I'm back fellow bloggers and I apologize for being away so long. In between the shopping, baking, cooking, babysitting, packing, gift wrapping, and house cleaning I've been on a mission. To cure the runner of the family from running.
My six year old was diagnosed with AHD. Nothing to worry about. My daughter's doctor wanted to put her on Ritalin, which I readily agreed to, so that I could get some 'stuff' done while preparing for this busy holiday season.
Why I didn't read up on Ritalin I will never know, but let me tell you it really works.
You see my six year old is a runner. She runs to bed at night. She runs to the bathroom. She runs out of the bathroom. She runs to eat breakfast. She runs to brush her teeth. She runs to the car. She runs to the store. She runs... well you get the picture.
Anyway, on day 3 of the miracle drug called Ritalin I noticed a quiteness settle over the house as I no longer heard the 'thomp, thomp' of feet running back and forth to the bedroom and then to the bathroom. I went in search of the little runner and found her lying on her floor looking at the coloring book. Just LOOKING. Its unusal because aren't coloring books for coloring? And she loves to color. I didn't worry too much as she was quiet and I was getting 'stuff' done.
Day 4, and the runner was definitely stopped. I began to worry because she not only stopped running, but was sleeping a lot as well. If she wasn't sleeping she was laying around in the family room just not doing anything. Not looking at TV, not being a trouble-maker, not yelling, nothing. I began to feel uneasy about my quiet home. It was just too quiet!
Day 5 and I watched as the runner layed around again for another afternoon just watching her siblings going about their business. I decided to talk to her and see what was up.
"Tamara, don't you want to go out and play? It's nice and (gulp) cold out."
"... (no response)"
"Tamara, Do you want to get up and help with the butter cookies?"
" (eyes do light up at the sound of food) ... Hmmmm. Uhuh."
"Babe, what's the matter?"
"Nothing."
"Don't you want to get up and run around a bit? Come on, come into the kitchen for a snack."
"Nah, that's okay."
"Tamara, you are so quiet and I miss you getting up and being Tamara. Come on sweetie, what are you thinking about?"
Tamara turns to look at me. Her eyes widen, as I brace for her answer.
"I'm thinking about running momma!"
It's been two days since Ritalin has seen the bottom of my garbage can.
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10 comments:
Bibi, don't know where you find time to post to begin with! I was going to say I recently read in a news article that they don't recommend kids getting Ritalin anymore. Don't remember the details. Good for you.
I'm glad to see you tossed them out! Obviously the meds were effecting her in a bad way! My younger brother was also diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago and given meds (IDK which one) and reacted the same way. Really depresssing to see him not himself. I'm sure it's better to have her be herself than a zombie!! I wish you all the best in finding an alternative treatment that works for your daughter. I know first-hand that Drs. DO NOT always know the answer!! Get a second opinion...what could it hurt? I am currently looking for a new Dr. b/c mine's a QUACK!!! He has the wierdest diagnosis!! That make absolutely NO sense and,he does NOT listen to what I'm telling him!!! Best of luck and Happy Holidays!!
Aw, you do what you feel is right for your kids.
oh my gosh that made me cry! Your poor baby!
'T" I hope you run and run and run again real soon. My son had ADD and they told me to medicate. I told them no and I used an herbal called Effalex it was amazing it help him stay calm and focus but it never drugged him out. Only thing is it take about 4 weeks for it to work.
I hope you all have an amazing holiday.
Awww!!! Poor thing. My kids' doctors told me I needed to put BOTH my girls on Ritalin...to which I responded with "Over my dead body" No offense to people who really need it and that it really works for (my sister is a prime example of it actually working for some) however, many doctors use Ritalin as an excuse to quiet down children who are simply being children. Kids are loud they run, they screech when they are super happy, they laugh wildly and at anything, they make messes and they don’t concentrate too well. They are KIDS. I was on Ritalin as a kid, 15 YEARS later the dr tells my mom that maybe I never really had ADD, and maybe I was just being a kid. 15 years of useless prescriptions...gee thanks Doc.
Good for you!
(Again, no offense to those it really does work for!!)
Wow, that's a powerful post! Kinda scarey what we are tempted to do to get a little peace, then find it isn't really worth it at all. So glad you caught what was going on with her quickly. Yay for you!
I am cautious in commenting here, because I do not know all the circumstances - but I DO know that it seems medications are perscribed way to often. Doctors are pushed to "sell" them at the office. I am sure as a loving mother you always do what's best :-)
Big hug from Hollydale, and happy holidays to the family !!!!
Thank you everyone for your heartfelt comments. And as I write this little thank you note Tamara is having the time of her life spilling her cereal and RUNNING to the kitchen to clean it all up! Life IS back to normal. :)
Happy Holidays to all! There are now officially 3 days until Christmas.
Thank you for the comment.
And I'm glad you chucked those meds. I'm pretty positive that if these drugs were handed out like they are today when I was a kid, the doctors would have wanted to put me on them too.
Some people do need them, but they really need to stop handing them out like candy. I really don't agree with it at all.
Bless you! and Happy Holidays!!
With the meds it often takes a long time for them to get the dosage and right medication right.
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