Parenting a Child with Attention Deficit Disorder

A Mothers Journey of Parenting a Child With Attention Deficit Disorder

Taylor pulls his gum out of his mouth and twists it around his finger. The long, pink swirls turn into magic ropes, tying up the enemy. His finger becomes an alien from another planet that must be contained for the universe to be saved. The enchanted lasso quickly binds the alien. One look at him and its easy to see he is not “with us” but visiting “Planet Taylor.”

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I remember thinking with great pride that my son was not like the rest. While other children ran amuck, he would sit in a corner and entertain himself. At age three, he earned the name

“Mr. Imagination.”

We made frequent references of his visits to “Planet Taylor.” I wrote this in his baby book, I proudly sent letters to the relatives telling them what a wonderful creative child I have. ______________________________________________________

Taylor looks around the room and catches my gaze. I widen my eyes as if to say, “I’m watching you and you know what you’re supposed to be doing.” I look over the top of my reading glasses and nod toward his paper in a way I have done a hundred times or more. I speak the silent body language that loudly commands, “Get back to work!” He unwraps the gum from around his finger; with the alien apprehended and the universe safe, he can get back to work---for now. On days like today, I feel like I’ve stepped out of a Calvin and Hobbs cartoon.

Doctor’s and Teacher’s Voices: The Diagnosis of ADD

When the teacher first told me that Taylor might have ADD, I had mixed reactions. Part of me thought “No ...

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