Wow has it really been almost a year?

Disclaimer: I'm not a psychologist, doctor or expert on anything. I'm just a mum with a computer and an opinion or two. 

Wow it was February 2011 when I first/lasted blogged. I had high hopes of doing this regularly. Once a year is regular, right?

I would love to make this blog witty and amusing, erudite, riveting, worth sharing. Failing that, I’ll make it honest. I’m quite happy to see the end of this year – however my gorgeous son has had a pretty good twelve months. Here are some highlights:

• TC started the year hating school. I told him not to peak too soon and wait till he’s 13 or 14 to get the hate on.
• Then, TC was blessed with the most awesome teacher in the world, who we’ll refer to as Saint Mary from now on. Saint Mary turned him around completely.
• Saint Mary somehow got TC into Reading Recovery.
• Holy crap my child can read!

Lesson No 2.1 – communicate with your child’s teacher at every opportunity and give them a chance to do right by your child.

• Saint Mary got him talking in front of the class so well that he’s now a star example of how to do it. It was about time we managed to find a way to use his constant talking for good rather than evil.
• We received THAT call: “Your child has been touching other children inappropriately.” I panicked and had a “shit my child is a sex offender” ten seconds or so. Then I realised I know my son – he would have thought touching up another kid was HILARIOUS. Like a bum or poo joke in 3D.
• We had a scare… one day TC had been in trouble for something at home and had sat down alone in the backyard. I asked him what was happening and he told me he wished he was dead, he was stupid and wished he’d never been born. My god, the child’s 6 years old and thinking this stuff?
• More shrink visits and testing. Only result so far that his IQ is normal. TC’s been told he’s not allowed to call himself stupid anymore, the doctor said so. Ha!

Lesson No 2.2 – don’t assume your ADHD kid is dumb just because they can’t perform tasks the same way as other kids.

• TC completed Grade 1 in primary school and is headed to Grade 2 – almost on par with his peers. Big frigging sigh of relief.
• TC discovered making videos. Currently videos of him saying stupid things or of him playing video games but it’s a start. Look on YouTube in the michaelacladingboel channel. They are appalling, you have been warned.
• The family had a holiday in Queensland and TC behaved incredibly well. No violent outbursts, no bashing mummy. Wonderful… truly lovely.

So this blog isn’t very funny but it is a bit more hopeful than the first one. I read the first one now and see how damn angry I was when I wrote it. R and I have come a long way on the road to acceptance this year. Which brings me back to a lesson from the first blog…

Lesson No 1.3 – you’re neither a crap parent, nor alone.

I STILL plan to cover the following subjects (and more) in upcoming blog posts (time permitting): 

• Emotions - yep, it SUCKS to be a parent of an ADHD child. And it's OK to say so.
• The science - yep, it is a real condition so stop looking at me like I'm a bad parent.
• School - enough said.
• Computer games - heaven or hell?
• Genetics - guilt by association.
• Medication - oh the horror!
• Meltdowns - oh yes the elephant in the room (that trashes it).
• Resources - what's out there in the real and virtual world that might help.

On the subject of resources – read Dr Gabor Mate’s Scattered, if you want to read some really helpful stuff about ADHD, written in simple language by someone who has adult ADHD.

To everyone who reads this - thank you for sharing with me, R and of course TC. Enjoy the journey. Please leave me a message if there's something specific you'd like me to write about.

One last thought – Jamie Oliver, amazing chef and TV personality, was in special needs programs at school and has ADHD. Awesome, huh?!