I’m a mom of an 8-year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and I’m struggling with so many mixed emotions. On one hand, it makes sense, and I finally understand some of the challenges we’ve been facing. But on the other, I’m not sure how to move forward. Do I start him on medication right away? Or try other strategies first? I don’t want to rush into something, but I also want him to have the support he needs. Any advice from other parents who’ve been through this? What worked for you?
I’ve been through the same struggle with my two. What eventually helped was a “stoplight” system at home. Each of them gets a little green, yellow, or red card each day based on how respectful they were to each other. We’d sit down every evening and go over how the day went, and if they got green consistently, they earned a small reward or got to pick a family activity for the weekend. It was a way to make them aware of their behavior and see it as a team effort. It’s definitely a process, but this helped them start to get along better, and it actually eased some of the tension.
You’re not alone. My daughter was diagnosed last year, and we were so torn about medication too. We decided to hold off at first and focused on routines, structure, and working closely with her school to help her. Over time, it really made a difference, and now she’s doing well without meds. Every kid is different, so just know that whatever path you choose, it can be adjusted if needed. You’re doing a great job just by caring so much and looking for the best way forward. 