When the going gets tough…
the tough get a routine.
It’s back to boot camp for me. Apparently, my inner coach wants more structure and organization in my day so I don’t fall off the bandwagon again.
So here I am, just after sunrise, I’ve done my meditation, Pilates, and a serious stretching routine, and I’m about to hit the trails. It’s another fun day in paradise, and I’m hoping to continue putting humpty-dumpty back together again.
Today’s training shouldn’t be anything spectactular…likely the same as yesterday with a little running on the stairstepper and swimming to boot. I’ll go easier on the ride too. I let myself open it up just a bit yesterday (chasing a few cars down a hill at over 40 
) today I’ll take it a little saner…I have to be disciplined (a big ADD challenge) and go slow now to go fast later.
I must say…I have a feeling others won’t like the movie Stick It…but from where I’m coming from, this movie is PERFECT!!!
Oh…perhaps I should address a call I had with a mother about her ADD son recently…11 year old boy struggling with big discipline problems and a bad attitude. Everyone wants to give up on him, thinking it’s him, not ADD. You know what kills me…
First, no one should ever give up on a child…ever, ever, ever. Forget about the grades…focus on his/her self esteem. Help them to feel good about themselves, no matter what. Grades don’t matter in the greater scheme of things…and the kid’s only 11!!! If he/she is happy about him/herself he’ll do great in life…if he feels crappy (even with good grades) it won’t matter.
Secondly, it sounds like the people around him (doc’s, counselors, and teachers) don’t have a clue about ADD. They come from a fairly rural area, and I’ve seen this a bunch before. Help from people who don’t understand ADD is worse than no help at all. It makes you (or the child, AND the parent) feel stupid, incompetent and helpless, when that’s far from the case…a child who’s incorrigible is often not a discipline problem at all, and certainly NOT a moral failing…they’re just trying to survive…it’s their coping mechanism you’re seeing in gear.
Realize these children are likely brilliant, it’s just their focus hasn’t caught up with their minds…Picture trying to drive a Ferrari in NYC traffic…with the heavy clutch and trigger-happy throttle, you’d quickly go insane, and likely overheat the motor.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ADD
Find experts who understand.
Protect your child’s self-esteem.
Help them find a sport or activity they excel at (and can feel good about).
Don’t sweat the grades.
Surround them with positive people who empower them. (This may mean switching teachers, schools, school-systems, or whatever it takes).
As a parent, realize, you’ll need to push through a 504 or IDEA or any other kind of plan…don’t expect others to follow-through or even call you back. You’ll have ride this horse, but gently so you can create a “team” atmosphere with the teachers, rather than build a wall of resistance.
Is it fair?
No.
Is it right?
No.
Is it necessary?
Yes.
Fight for your child.
Never give up.
Never stop believing in him.
And watch him succeed.
Well, I’m out of here. Yes, me, Michael, the student my mom was told at her first parent/teacher conference was “the worst student we’ve ever had in our (32 years) of teaching experience.”
I couldn’t focus. I didn’t have the glasses for my brain to slow down the Ferrari mind and see the world around me.
Once I did, I had the on-ramp to the autobahn, and then that Ferrari could fly.
Believe in your kids and never, ever give up. NO MATTER WHAT!!!