I'm not an expert or anything, just another parent. But I remember that. I remember those mornings, vividly. Sometimes we still have them, and since my son is 12, I'm thinking we are going to have more coming. But, when my son was that age, there were a couple of things that helped. First, get rid of as many choices (and reasons to fight) in the morning as possible. This means advance work, but pays off in the mornings.. Have him pick out (with you) his clothes for the entire week on Sunday (you can do this every night but I never had time). You can buy one of those organizers that hang from the closet shelf that say each day of the week and put everything: shirt, shoes, socks, underwear, belt, etc into each day - Now you don't fight over clothes...at least not every day. Have him pick out his breakfast the night before and set the table - bowl, spoon, etc. (for us it was a choice of cereal, sorry, I've never been a get-up-at-the-crack-of-dawn and make breakfast kinda mom). Make sure all papers, books, backpacks, jackets, are AT THE DOOR. I bought a shoe rack from Target and put it right next to the door and that's where my son puts his stuff - so you are not screaming at him to "please find your shoe so we can go" in the morning. You have to really sit down and think about what options he has in the morning - what do you really fight about - and eliminate them ahead of time. So, #1 Eliminate as many choices as possible. (BTW, you are not taking his choices away - you are letting him choose when he is happier). My second thing - the kitchen timer was my BEST friend. You can set it and say "ok, you have 20 mins to eat breakfast". Then, give him a 5 minute warning "The timer says you have 5 mins left for breakfast! Hurry!" You will be amazed at how much pressure that takes off you cause now he's playing 'beat the timer' instead of 'argue with mommy'. NOTE: The 5 minute warning is VERY important and my son was prone to freak if I forgot the warning....but as long as he had a heads up that he had 5 mins left, he was fine. And third, at 6 yrs old, if you have the option of giving him some time to vent in the mornings - do it. This one is not the most effective but works sometimes (and it might sound horrible)but let him burn off some energy. When my son was little we lived in this house where there was a tree at the very back of the property, about 200 ft away...and I would tell him when he was absolutely BOUNCING - "Ok - run to that tree and back three times" LOL. IT sounds silly - but it gave him something to do that burned off some energy - and gave me a minute to grab my car keys, etc and he was MUCH easier to deal with in the car on the way to school.

I hope some of these help. This is my first post but when I saw yours - I had VIVID flashbacks and I was hoping that some of my tricks (that were passed along by wonderfully supportive friends) would help you. Remember - we are all doing this...and we can just keep doing the best we can. Good luck..and lots of (((((((((hugs)))))))))

A fellow Mom...

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Briegan16...those sound like some great suggestions... My son is 7 and has ADHD...there are several mornings when I would find my self yelling, and ready to jump in the care alone and just drive :-) I am doing less of that nowadays though. We do lay clothes (everything down to socks and undies and shoes), backpack, everything! out the night before...just makes it so much easier. I usually have to tell him 50 times to "eat", "brush your teeth", etc... (things we can't do the night before). I have realized that instead of yelling, and putting both of us in an even more foul mood, if I walk over to him, get down on his level, look him in the eye, and then in a calm voice give him my command, it USUALLY (not always, but a lot of the time) works. They need that eye contact to help it connect. When I am running around and yelling at him, I'm getting frustrated that he isn't doing it and he is ignoring me because he is ADHD and has a million things going on in his mind and just hears this mad woman yelling in the background. I always HATED sending him to school after a "yelling morning". I have just gotten to the point where it does nothing for me, or him, and I want to set a good example for him....and I think he respects it more than seeing a mother who loses it at the drop of a hat. Honestly, mornings with an ADHD child are hard, life is hard with them...they take more patinece, work, etc...but I think it will get better for you, it has for me. I will say a prayer for you...just keep your faith :-)

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A few suggestions for you:

Can you wake him up a little early and just have him take his medicine and fall back asleep? or have him take the medicine as soon as he wakes up?

I downloaded a free printable check list for morning routines for my 5 year old. I put down all the basics like: eat breakfast, brush your teeth, get your backpack ready etc. Then I don't have to spend my time yelling, I just keep saying, Check your list... if we get out of the house on time with all his checks in place for the week, he gets to pick a reward like a special trip to the playground, or helping me to bake a favorite dessert (this is his motivation).

Mostly we are working on his "mouth" in the morning since he feels quite entitled to being waited on hand and foot. (Not!) I still expect him to be respectful and face consequences if he is fresh, but I also understand that the medicine hasn't kicked in yet and try to give him the benefit of the doubt or use humor to redirect him.

Good luck.

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I have definitely been there, done that. I suggest you give him his medicine while he is still in bed. I did this with my son when he was younger and it helped. I know it's hard, but if you holler/scream at your son, it will make things much worse for everybody (believe me, I'm been there and I know). Things will get better. I wish you the best of luck!

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Picture this: 6 kids, 3 with ADHD, OCD, Bi-Polar, and Tourettes. Feel better? Mornings are horrible! One trick that I have used is to let my kids sleep in their clothes for the next day. They may be a tiny bit wrinkled but it is better than screaming for them all to get dressed (appropriately) every morning. They go to bed bathed and dressed. They wake up ready to eat breakfast and head out the door. I also have been known to give pills 20 minutes before they need to "get up" Works like a charm.

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hi I am no expert but my sister has found stickers an excellent way of encouraging getting ready. Just chose one or two things a week to work on. A sticker for getting dressed (give plenty of time and encouragement). You want him to get it right and be proud. When he gets his 5 stickers he can stay up 20 minutes longer or play a game together (what ever works for him). Hope it helps! Good luck PinkLisa

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I JUST had one of these mornings too. This kind of, "Wake up, wake up, let's go, come one wake up....Get dressed, here's your clothes, okay let's get socks on. Let's try two socks? How about shoes? Let's brush your teeth. Now your hair......." It's constant and today I lost it. sigh. I'm so incredible and immediately frustrated that I find myself yelling. My son just turned 6 and was diagnosed @ 5yrs (in May). We knew for quite some time that something just wasn't right....He's ADHD with SID and possible ODD. I feel like the worst parent when I have to remain calm for him and maintain my patience or a simblance of such and yet I simply can't. I feel like I'm often on the brink anymore.

We've chosen to medicate him and have tried a couple of RX's w/ different doses; right now we're on 54mg of Concerta ER. We're not happy about medicating period, but feel like there's no other choice right now. I've read about controlling the diet, about a "bio-medical" approach (which insurance will not cover), and other physical programs like Brain Gym or D.O.R.E. but none seem to fit. It doesn't help that we are limited, financially, on what we can do as well. I work 3 nights a week so a lot of preparation falls to my husband too, but it's almost as difficult to get him to do anything too. lol There's only so much I can do as one person and I don't have much of a support system.

I'm just feeling helpless/hopeless right now, but it helped to finally find parents that are being honest about what is really happening. It's not all blue skies and puppies with ADHD; we're human and definitely not perfect. It's hard for each of us, but there is sunshine when you can find someone else honest enough to "put it out there". Thanks.

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We went through the same thing with our son before we started with his psychiatrist and therapist. (His PCM was managing things until he had a med reaction.) It takes some trial and error, but here is what works for us. I go into my son's room and spend some one-on-one time with him, tickling, talking and playing. He likes me to crawl into bed with him and snuggle, sometimes. This gives him time to fully wake up, and ensures he is in a good mood. Then he has to get fully dressed before he comes out for breakfast and meds. He has a chart, so he knows what needs to be done before he is "done" getting ready. If he is "done" getting ready, then he can watch tv or play until it is time to go. That is usually incentive enough for him not to take his sweet time. I don't nag him anymore. He is fully aware of what needs to be done, and he can choose to do it or not. If he chooses to do them, he is rewarded with hugs, praise, special treats at the end of the week for getting a certain amount of his chores done, or sometimes, a special instant treat, just to keep him guessing. If he chooses not to do his morning tasks, he knows I have no problem dropping him off to school in his pajamas, (haven't had to do it, yet, so he knows I'm not joking!,) or taking him to school without breakfast, (he has only done it once, that's all it took!), or going to school late, without a parent excuse, (also, only once.) It also decreases his number of stars for the week, and he misses out on treats. There can be no yelling. Getting yelled at, at work, never motivated me, and I'm sure it doesn't work for the kids. Once I was able to put the ball in his court and make the responsibility his, he has risen to the challenge. There are still off days here and there, but it is far outshadowed by his successful days! Good luck, and don't give up, most of parenting is trial and error!

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