the dreaded accronym

I schlepped the kids to the Dr. for regular visits today and discussed the middlest's behavior. The pediatrician's face started turning upward into one of those awkward almost-smiles. "Well", she said, "he's three so it's hard to say anything definite. The sleep issues coupled with the anger and the hyperactivity... well, it's raising some red flags for me." ( I knew where she was going and could have almost said her next sentence for her), "Does anyone in your family have ADD?"

I wasn't shocked at the mention of this, the kid is part monkey. Angry monkey sometimes, without the poo flinging. And yes, he is a bear to get to sleep. It's the same thing every night. But, I had thought of his behavior as normal hellish three year old antics. Times seven at least. He gets cranky and wiggs out when he's tired and has a hard time following directions (although the Dr. commented on how well hid did listen today). But again, totally normal three year old.

But it was mentioned. ADD. She said that we'd have to wait for kindergarten to know for sure, until then we wait. I flashed to all my classes and my mind zeroed in on all the ADD and ADHD labeled kids I've had over the years. Some were nutso and some were fine. Some were in the process of diagnosis and some were trying out meds and some parents were dead set against meds and behavior was either being managed through diet or not at all. Huge spectrum.

I have always had opinions about medicating kids with attention problems and have concluded that there is no one way that is the one right way to treat this. I have seen kids that couldn't sit still and were making C's turn around and end the year at the top of my class because they found meds that worked. Their self esteem increased as did their social skills. I've also seen kids become zombie-like versions of themselves. It's a crap shoot, I think, until you find something that works.

So with the middlest, we shall wait. I plan on educating myself a bit more in the next two years before he enters school. Maybe we'll try some diet and behavior modifications until then so that he has some sort of chance at success once he starts school. I feel bad because I know how kids are labeled and how that label precedes them into the next year's classroom. I've had class lists where I thought, "Oh man, I got the ADD kid." Terrible, I know but the perspective I'm gaining is incredible.