I recently read an article suggested at my sister's blog. It was about women and ADD. I don't need a diagnosis to know that I have ADD. I have always been unable to pay attention to lectures at school, or one activity for very long. I also have recently read a book about right brained children. F, my youngest, is very right brained like myself. This book suggested that most if not all ADD/ADHD people are right brained. Subsequetnly we are most likely to be visual learners. Guess how most teachers teach? Verbally! Now if you aren't very good at processing material by having someone verbally tell you, are you going to be able to pay attention and sit still? NO! Not really. Luckily teachers are learning how to teach to their auditory, visual and kenistic students all at one time. This is helping, if the teacher applies what they've learned.
My point is that I'm very right brained, and ADD. So do I give up things so that there is less to distract me? Or do I take meds so I can handle all that I've taken on? I've decided that I would like to try it without meds. So I haven't signed up to teach Sunday school class, which I would love to do. I'm not going to sign up for Bible Study, which I would also love to do. I'm not going to sign my children up for unnecessary activities. Just piano for J so she won't lose what she's learned for 2 years. And the girls are going to do AWANA because that gives me an hour and a half to read without interuptions.
Luckily I can make this decision for myself easily. I'm taking on line classes so I get all of my education visually. Now I must make the decision for F, who is still in school where most of her education is given to her verbally. She needs to see things, and someday read things to understand them. She's having such a hard time sitting still and listening. She isn't hyperactive. She's learned to tap her feet and sit while looking cute in order to sit still. Her teacher had discovered her trick and double checks to see if she's understood something. Thank goodness. Still, would non-stimulant drugs help her with her attention? I'm torn. I don't want to medicate my precious girl and have her be a zomby. But even when she's reading to me, she can't sit still to save her life!
Being a parent sure isn't easy.
5 comments:
Didn't Lynnor once mention something about a chair type thing that her son sat in to help him focus?
A T chair. I'll have to ask her if she can try that. She might have to give me the OT's name to get the chair. Or I can tell her to ask the OT to get her one. That might help her with her wiggles. :)
An A T chair? You have to describe this now. It sounds interesting and can adults use it? ;)
I'll take a picture of one on Monday and post what it is here. :)
I've heard that in some situations, if you give your child a coke or coffee, it has a reverse effect in children with ADD/ADHD. It worked with my friends son. Try it on a Saturday and see if it calms her enough to sit and read for a bit.
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