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This week The Falconer Family embarked, once again, on THE GREAT RITALIN EXPERIMENT.
It sounds like a good title for a book.
Let me tell you a little about this adventure.
The date finally dawned for our much needed and much anticipated Specialist appointment. With her excellent knowledge and insight we embarked on a Ritalin trial with our youngest son. He has had a really terrible year at school. it is his first year at formal schooling and boy oh boy has the rubber hit the road.
The Paediatric Neurologist that we like and who has helped us, diagnosed very quickly ADHD and prescribed the trial. Remember we have gathered the help of 2 other professionals who have spent time with him and have come to the same conclusion as has his teacher and of course , us his parents. It is the whole picture and the same picture by ALL these people that lead us to this trial.
But with the topic of Ritalin on the table again we decided to review our other sons meds too. He is now trying Long Acting 20 Ritalin - experiment 2
and then to top it all My husband ( we ) decided to up his dose - Experiment 3.
Using Ritalin and other similar medication for the treatment of ADHD is an experiment. it is much like using and coming to grips with any other drug.
We sit back and observe behaviour especially in the case of children who are younger and can not always articulate what is going on in their own minds.
Our youngest son is quite good at some of the observations about himself. He is a sharp button.
He knows that something is a miss ans, I think , do all kids who are struggling and there is huge relief when , the struggles are acknowledged in a positive way and HELP is offered.
Ritalin , for us, forms PART of the whole approach to ADHD in our family. We are not, as some think, drugging our children so that they simply fit into the schools rigid environment.
That is to limit the experience totally and to miss the point.
Firstly , schooling has changed a great deal from the rigid and formal dinosaur of the past. Many, many schools are shifting and changing and have shifted and changed. Children are more free to be who they are. Yes, there is still much needed change but I think that the days of children having to ' shut up , sit still and work are gone.
Large numbers in classrooms and a very limited understanding of ADHD in our schools , across the board, means that there is still room for change but I think and I hope that this change will come.
I salute teachers who have a work load of note; who, in the South African context have had curriculum change upon change; and all the other difficulties that are present. But are predominately learners and those who are the shapers of minds.
I hold out much hope.
So, we are not drugging our kids so that they are able to fit the mould. Whatever that means.
But rather, we are offering real help for the child who is ADHD. Help that makes him available to learn.
Help that plugs him in when his brain unplugs him.
Helps him be able to self-regulate instead of have others regulate him with punishment.
It gives his brain what it lacks on its own so that he can learn.
School is not the problem and nore is the schooling system the cause of the wriggles.
Interesting schooling offers a solution actually. Good, well planned fun lessons are what captivate.
But Medication allows the child to be in the moment , available to take in and engage successfully with the learning process.
Can I just tell you about our little boy and his first day on Ritalin.
My Shiny face was there at the teachers door, right on time.
I was dying to know.
How was it?
We chatted a bit and she could see he was less wriggly.
great!
The fun part for me was listening carefully and observing. Like ever parent, we know our sons exceptionally well and so change is obvious.
Something had shifted.
For this entire year I have held my breath when homework time came.
It is a lucky draw really.
He could either be plugged in a little and so do some of it
or not plugged in at all and so we barely get through any of it. My heart has been aching as I have watched him struggle to pay attention. Reading has been like torture.
I kept thinking, " if only he could just learn to read, then surely he will fly"
While this is true, his learning process was not consistent and nore was it extremely successful. One day he would not seem to be able to read a word he has before.
This was the teachers experience too.
Writing words has been just terrible. Each week has seemed more and more difficult. I have learnt to let it go when he can not and try and do ALL the homework for the week , when he can.
During this time he will wriggle and be off and on and around the chair. he will sigh and pant. He will declare in all manner of negativity - more!!
Homework Hell Time!!
Can you picture it?
Yesterday, however, we read 2 books, read two lists of words and another two; we did 3 columns of maths and ALL this while sitting still and focusing and WITHOUT one word of negativity. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it.
He asked me questions and asked for help. He chatted and was thoroghly engaged.
Can you picture it?
Then, on top of this all he began to tell me about the things his teacher has taught him that day. He told me all about the lions and the interesting facts. He has not stopped talking about it. This is the FIRST time he has done this ALL year.
Can you picture it?
He was available for learning. He was plugged in.
This morning when I woke him up he said to me," Mom, is school shorter?".
"No, my boy . it is the same length."
"It felt shorter to me , mom."
Music to my ears. This tells me that by being more plugged in and available for learning, he had fun and the day did not drag and was not boring.
Can you picture it?
Now, Ritalin is not going to solve all our problems and it is early days. The effects of medication are immediate and are exciting. We are thrilled and quite frankly, he was too.
Hooray!
Thank you Lord.
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