ADDmire: Short Term Journal 2020-2021

Good morning my dearest friends and supporters of the movement to not let the kids slip through the cracks! I may have had a lot of coffee this morning.  My son asked if I accidentally took his ADHD meds again.  He says that when I did, I cleaned everyone's bedrooms.  LOL~ PROGRESS REPORT An actual IEP Progress report was posted in Alex's Aspen account yesterday.  I reviewed it and then responded to the IEP teacher this morning.  I wanted her to know that in spite of the difficulties, I deeply appreciate all that she does. When it comes to the individual person and their individual ability to learn, it is a journey for each of us...one we truly must take as personal, and we must want to achieve for our own selves.  Now, that being said, how do we teach and demonstrate the importance of learning, of knowing, of expanding our minds- to the youth. It is incredibly difficult to motivate my son Alex.  From a planetary standpoint, the boy has a lot of Taurus...

H i Everyone!   Today is a great day for America! Inauguration Day 2021 Biden/Harris. Alex and I read together at night, and last night we had some fun reading "trivia" questions about past presidents.  It was interesting...amazing how much of it I already knew.  You see, when I was Alex's age, I had a penchant for reading Biographies. On one of my dad's trips, he had bought me an anthology about the Presidents.  I believe it went up to George HW Bush...maybe Reagan, but I cannot recall.  Either way, I was FASCINATED by the details of the lives of presidents of the past...particularly of the personal lives, personal habits and hobbies and the overall influence of the President's wives.  I love the first ladies of America! During a wonderful visit to upstate New York about two years ago, Jamie and I stayed at the home of my college girlfriend AmyJo and her husband Chuck. Chuck and AJ were wonderful hosts, showing us around the Vassar campus where they b...

  I know I am not alone struggling with the ever-changing climate of the schools these days, but it sure does feel that way sometimes.  It's hard to keep in mind that what matters most is that I maintain confidence in what I KNOW and what I AM DOING.  However, this takes a lot of concentration on my part because I am very foggy most days- I attribute this partially to CFS and partially to my Depression.  It is only a stumbling block and not completely disabling...so I have learned to work with it.  Currently I am using some herbal remedies along with being VERY DISCIPLINED about the exact times I use my meds.  I have also made some BIG modifications to my diet and I am seeing major results from these few shifts which have been going on for about 7 days now. As for Alex and how he is doing: Alex had his first regular full week of Distance Learning School following his 3 week absence.  To say that this was messy is an understatement.  Things are cha...

 It seems fitting to include the activities going on pertaining to the world at large. After all, this is the world our children are growing up in...and these are the hands we give them. Two days ago, on January 6, 2021 the world participated in what will be a memorable, although shameful day in American History. Armed Americans with a gripe against Democracy at work, forcefully entered the Country's Capitol Building- pushing past Law Enforcement and having their way with our Capitol Building, Senate Chambers and many Private offices including that of Nancy Pelosi.  To say that I was outraged at the sight of this is to liken it to being sad at watching the Twin Towers fall on 9/11/2001.  I don't actually have a single feeling happening...I have full on grief happening.  This should not have happened.  I am like many other Americans- and we are grieving the deep cultural disturbance that this has been. Some things in life are Sacred to people. Our Government, th...

  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 wi...

  WOW!  It's 2021 already! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!! How did YOU welcome this new year in? We have a non-neurotypical welcoming committee around here. Some of my readers will know what that means but for those who do not, I am tipping my hat to those of us who struggle with mental health imbalances of some sort.  Here in my house we have a nice array: Annika has Generalized Anxiety Disorder- this name gives the light and fluffy idea that somehow it being "generalized" means that it is not so crippling to the person who has it, when in fact it is quite intense on a daily basis. She often has difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or managing her sleep habits.  She frequently experiences difficulty with OCD as a result of triggering to her anxiety.  Once a teacher of hers, Mrs. Flanders (West Warwick High School Social Studies), told her class that anxiety is not real- it is made up so and it is for people who want to make excuses. Sorry Mrs. Flanders...I beg to di...

Hi everyone!   Snow in RI/CT/MA today- at least 9 inches and still falling.  What a time!  I am sure I will take pictures later, but for now it has no ambiance out there aside from feeling like you are trapped inside of a snow-globe that was just shaken and has not yet settled. I awoke to sounds of plows passing down the large boulevard where I live.  Then my husband in the early morning hours going out to use the snowblower to clear our driveway and our neighbor's driveway. One of Alex's teacher's had emailed about a test today.  They were kind enough to allow him to complete the test next week on 12/23 which is when he will once again be reunited with us and with his home and with his chromebook!  So today is 12/17/20 and he can come home at last on 12/22/2020.  That is Tuesday of next week.  Today is Thursday.  It has been extremely difficult to accomplish his schooling items during the quarantine. As previously mentioned, there is no...