Pausing to Be Thankful

My post, “No ADHD Med Vacation for Us”, about whether or not to give children with attention deficit disorder a summer medication vacation garnered a few comments. Parents, thanks for reminding me that not everyone achieves the side-effect-free, positive results from ADHD meds that my daughter Natalie enjoys these days. It’s good to be reminded to be thankful!

Some commenters said that taking medication flattens their child’s personality. I’ve read about adults with ADHD who have the same complaint. My first thought when I hear this is: Well, they just haven’t found the right medication. If only it was that simple, huh? There’s a certain degree of unwarranted disrespect in that way of thinking. It assumes a lack of communication with the doctor, a lack of trying. I realize that taking medication, or giving it to our children isn’t something we take lightly. And, I know that for some individuals, the “right” medication just doesn’t exist.

Luckily, the medication that Natalie takes absolutely, positively does not flatten her gregarious, hilarious, unmatched personality. It allows it to shine. It slows her down enough to feel comfortable in her body. It slows her brain down so that it runs at a tolerable pace. It brings out her loveable, true self.

There’s another medication non-problem that I’m reminded to be thankful for; the fact that Natalie never resists taking her medication. She takes it willing, with no fuss or bother, time after time after time. She even sometimes reminds us when it’s med time. I can only imagine how stressed out I would be if I had to battle her four times a day, every day, to get her to take her meds.

When we first brought Natalie home from Russia she had an intestinal parasite. She had to take a horrible tasting liquid medicine four times a day for two weeks. I tried everything to get her to take it--mixing it with Hershey’s Syrup worked the best--but nothing really masked the taste. Believe me, it was a looooong two weeks!

Yes, I am truly, utterly thankful for medication that works wonders to treat Natalie’s ADHD, and for the fact that Natalie is happy to take it!

Does your child resist taking ADHD medication? If so, what’s your spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down?