Hi Leah (aka Taylor'smommy),

It just so happens that I live in South Florida as well. One thing that I can suggest that might help your husband to understand ADHD better---Look for a support group in your area like the ones sponsored by CHADD (a national organization for children and adults with ADHD). Their website is www.chadd.org You can find support groups in your area through this website.

I live in Palm Beach County and our next support group is on Tuesday, Sept. 9th at 7 p.m. We meet at a school in Lantana. The school is a private school specifically for children with ADHD. My son doesn't attend the school but it is an option for some people. If you happen to live close enough to attend the Lantana group, I would be happy to provide you with more information.

You can send me a private message at this site if you should want to discuss other matters and I will provide you with my email or phone number if you want to talk.

Hope to hear from you.

Elaine

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Hey there.. Well, sorry to hear about all that you & especially your daughter, have had to deal with. I have a 7 yr. old son with ADHD. He takes medication. I am ADD and am trying to get on medicine as well. It was tough to put my little boy on meds, but looking back knowing that I was ADD and if I would'vehave the choice to have help from meds while in school...I would have definitely taken them. I thought something was wrong with me (it was, but you know what I mean), I didn't know I was ADD at the time...but now I do :-) Life with an ADD/ADHD child is hard...most people do not understand nor do they want to understand unless they are in the same situation. I feel as parents of these children, we have to be more protective than with regular children, because of how people react to them. My husband just thought our son needed disipline, but once he read letters from the teacher and went to the dr. for his diagnosis, He somewhat accepted it. He still isn't understanding like I am, but he is making progress. I just pray that my son will either be healed, or that others will accept him for who he is. There are some great books (and cd's if he won't read) that he could read/listen too...it might take some talking him into, but it would really help educate him on the way an ADHD child thrives. I can't blame people that aren't educated about this type of thing, I mean after all, there are children with all kinds of illnesses and I am not educated myeslf on most of them...their parents probably feel the same way and wish we would educate ourselves on their childs dissability. Long story short, you don't want to fight with your husband about this...that just adds to the problem and puts a strain on your marriage...If you come to him in a nice, loving way, without being frustrated...and tell him how you feel, sit down and listen to some cd's with info about ADHD together...eventually he will come around. Ask him "honey, how do you think we can help her"... You can get his support, it is just going to take time and patience, which is easier said than done, I know...but it will get better...

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And my husband has his head in the sand. He loves his daughter but has no idea what life is like for her. Yelling and gruff commands is all he seems to be capable of where she is concerned. From the very first phone call from her preschool (at age 3-- now 8) to making the decision to repeat the 1st grade last year, he has not been there for her or me. The many countless appointments (doctors, schools, counselors, etc..), phone calls, missed work, insurance coverage matters, family issues, the tears, heart break and HOPEFULNESS have all been mine. I call her my work in progress - she giggles at that. Life could be filled with hospitals or worse - at least she is healthy and I am not crying tears of grief. I've got Sunshine on a rainy day, when it's cold outside, I've got the month of May" (from the song My Girl) - she ask me to sing it often. I find little things like this keep both my daughter and myself sane. She doesn't want to be this way - She ask often "Why can't I be NORMAL" I say normal isn't special!!!!

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