ADD / ADHD seminar

I will be referring to my daughter as *L from now on.
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A few weeks back, I went to a seminar on ADHD. It was fantastic to sit in a room with other parents, sharing experiences and getting better explanations on this disorder.

ADD has been documented as far back at the 1700's in medical journals. This is NOT a new disorder. What's new is the research and how it's treated.
The medications used have been studied over the span of people's lives. Their "danger", is overstated. especially when they help give children and adults the concentration they need.

Also, this video was the best I've seen as was shared at the seminar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D7GgiAr9ho&feature=share&list=PL1FB30A390E029B59

It accurately shows you what *L and I go through on a daily basis. All in all, I walked away knowing more, and feeling less alone about it. :)

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 *L started a new trimester of school. I feel that now is when the learning lab after school will really help, because it's not half way through the trimester and she doesn't already have 15 missing assignments.

We've already written a paper together for choir. It was an essay on a one of the pieces she is singing in class. Knocked that out in an hour. The only issue is that neither of us are good at BSing and padding a paper. As a result it's half a page shorter than required. 

I'm confident that this will be a better trimester.
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Is it Christmas yet?? L*  has no idea how good it's really going to be. It's been a really good year . :)

Ask and you shall recieve, ADD class

After my mini rant about not getting enough out out of my Daughter's ADD class, her school has set up a parents meeting about ADD.

I'm pretty grateful.

I'm hoping to get more information on ways we can deal with this at home.
More understanding for both of us is a must.
I'm so happy schools are getting more in to this ADD/ADHD band wagon.
This is a real thing.
We struggle with it every day.

Today we had a math test that my daughter got an A- on and a Science test she got a B on. SO thrilled something is finally paying off.
Now if we can just bring the homework home and hand it in on time......

Also, I learned today that Adam Levine has ADHD. ;) fun fact! Also watching Maroon 5 on Ellen... *sigh*

Sarah

School Work. ADD ADHD

My Daughter stays after school to get assistance twice a week. She's gets help with school work and there are  lessons that help her learn how to cope with ADD.
I don't think this is working.

She has 6 late math assignments (They are supposed to monitor her late assignments) and 2 late Science assignments.

I'm getting really frustrated.
First, because having  ADD myself I know how she can get overwhelmed.
Second, I was told she was going to get help with this. We do homework at home, but after she leaves the house how do I get her to hand it in?
Or if she doesn't bring it home... then what?  School told me they would catch her up, but she's still behind.

I feel like this support class isn't doing what it promised.
We are right back to where we started.

:/

ADD

Ahh yes, ADD.  My daughter has it.  I REFUSE to use ADHD to define what she has because she's not hyper.
When she tells me about it, I know exactly what she's talking about because I have it too.
"It's like I'm there, but I'm not there"  yes, kid I know what you mean.

What she is saying is that she's physically in the class room but unable to participate in the lecture. Her brain fights to stay with what's going on in the class room but can't. This goes way beyond " OH Shiny!" This is a battle.
She has all the classic symptoms.

• difficulty paying attention to details and tendency to make careless mistakes in school or other activities; producing work that is often messy and careless
• easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and frequently interrupting ongoing tasks to attend to trivial noises or events that are usually ignored by others
• inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities
• difficulty finishing schoolwork or paperwork or performing tasks that require concentration
• frequent shifts from one uncompleted activity to another
• procrastination
• disorganized work habits
• forgetfulness in daily activities (for example, missing appointments, forgetting to bring lunch)
• failure to complete tasks such as homework or chores
• frequent shifts in conversation, not listening to others, not keeping one's mind on conversations, and not following details or rules of activities in social situations

http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-symptoms

 But it goes further. She is also is highly emotional. This is another symptom, but not classic.

This is where I guess i have the hardest time. Yes, Me. If she gets a scrap or bruise I can take care of that.  An Ice pack or band aid and some hugs. Done!  But this... this stumps me every time. Having to explain over and over that's she's not dumb and that she just learns differently gets tiresome. I'm sure she's sick of hearing it. We are both learning. When I was her age, I too had ADD. They didn't have the diagnosis then, or treatments or special classes (All of which My Daughter is a part of in some way)  I just had to deal with it. So, Yes, I too am learning.

My ADD held me back in school.
I'm truly hoping that is no going to happen with my Daughter

Introduction

Lets see, where to begin?

I had my daughter young. Her father is not a part of our lives (perhaps a whole different post)
so it's just been us.
I realize that since I did have her young, I seem to be ahead of the curve on my friends. I have gone through it first. Not that it's any sort of race, but it is what it is.

That being said; I do believe I'm headed into  a crazy time in my daughter's life. I remember these years myself, but I was in her shoes and not in my mother's.
So it occurred to me that I need to find a place to vent, or a place to pose questions and find answers.

I'm not an "expert", I've just been there.

Sarah