HI! I'm so glad to have found this site. I've been reading a bit and wanted to let you know I'm here!
My name is Steph and I have a wonderful 5 year old that is (undiagnosed formally) ADHD/ODD. ODD wins out in his personality. He's been a challenging kid since he was one-ish.
He started Kindergarten this year and while most parents are sad and nostalgic about the start, I was scared and apprehensive because we knew what we were in for. We hoped for the best, but we didn't get that! I met today with the SST (school support team) to get the ball rolling for an IEP or 504 for him. So far they have determined he qualifies for services.
A little background: When Parker was 3.5...he was scary. He was just so full of hate and we didnt know why and we always knew he wasn't 'normal'. (who's normal? LOL) But we couldn't handle him anymore and needed some help figuring out what made him tick. We thought structure...enrolled him in the local montessori school. That was a DISASTER. Pulled him out and took him to a child psychiatric who ran baseline testing so we knew what we were working with. He's not had a FORMAL diagnosis of ADHD or ODD, but we have the charts from 3.5 that show that's where he tests. We didn't want a formal diag. at 3.5..we wanted help. With some behavior modificaiton, we could at least cope at home.
He went to preschool last year and he did alright, but he was always poking at kids, pushing them, in the teacher's face for attention. He learned some, but he annoyed more.
Now in kinder (half days)...he's so bright it makes me ill. But, we got his report card today showing that he couldn't count to 100 by 10s (he can..I had him do it when I looked at the card), didn't know his letter sounds (he does...made him go thru the abcs...a uh apple, b ba ball...and he went all the way thru), didn't know how to sort objects...he's been doing that since he was 2. And he couldn't count how many circles, squares, etc are in a picture..and he can. SOOOO. LOL that's the ODD coming out...he won't perform.
Parker's biggest obstacle...he's a very big kid for his age. He's 5.5...will be 6 in june. He stands 51 inches tall and weighs 85 pounds. He looks like he's 8 or 9...so when he tosses himself on the floor in the mall...well, we get looks. And I just stare back. I never thought I'd be the mom that had to fight for their child like this. (who does!)
But here we are. His IEP meeting went well today...the testing begins after I sign the forms next week...and hopefully we are on our way to better tomorrows.
We are not at a point that I want to medicate him...we've done a complete diet overhaul for him and are supplementing naturally. It's a lot of trial and error, but we also know he's come a long way from last year.
And I think only parents in this forum could possibly understand this...his teacher does behavior charts for him #1, so we know how he's doing and #2, so he can earn something tangible for good behavior. Last week he came home with his first ever all thumbs up day. I hugged him so tight and just sobbed. He looked at me and said "But mom...I had a GOOD day!" And then he came home the next day...same thing! He had another one today. 3 in a term! Most parents can expect that type of behavior from their kids...at our house, there's a PARTY for that kind of behavior! LOL
He has a 2.5 year old sister that he is sooooo good with. He's such a loving boy when he wants to be, he hates to disappoint anyone, and never stops to think before he acts. He's seen the inside of the principal's office once already this year (luckily our principal looks mean, but he's a really good guy!)..he doesn't want to repeat. His teacher is absolutely fantastic...and for that I'm so grateful. I know how important a good understanding teacher is right now. he LOVES school...loves it...so we just have to channel him correctly.
Like many here...no one understands. My mom says "he's being a normal 5 year old boy." Um, no. My 'friends' think I can't parent him...if they had ANY idea how much we've done for/with him just to give him a more normal childhood...they'd never say that stuff. Most aren't so much friends anymore!
I quit my full time professional position this summer to be at home for him to provide structure. So now I'm a full time with-stay at home mom (I own my own business..very small)...and I'm loving every minute of it.
WOW..epic. I'm just so thrilled to have found this place. Looks like a loving awesome community...so would you have a new joiner? :smile:
My name is Steph and I have a wonderful 5 year old that is (undiagnosed formally) ADHD/ODD. ODD wins out in his personality. He's been a challenging kid since he was one-ish.
He started Kindergarten this year and while most parents are sad and nostalgic about the start, I was scared and apprehensive because we knew what we were in for. We hoped for the best, but we didn't get that! I met today with the SST (school support team) to get the ball rolling for an IEP or 504 for him. So far they have determined he qualifies for services.
A little background: When Parker was 3.5...he was scary. He was just so full of hate and we didnt know why and we always knew he wasn't 'normal'. (who's normal? LOL) But we couldn't handle him anymore and needed some help figuring out what made him tick. We thought structure...enrolled him in the local montessori school. That was a DISASTER. Pulled him out and took him to a child psychiatric who ran baseline testing so we knew what we were working with. He's not had a FORMAL diagnosis of ADHD or ODD, but we have the charts from 3.5 that show that's where he tests. We didn't want a formal diag. at 3.5..we wanted help. With some behavior modificaiton, we could at least cope at home.
He went to preschool last year and he did alright, but he was always poking at kids, pushing them, in the teacher's face for attention. He learned some, but he annoyed more.
Now in kinder (half days)...he's so bright it makes me ill. But, we got his report card today showing that he couldn't count to 100 by 10s (he can..I had him do it when I looked at the card), didn't know his letter sounds (he does...made him go thru the abcs...a uh apple, b ba ball...and he went all the way thru), didn't know how to sort objects...he's been doing that since he was 2. And he couldn't count how many circles, squares, etc are in a picture..and he can. SOOOO. LOL that's the ODD coming out...he won't perform.
Parker's biggest obstacle...he's a very big kid for his age. He's 5.5...will be 6 in june. He stands 51 inches tall and weighs 85 pounds. He looks like he's 8 or 9...so when he tosses himself on the floor in the mall...well, we get looks. And I just stare back. I never thought I'd be the mom that had to fight for their child like this. (who does!)
But here we are. His IEP meeting went well today...the testing begins after I sign the forms next week...and hopefully we are on our way to better tomorrows.
We are not at a point that I want to medicate him...we've done a complete diet overhaul for him and are supplementing naturally. It's a lot of trial and error, but we also know he's come a long way from last year.
And I think only parents in this forum could possibly understand this...his teacher does behavior charts for him #1, so we know how he's doing and #2, so he can earn something tangible for good behavior. Last week he came home with his first ever all thumbs up day. I hugged him so tight and just sobbed. He looked at me and said "But mom...I had a GOOD day!" And then he came home the next day...same thing! He had another one today. 3 in a term! Most parents can expect that type of behavior from their kids...at our house, there's a PARTY for that kind of behavior! LOL
He has a 2.5 year old sister that he is sooooo good with. He's such a loving boy when he wants to be, he hates to disappoint anyone, and never stops to think before he acts. He's seen the inside of the principal's office once already this year (luckily our principal looks mean, but he's a really good guy!)..he doesn't want to repeat. His teacher is absolutely fantastic...and for that I'm so grateful. I know how important a good understanding teacher is right now. he LOVES school...loves it...so we just have to channel him correctly.
Like many here...no one understands. My mom says "he's being a normal 5 year old boy." Um, no. My 'friends' think I can't parent him...if they had ANY idea how much we've done for/with him just to give him a more normal childhood...they'd never say that stuff. Most aren't so much friends anymore!
I quit my full time professional position this summer to be at home for him to provide structure. So now I'm a full time with-stay at home mom (I own my own business..very small)...and I'm loving every minute of it.
WOW..epic. I'm just so thrilled to have found this place. Looks like a loving awesome community...so would you have a new joiner? :smile: