MK> Your message is very timely in my current situation.  My son who is 8
 MK> has ADD.  While the doc has perscribed he take Ritalin twice a day, I
 MK> have only been giving it to him once.  He had an episode in day care
 MK> yesterday where he did become very agressive and hit one of the
 MK> counselors.  He was suspended from child care.  that same night, a
 MK> friend of mine came over and did a very nice thing for him and fixed
 MK> his bike, well he went off on him and told him he didn't want his bike
 MK> fixed and to  take all of the air out of his tires.  Parents of kids
 
     My grandson reacts like this from time to time. He is going on 6. He
     is very possessive about his things and will sometimes break them rather
     than let someone else play with them. This type of behavior has quieted
     down some now. But, at times, even with the medicine, he can still be a
     handful.
             
 MK> with ADD understand that this behaviour comes along with the trritory. 
 MK> Others who have never had to deal with it, blame the parents of the
 MK> child for improper parenting.  My other two children, are semi well
 MK> adjusted and behaved children.  I am sick of defending myself to other
 
     I understand just how you feel. My daughter simply tells people that
     her son has ADHD, that he is not behaving this way because he wants to
     but because of a medical condition.
     A lot of people are learning about it now. In our area, there are some
     support systems. Not a lot, but they are there.
 
 MK> parents.  Well anyways I called the doc up and he increased his ritalin
 MK> and stressed how imprtant it is to give it to him two times a day.  Bad
 MK> parenting does not cause ADD, ADD causes bad parenting.  No one can
 MK> understand unless they have a child like this what it is like day in
 MK> and day out. Its not just hard on the parents, but what the siblings
 MK> have to  go thru is not very easy, and causes a lot of hurt feelings.  
 MK> And many misunderstandings between family members and friends.
     Very true. It can be very hard on everyone concerned but we all try to
     show each of them as much love as possible. His little sister knows that 
     her brother is not being mean, just trying to handle his own problems.
     As for friends misunderstanding, we explain to them just what is going
     on in Joey's life. When they know more about ADHD, they do what they
     can to help in whatever way they can.
 MK> Thanks for your message, it helped me feel as I am not all alone in
 MK> what I have to go thru.
     Thank you. This echo is a great help and comfort to a lot of people that
     are going through the same types of problems. We never are truely alone.
     Marie
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