Hard post to write

Well we finally had our pediatrician appointment for Monkey B on Tuesday . My Mom came up and stayed with the 2 little ones so both DH and I could go. The appointment was well over 2 hours. In addition to having all the forms we and his past and present teachers filled out. He also spent time observing Monkey B and asking us lots of questions. At the end the diagnosis was no real big surprise. My little boy has ADHD. Now DH and I had previously discussed medication if that was the case. The ped went over all the different kinds and their durations, side effects and how they work. Yesterday we gave him his first dose. He went from a happy smiling boy to an anxious, weepy child. It broke my heart. Called the ped and he advised to lower the dose for a few days and then up it again and see how it goes. And that we can always try something else. Gave him a half dose this morning and it seemed to have done nothing.

To make things just that much more fun, when I told one of my sisters the diagnosis she questioned it. About how can a doctor just diagnose a kid from inputting some scores in a computer. Believe me it was much more than that. It was info from us from birth about his development. Info from his teachers last year and this year. Copies of his speech and OT therapy. Report cards. Not to mention the whole appointment. So it really ticked me off that she thought the he made a snap decision. Oh and then she couldn't believe that we were going to put him on meds. I'm sorry but until you have lived my life you have no right to comment on how I choose to parent. We are trying to do what we feel is best for our Monkey. Medicating him was not an easy decision to make. Nor do we think that we are taking the easy road. Parenting is not a one size fits all approach. Things change from day to day, moment to moment. Sometimes you just have to roll with it, other times you have to go against the flow.