I am a single mom of two - daughter 21 and although living at home, working full time and a successful nurse. Son almost 17 who I suspect may have ODD. All his life school has been a nightmare. Although he is extrememly intelligent, in the school environment he has a problem with authority. Now in HS and a junior the occassional write up by a teacher has become a daily event. He was tested for ADD at a very young age and all the test was, was his father and I answering a list of questions. 30 mins later the doctor said no, he was just a typical boy in a classroom with a teacher who expected perfection. So we let it go. 6 years ago his father passed away after years of a illness. At home my son seems "normal", "typical" - respectful, polite, funny. At school he turns into this person I don't even know - cussing, literally refusing to do what he is told, he lies, skips, gives up and goes to sleep. I don't know this child. Now I am afraid I have missed all the signs and now that I have him starting counseling I fear that I am too late for any improvement. I am hoping someone out there can just give some encouragement and a ray of hope. I have read that ODD is a subsympton (I guess that is the description) of something else like ADD and although it is possible he has something like that I really don't see it. But I definitly see the characteristics of ODD - if you go on what the teachers say.
I am so desparate and hoping for a happy ending. The stress of constant calls from teachers is about to send me over the edge.
I am so desparate and hoping for a happy ending. The stress of constant calls from teachers is about to send me over the edge.