Kids with Mental Disorders

As a mother of four I often ask myself how I am still sane.  I have two kids who have been diagnosed with ADHD, Bi-Polar, Anxiety, and OCD.  Life is always not what it seems and everyday there is a different struggle.  I may be out at a store when my kids has a problem and people look at me like i am nuts.  Well people, I am not nuts, i am not a bad parent, i am not you.  If your kids are perfect that is fine but, mine aren’t.  I love my kids and we do the best to get them through day by day.  I am only one person and with having four kids all under the age of 10, yea my life is crazy.  I do everything i can do for my kids. We play, we make play-doh, we do things as a family, we attend all kinds of classes and we do our best to keep a routine. 

People need to realize that a child with a mental condition such as OCD, Bi-Polar, and even ADHD have different needs as those of a child who doesn’t.  Structure is a big part of our life.  We have worked with many people over the last few years who have tried to give us suggestions on “how to parent the oppositional child”. Most of these people don’t have kids with problems and have no clue what they are talking about.  What people also need to realize is that works for one kid may not work for another and that kids with disabilities are all about trial and error.

I have had many people look down on me because my kids are on medications.  Well i have a response for that too.  When a child cannot function in school, cannot do anything for himself/herself, or live as normal as possible, then yea i will medicate.  Now don’t get me wrong, i do believe that medicine is a piece of that.  I believe that therapy and interventions are also needed.  We have plans set up through the school, we have a worker who comes and helps us with services, we have support of family and friends, we just try to do our best.

If you have a kid who has a disability whether it be mental or physical then you can understand where i am coming from.  To all those who don’t, then please try to understand.  Do research on several of the conditions, talk to people who deal with it on a daily basis, talk to trained professionals, just don’t look down on people abut things you are not educated. 

I want to educate people who want to know more about kids with disabilities, as well as learn from others who have kids with disabilities.  I will be more than willing to listen, discuss what works for us, and help you in any way that i can as well as take your suggestions as well.