So, the last time I posted or came to this forum was in 2008. We did the neuropsychological testing in 2009 at the Bluebird Circle at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston and they said there was nothing wrong with him other than ADD. Sorry I never responded to anyone back then but I actually forgot I had signed up here and came across the site again today as I was desperately searching for answers.
Fast Forward 7 years. He is now 14 and seriously out of control. He lies, steals (uses credit cards with-o permission, stolen over $1,000 cash in the last 2 years, stolen cell phones, emerald necklace, etc.), refuses to comply with orders from ANYONE, has gone from being a GT student to he will effectively fail 8th grade this year and we found out recently that he is involved in smoking marijuana. We have noticed some alcohol in our wetbar missing as well. Also we have noticed some tobacco missing around the house. He refuses to brush his teeth and getting him to shower is a daily struggle.
I have INSISTED with the psychiatrists (we've been to several) that there is something wrong and they keep pushing it off on ADD. He has been on everything from Concerta, Strattara, Adderall and Vyvanse. NOTHING worked. We have gone through years of therapy and counseling. He continues on a downhill slide. We keep hearing, find an activity to put him in and keep him focused. Let me do a quick run down of his "activities" since he was 4:
1. Baseball (little league, select team and private coaching) - years played - 2005-2013
2. Football (little league, school) - years played - 2009-2011
4. MMA - years - 2010-2012
3. Horse Showing - years played - 2013-2015
4. Summer Camp (1 month each year) - 2013-2015
And pretty much anything else he wants to do, we support even if it's not a long term team sport.
We bought him a horse in 2013 after he started taking lessons and his trainer realized that he had a natural ability and rhythm with the horse that helped him excel in the sport. He was excited and really loved it. In fact, he was so incredibly gifted (we bought him a horse that was very expensive so that he would have the best to match his skills) that after only doing lessons and riding for 6 months, he showed his horse at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo against other kids who had ridden and showed all of their lives. He placed in the top 20, won a jacket and several other items. He began going to other shows and ended up winning a variety of items from saddle pads to belt buckles. People began talking about how impressive he was. I thought he had found his niche. Then suddenly, as quickly as he had fallen in love with it, he decided he was done. Of course you can't just walk away from a horse, so we are stuck with him and the monthly bill of $1200 for boarding, training and ancillary items. I have decided to learn the sport and begin showing the horse because he is too good to stand in a stall and do nothing. I can't bring myself to sell him either.
I called the Bluebird Circle again and requested a new neurologist and psychologist. We did an in-depth interview last week and an MRI yesterday. Friday we will go in for another neuro-psychology testing day (they said it would last at least 6 hours). I am hoping to find some answers. Now with him being a 6 foot tall teen, the struggles in our house have been tremendous. He thinks he is grown now and we are to the point we want to kick him out. Literally. We have exhausted every avenue possible. He could care less and it's very obvious that he has no respect for himself or anyone else.
Please help! I promise to engage this time. I just got so busy last time researching and looking for answers that I literally forgot I had signed up here.
Fast Forward 7 years. He is now 14 and seriously out of control. He lies, steals (uses credit cards with-o permission, stolen over $1,000 cash in the last 2 years, stolen cell phones, emerald necklace, etc.), refuses to comply with orders from ANYONE, has gone from being a GT student to he will effectively fail 8th grade this year and we found out recently that he is involved in smoking marijuana. We have noticed some alcohol in our wetbar missing as well. Also we have noticed some tobacco missing around the house. He refuses to brush his teeth and getting him to shower is a daily struggle.
I have INSISTED with the psychiatrists (we've been to several) that there is something wrong and they keep pushing it off on ADD. He has been on everything from Concerta, Strattara, Adderall and Vyvanse. NOTHING worked. We have gone through years of therapy and counseling. He continues on a downhill slide. We keep hearing, find an activity to put him in and keep him focused. Let me do a quick run down of his "activities" since he was 4:
1. Baseball (little league, select team and private coaching) - years played - 2005-2013
2. Football (little league, school) - years played - 2009-2011
4. MMA - years - 2010-2012
3. Horse Showing - years played - 2013-2015
4. Summer Camp (1 month each year) - 2013-2015
And pretty much anything else he wants to do, we support even if it's not a long term team sport.
We bought him a horse in 2013 after he started taking lessons and his trainer realized that he had a natural ability and rhythm with the horse that helped him excel in the sport. He was excited and really loved it. In fact, he was so incredibly gifted (we bought him a horse that was very expensive so that he would have the best to match his skills) that after only doing lessons and riding for 6 months, he showed his horse at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo against other kids who had ridden and showed all of their lives. He placed in the top 20, won a jacket and several other items. He began going to other shows and ended up winning a variety of items from saddle pads to belt buckles. People began talking about how impressive he was. I thought he had found his niche. Then suddenly, as quickly as he had fallen in love with it, he decided he was done. Of course you can't just walk away from a horse, so we are stuck with him and the monthly bill of $1200 for boarding, training and ancillary items. I have decided to learn the sport and begin showing the horse because he is too good to stand in a stall and do nothing. I can't bring myself to sell him either.
I called the Bluebird Circle again and requested a new neurologist and psychologist. We did an in-depth interview last week and an MRI yesterday. Friday we will go in for another neuro-psychology testing day (they said it would last at least 6 hours). I am hoping to find some answers. Now with him being a 6 foot tall teen, the struggles in our house have been tremendous. He thinks he is grown now and we are to the point we want to kick him out. Literally. We have exhausted every avenue possible. He could care less and it's very obvious that he has no respect for himself or anyone else.
Please help! I promise to engage this time. I just got so busy last time researching and looking for answers that I literally forgot I had signed up here.