Here I am another year, another report card, another conference and same old song and dance. My 9 year old 3rd grader was diagnosed ADD at 5, after nearly 3 years in the system with various diagnosis' (motor planning; apraxia, autism, speech disorders, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder to name a few). This year has been the best yet, based on grades, number of unfinished assignments sent home (very few), anxiety level about school work, and other bench marks. However he is having his worst year socially, few friends, no best friend, and hasn't been invited to a birthday party since 1st grade. His Strattera is making him extremely obsessive but we've continued it based on success in academics. He non-stop talks and thinks about the Titanic, Robert Ballard, and other shipwrecks and related genre. Mostly Titanic though.

Yesterday, his report card came home and I genuinely thought I'd see something different. Nope...same thing. "Annoying to peers; doesn't listen to peers; frequently needs redirection, won't stay on task; not focused; worst mark for organizational skills..." On and on, I suppose many of you know the drill. I feel like shaking the teacher and saying "Did I mention that he has ADD! Remember the IEP we did in December and the file that's over 3 inches thick with past IEP's, copies of doctor reports, and Birth to Three stuff!!!!!!" If he was blind would they gig him for not looking at the chalk board? If he had Cerebral Palsy would they gig him for not participating fully in physical education? In order to qualify for a diagnosis of ADD, the child must possess 6 or more symptoms of inattention on the DSM-IV criteria checklist - he has them all...as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity criteria. YES, HE'S GOT ADD, I GET IT!!!!!!!

Tomorrow I will go to conference and walk away feeling depressed, abused, and indignant. My son is frustrated, I'm frustrated, the teachers are evidentaly frustrated too. My son is a good kid with bad ADD. I've made an appointment with a child psychiatrist for the end of the month to reaccess meds, approach to school, behavior, friends, life. Like I said, another year...same old song and dance.

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