I've been in tears on & off since the parent teacher interview this afternoon. She started meds for her ADD/ADHD 2 weeks ago. And she's LEARNING!
Might sound over the top, but I'm serious. Her last report card basically said that she'd learnt nothing in the first 6 months of the year. I was shattered when I realised how bad it was. We tried lots of new things since then, but the attention side of things was just affecting her too much. If she's struggling this much in year 2, she's never going to catch up.
So over a year after diagnosis, I gave in & started the meds. And with in days there was an improvement. We started on a small dose. Her teacher knew, but the assisstant teacher wasn't told (teacher wanted an unbiased oppinion). On day 2 the assisstent teacher made a comment along the lines of 'I don't know what's going on with DD2, but she's being so good!'
She has gone from needing constant supervision & reminders about what to do next, to having a list of 3 or 4 things & remembering them all with NO help!! Before the list might have been 'Get reader out, go sit with ***** & read, talk about the book, bring to teacher to sign'. We'd get out book *hand up* 'who do I read with?' & without reminders would either go off in a day dream, or ask what comes next after every task. She can do this
Her maths has gone from an average 4-5/10, with lots of help, to 8ish/10 with absolute minimal help. She's starting to use punctuation of her own accord & is putting more than once sentence down on paper when writing a story.
She also settled in the 'bouncing around' department. She is fidgeting much less!
I've not told any friends or family yet. I'm waiting til I'm ready for their oppinions. They've already made it clear they don't approve. Only those close to us, & teachers workig with DD will know for now. I hope people see the difference themselves so I don't need to defend my decision. I'll happily let them in on my secret if they notice the change!
I'm just so proud. And amazed that these changes happened so fast! With not many people yet to brag too, I thought I'd show off in here
Last edited by ~clover~; October 30th, 2012 at 11:47 PM.
That's great news I hope she continues learning and improving. you are doing a wonderful job and no one had the right to judge what you see and live daily xoxo
So happy to hear that it is working for her! It must be a great feeling for you to know she is doing so well with the medication, and for you DD to know she *can* do all these things, she is smart and she can learn.
Poo to your family that disapprove. I am sure they wouldn't make you defend your decision to give her insulin if she was diabetic, this is the same deal imo. Hope they notice the difference and have to eat their words!
I remember all too well that amazing feeling when they're doing what they are supposed to be and learning! Such an amazing and reassuring feeling. My eldest DS has ADHD and was medicated from just after his 5th birthday. I copped loads of flack from my otherwise supportive family. They didn't believe he needed medication. They believed he needed more discipline, a better routine (like that could be improved beyond what it was already!) and all kinds of other suggestions. But the proof was in the school reports, his progress whilst medicated and his general feelings. He was the best judge of it all when he was old enough to find the words to express the differences in how he felt on & off his meds.
I'm sure this will be the start of many awesome things for your DD!
I have told my mum & my 2 closest friends. The ones who've been through it with me.
My dad had a horrible experience when he was diagnosed at 8. He was sent away, alone, to Royal Far West where he was given electric shock therapy. I think he may've also been medicated, to a point that he turned into the 'zombie' & thats why he's so, so against medication. I think he's going to be the hardest one to convince. But DD frusterates him no end as well, so maybe he'll notice the difference more because she's not rubbing him up the wrong way anymore. But she is still herself. And thats what he hates about it. Over medicating.
Others oppinions don't mean much to me. I just don't need to hear it. They have not lived our lives over the past 7 years. The little bits they see, where she drives them nuts are NOTHING compared to the reality of 24/7.
So proud!
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