08.12.2008 9:34 pm
A hero for any child with ADD, ADHD
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
For any parent who has heard a teacher say: Your son just can’t sit still. He doesn’t pay attention. For any parent who has heard a doctor say: Your child should be on meds for their attention disorder. For any parent who has seen their child struggle to bring home a report card filled with Cs or Ds.
Tell your child about swimmer Michaels Phelps. (Read the NYT story about his struggles in school and his diagnosis here.) Show them what is possible: 11 gold medals. And counting.
Aisha covered education and breaking news for nearly ten years before joining the Lifestyle staff where she writes a "Dirty Laundry" parenting column. She is the home and family editor and wastes too much time on Facebook and political blogs. 
When my son was 4 1/2 years old,a very confident pre-school teacher informed me that his large motor skills were poor and he would never be competitive or even involved in any athletic activity. How wrong she was! I only wish I hadn’t been so polite to this witch and had let her know how her words influence parenting choices. TEACHERS: THINK 20 TIMES BEFORE MAKING A “FOREVER” STATEMENT TO ANY CHILD OR PARENT!!!!!
My son is ADHD with ODD - Oppositional Defiant Disorder; issues were evident as early as pre-Kindergarten, but not officially diagnosed until halfway through first grade. He struggles with school, grades, behavior…but he has a wonderfully creative mind that I believe will make him very successful in life.
We were very fortunate to be able to put him through Lutheran grade school (1-8), where the teachers had small enough class sizes to be able to give him that bit of extra attention he needed and were willing to work with us every step of the way. They recognized him as a person, not a “label” that earns public schools additional funding. As a result, he never had a true IEP or 504, just a lot of patience and love from teachers, despite the fact that his school file there is probably 6 inches thick. He started public high school last week, and we recognize it’s going to be a difficult transition, but he knows he has a strong foundation and support from his family.
My brother has ADHD and grew up at a time where people and even doctors thought ADD and ADHD were the same thing. They’re not. My brother is extremely gifted in knowledge and music talent, having played professionally and teaching for many years.
Parents of ADHD/ADD, don’t give up. Read everything you can about the condition, and learn to work WITH it, not against it. Seek out pediatricians that specialize in ADD/ADHD, and don’t be afraid to request help from the school. I always dreaded parent/teacher conferences for elementary, but as my son got older, teachers saw another side of him that I had seen all along. Believe in your child, because trust me, they know they are different than everyone else, and they don’t want to be different. Be there to support them, cry with them, laugh with them. Keep plenty of Tylenol on hand for yourself for those times where their excitement, chatter, and “activity” literally give you a headache. Cherish it and count yourself blessed that God has entrusted you with this special child.