How to Deal with Children who Suffer From ADHD

I have three children, when my son, the middle child, started kindergarten I knew it was going to be a big battle. There became a time when the school informed me he had to seek a psychologist or would be suspended until he did because he was flipping out in school. He would have outbursts and even act violent at times. The psychologist asked a few questions about his behavior and diagnosed him with having ADHD.

ADHD stands for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Children with ADHD have difficulty paying attention to details and tend to make careless mistakes in school or activities. Although Dillon has difficulty paying attention in school be possessed a 98 grade point average. His teachers would say, Dillon had not payed attention all day because he was too busy disrupting the class when they were trying to review for a test but, the next day he would get 100 on the test. They couldn't understand how this was possible. Dillon has many of the impulsive symptoms of ADHD which include, no patience, blurting out answers before the question has been completed, difficulty waiting his turn, often interrupts on others to the point of causing problems in social settings, and he initiates conversations at inappropriate times. My son also often engages in dangerous activities without worrying about what the consequence will be.

The doctor prescribed medication for him to try. My sons father and I split up when Dillon was about 4 and he stated, No son of mine will be taking any medication". At the time Dillon only visited his father twice a month. I on the other hand was willing to at least try it. I wanted Dillon better but I wasn't so sure medication was the answer. The medication made him lethargic and just not Dillon, so I stopped giving it to him. The medication was also habit forming and I did not want him addicted to it. I also put Dillon into counseling. His counselor also went to school with him. Whenever Dillon had an out burst in the school the counselor was able to remove him from class. If things got to out of hand my husband or I would have to go get him and take him home. This only occurred a few times. There was on incident where his father came and picked him up after not behaving in school and took him out for ice cream. I was not very happy he would reward him for bad behavior. The counselor and I would also keep a journal with each other. If he was not behaving in school I would find out and be able to punish him appropriately such as not allowing him to play any video games that night. It seems that when Dillon doesn't get his way, he flips out. I hate to blame anyone but I feel a lot of this behavior is contributed by his father. When I was with his father he would act the same way. When he didn't get his way or if he was drunk he would also become violent. I had finally left him and went into a woman's shelter when I was pregnant for my daughter.

The behavior is so hard to understand and or deal with at times. There's times where he is flipping out on such little things. I am so afraid he is going to hurt his sister one day because he is always hitting her. He says such hurtful things at times and then afterwords he is sorry for saying it and apologizes.

I love my son greatly and he is a smart, and funny child but my son is not currently in any counseling at this time because his father does not want to believe there is any thing wrong with his child but he is in need of it. His behavior will not get any better with out a change in his fathers parenting skills and some deep needed counseling.