Here's a bit of my story:

I'll never forget the day my son was diagnosed. We sat in the parking lot outside the pediatrician's office; I was clutching a prescription for Ritalin. My husband gripped the steering wheel and was silent. I cried. Our son, age 5, was happily bouncing around in the back of the van, oblivious to the emotional turmoil in the front seat.

I wondered if the doctor who so glibly diagnosed him was remotely aware of how he had just turned our world upside down. Hell, he was probably chomping on a sandwich right now thinking about his afternoon tee time. I was also angry.

Our next stop was to the pharmacy; it felt like we were heading to the gallows. But we were desperate for some help; life was overwhelming with this kid!

Sound a bit dramatic? If your kid's been diagnosed (or even if you just suspect,) you realize this is not overstatement. And you're also not alone, the Center for Disease Control says nearly 10% (!?) of kids have ADHD; and the numbers are growing annually. That's a buttload of kids! And for each one of those kids, there are countless parents and educators wringing their hands over the challenges this brings.

For me, my life's been impacted doubly. Long before my boy made his appearance in the world, my older brother, Dan, was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder when he was about five. The rough life he had flashed through my mind too.

Here's a few of the questions I was asking and a few I didn't even *know* to ask those first months after my son's diagnosis.

What is ADHD? Is it real? Should I have my child tested? What about school? To medicate or not to medicate? Is neurofeedback a bunch of new age hooey or might it help? How do you parent a child with ADHD?

Does reading those questions stir up anxiety? They did me. And many of the “answers” I found were sobering and me wonder if I was the one who needed medication!

Until I decided I need to see things through a different lens, one offering a brighter perspective. A reframing, if you will. I needed to Reframe ADHD.

Let's talk about the wonderful creativity and energy that comes with these kids. And let’s challenge the status quo and-brace yourself- question authority.

I’m also going to share some of our journey with our son, who is now a happy thriving young adult. Make yourself cozy, grab a cuppa and let's visit. I'm so glad you're here!

© 2011

SBI!