A good ADD-ay!

 The first day back to school after Winter-Break and also after a VERY extended absence from school...was a success!  I am extremely pleased about how it went so I thought I would write a quick review of what that "success" looks like.  Those of you who are in close contact with an ADDer, I am sure you will agree that we must celebrate the successes and recognize them.  They do not look the same as Neuro-typical success.

Success with ADD looks like this:

1.    Getting out of bed in less than 3 prompts or with minimal argument

2.    Participation (yes, that's right...participation counts).

So Alex had a good day yesterday.  What did it look like?

Keep in mind one very important thing that many of us do not ever really think about- the ADDer has a support team.  The support team works as hard as the ADDer.  Because the support people are made up of other humans and animals...they too can have their own experiences that interfere with or promote effectiveness.  Everyone involved kind of needs to be committed more than they may wish to be at times.

So to paint the picture of a day of success for us:

7am:    Alex's new alarm clock, which he set himself the night before beeps.  Alex grumbles, but he knows that HE chose the time, he set the clock and that waking up is HIS responsibilty.

7:30am:     Having received 3 prompts from Mom and One warm and friendly greeting from Jamie, Alex needs an additional push of :  Be in your seat in 5 minutes or the rest of the day will be spent bored with no video games or Youtube.  Alex arrives on fumes, but is seated at his spot in our shared workspace.

8:00am:     MATH CLASS.  Alex is behind in math, having missed many class sessions while at his father's and with no internet access to be part of the class.  He listens actively to the lesson, although the work he needs to make up spans a few lessons back.  He is attentive and not frustrated.

9:00am:    SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS.  Alex has a Slideshow to present...not today though.  The Slideshow is nearly complete, as Alex worked diligently during Monday's "Anytime Learning" to assemble it.  Monday afternoon, he sent it to the Resource Teacher for review.  Today, with guidance, he spends classtime completing the assignment.

10:00am:     Distracted by chores and arguments between his sister and me, Alex takes a bit of downtime while intermittently helping with chores:  Pulling the overflowing trash and putting some items in the basement for Mom.

10:45am:      Back to work at the Dining Room Table, Alex completes and submits 3 Math assignments that were marked as incomplete.  He submits Phys Ed journals for grading.

12:00pm    It's been a busy morning for Alex.  This is a LOT of work for him.

8:45-9:45pm    READING WITH MOM

Having found multiple useful resources for reading, Alex sleepily gets into bed and shares a great Kindle book about German Shephards.  The book was so good that we actually read it cover to cover and discussed it.

Today, Alex did not use his Adderal (ADD MEDS) but has not lapsed in using his Fluoxetine (Depression/Anxiety meds).

The reason being that I have misplaced his meds since his return from his dad's house.  I will search for them...but two days of school with no meds, and this much getting done?  That is impressive.

So this is what a successful day with ADD looks like at my house. Tell me about a successful day at yours.

~Namaste

Lilac