasn't such a thing as ADHD and that it was probably just a way to excuse lazy parenting.
But then, in spite of my denial, my first two kids from my second marriage developed into pre-teens and developed problems in completing their school assignments, even as otherwise excellent students. These two children had always resisted doing anything they didn't like doing, and they had never cooperated by doing their fair allotment of the household chores as my older ten children had. Their floundering at school, though, was what caused me to belatedly get them in for thorough assessments, resulting in positive diagnoses for ADHD and ADD.
My daughter, the younger of the two, had ADHD, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Many parents with ODD children apparently give up on them, letting them ultimately be in charge of themselves. Though I felt like it, I refused to let my daughter be in full charge of herself because that would have increased her risk within the community. But she resisted every effort I made to be in charge of her.
My son did not have the hyperactivity symptom along with his ADD, and his behaviors were much less "in my face" than my daughter's were. As an adult, he doesn't believe he's had ADD. But I had ten non-ADHD children with my first husband. And these two had thorough ADHD assessments. So, I'm convinced they both have had this affliction (as their father has). It was so frustrating raising these two children that I was willing to actually medicate them. But they refused to take meds because of the side effects.
During a particular discussion with this son as a teen-when I was thoroughly frustrated with his behavior-I offered an observation. He didn't laugh, so I guess he didn't appreciate the humor embedded in my emphatic remark, "You're the second most annoying person I ever gave birth to." And he was. His younger sister was the first. For years I despaired of them learning the things I was trying to teach them. But they both are doing quite well now.
Growing up, my ADHD children weren't different than my later non-ADHD children with temper tantrums. My first five babies all threw tantrums...and yet my last eight didn't. My fifth baby, at fourteen months old, was cured of his temper tantrums about a week after I figured out what to change in my parenting. What I learned with this baby about preventing temper tantrums worked as well with my ADHD babies as it did the rest of them. You can have a tantrum-free lifestyle with your ADHD child as well.
But then, in spite of my denial, my first two kids from my second marriage developed into pre-teens and developed problems in completing their school assignments, even as otherwise excellent students. These two children had always resisted doing anything they didn't like doing, and they had never cooperated by doing their fair allotment of the household chores as my older ten children had. Their floundering at school, though, was what caused me to belatedly get them in for thorough assessments, resulting in positive diagnoses for ADHD and ADD.
My daughter, the younger of the two, had ADHD, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Many parents with ODD children apparently give up on them, letting them ultimately be in charge of themselves. Though I felt like it, I refused to let my daughter be in full charge of herself because that would have increased her risk within the community. But she resisted every effort I made to be in charge of her.
My son did not have the hyperactivity symptom along with his ADD, and his behaviors were much less "in my face" than my daughter's were. As an adult, he doesn't believe he's had ADD. But I had ten non-ADHD children with my first husband. And these two had thorough ADHD assessments. So, I'm convinced they both have had this affliction (as their father has). It was so frustrating raising these two children that I was willing to actually medicate them. But they refused to take meds because of the side effects.
During a particular discussion with this son as a teen-when I was thoroughly frustrated with his behavior-I offered an observation. He didn't laugh, so I guess he didn't appreciate the humor embedded in my emphatic remark, "You're the second most annoying person I ever gave birth to." And he was. His younger sister was the first. For years I despaired of them learning the things I was trying to teach them. But they both are doing quite well now.
Growing up, my ADHD children weren't different than my later non-ADHD children with temper tantrums. My first five babies all threw tantrums...and yet my last eight didn't. My fifth baby, at fourteen months old, was cured of his temper tantrums about a week after I figured out what to change in my parenting. What I learned with this baby about preventing temper tantrums worked as well with my ADHD babies as it did the rest of them. You can have a tantrum-free lifestyle with your ADHD child as well.
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Learn more about preventing tantrumsin ADHD children . Visit Leanna Rae Scott's site to learn how to help ADHD children.. This article, ADHD Children: Tantrums Are Optional is available for free reprint.