Taper, Disaster Boy, and Gabe

Not having to run for 3 hours on Saturday morning makes the day feel so much longer - in a good way! 

I actually did my long run on Sunday this week, opting out of the cold rainy weather we had Saturday. Sunday was so much nicer - sunny and dry, and in the 50s. My fingers are crossed that we'll have weather like that for race day.

The schedule called for 10 miles, but I was enjoying myself so much, I tacked on an additional 2 miles. It's been so long since I really had fun while running - it was lovely : )

I ran on the course again, and thought the entire time about how I'm going to feel as I'm running those miles 'for real.' No matter how slow or fast I run this race, it's going to be an incredible day, and now that I'm down to just 12 days to go, I'm getting so unbelievably excited. I cannot wait to be out there on the starting line.

I know the nerves, and the doubt, and the anxiety are going to kick in soon, too, but for now, I'm going to enjoy the excitement and happiness.

Lots of excitement with the boys lately, too.

They went bowling with Scott last night for their school's annual 'Boys Night Out," and had a great time. Last Friday I got them out of school early to come home for a quick visit with Grammy and Grampy, who had made the trip up to bring Gabe his birthday presents. (They weren't able to be here on his actual birthday, but they did call to wish him happy birthday that night, as did several other family members, and when he picked up the phone, he commented on how many phone calls he was getting, saying "Boy, people must think I'm a hero, or famous, or something!")

Last Thursday night was their school's Arts Night, and we went to tour all the classrooms, which the students had decorated with various ocean-themed artwork. This was very apropos to Dante's current obsession with the Titanic. He's devouring Titanic books from the library, and I can't even keep track of how many very detailed drawings he's made of the ship - complete with cutaway views, showing the bunks in the cabins.

Prior to this, his big interests have been earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and volcanoes. I'm sensing a theme here. Going to have to start calling him Disaster Boy.

Tomorrow night is their school production of The Wizard of Oz, which they've been rehearsing for for many weeks now. I can't wait to go see it!

It's also report card time, and parent-teacher conference time, which, when one of your kids has ADHD, can be a kind of stressful occasion.

Gabe's report card was ok, but for the first time, his teachers are seeing evidence that his problems with focusing and paying attention are affecting his ability to learn.

He's always struggled with those issues, but up to this point, he was still able to keep up with the curriculum and do well with his school work and homework, and at every meeting and conference we had, we were always told (and we were of the same mindset) that as long as he wasn't having any problems academically, we shouldn't even consider putting him on any kind of medication.

Now that's changed, and the areas where he's having trouble are no surprise - social studies, science, history - areas where he really needs to stay focused so he can comprehend the information he's reading, or being taught, and take the time to think things through so that he can answer questions and problem solve.

He knows he needs to do a better job paying attention, and he knows it's causing him to not do well on some of his assignments, and he gets frustrated that he can't. His attention wanders, and he has so much trouble preventing that from happening.

We are still very, very reluctant to use medication. Even though he is having some problems right now, I think there's a good chance that, with lots of practice and hard work, he can overcome those problems and develop better study habits. These problems just recently cropped up, and I don't want to immediately turn to medication without exploring other possibilities, and I can say with certainty that it's not something we're even going to consider for the immediate future. I want to exhaust every other option we have first. 

To that end, I'm going to call a therapist in our area who specializes in working with kids with ADHD, and set up some appointments, for Gabe, and for me and Scott. I think it will be helpful for Gabe to talk to someone who can hopefully give him some more strategies for reigning himself in, and also give Scott and I more information on things we can do to help him, both at home and at school.

I've read books, I've pored over websites, and I've implemented so many behavioral charts and systems that I can't even keep track of them all. And they all work to some extent, and we're by no means in crisis mode. I just feel like we could use some help. It takes a village, right?

Comments

[Laura]

Good luck determining best next steps with Gabe! It's hard to make those decisions... I would be hesitant to rely on meds, too. I think so often a lot of it has to do with learning styles. Sounds like you're taking a wise approach!

[Wes]

Keep that excirement reigned in. You are ready!

With Matthew it was dinosaurs and sharks. Good luck with your decision. Use all the reources you can handle.