ADHD and being a single mom

Lisa - posted on 07/17/2012

I feel your pain im stressed sleepy cant work and my son is such a handful! but i think god i have help with him my mom and his dad (sumtimes) i also have mental illness so its hard theres days i want to give up but i keep pushing because i love him deeply hes my whole world!

Meredith - posted on 02/08/2009

I fully understand the no rules at dads.  Mine came home from his last weekend visit and was excited because he got to stay up all night playing video games.  Then I put him in bed at his bedtime and I get told he wants to live with dad and granny (my ex is supervised by his mother).  I work really hard to get him back on schedule and I am the bad guy.  Now it seems when his medicine is wearing off at night we get to have a nightly melt down at 7:30.

Natalie - posted on 01/31/2009

I have been in sleep medicine for 9.5 years and the first 4 years I worked at the local children's hospital. It has been found that ADHD has a lot of time been misdiagnosed for sleep disorder, most commonly sleep apnea. This is when you stop breathing in your sleep and when you stop breathing you wake up several times a night. Just enough to affect you during the day, but not enough to wake you fully. Therefore, being tired could cause similar symptoms of ADHD. I would maybe monitor his sleeping and if he snores or stops breathing for short periods at a time, talk to you peditrician and see about getting a sleep test done.

Terri - posted on 01/28/2009

Hey Meredith!  I am new to this group as of this morning.  I just wanted to reach out to you and tell you to HANG IN THERE.  There is help out there for your son.  My son was diagnosed with TOURETT'S SYNDROME, as well as ADD/ADHD.  He has been on several medications that have worked terrific but it has been trial and error.  Also finding the right teaching environment for them is important.  He will be 14 the end of April and there is a weekly struggle but you must always remember, he depends on YOU!  Please feel free to drop me a line anytime.  I think single moms have a challenge of raising our kids, but those with disabilities is even more of a challenge!

Undrea - posted on 01/27/2009

Meredith,

It is really going to take some patience for you and your son.  I know at 7, it is hard for him to control himself.  He may have to try some medication.  Concerta is an option.  It is a time release drug or Adderal.  Other than the medication, you will have to find a way to redirect your baby everytime he gets off track.  One way may be- instead of telling your son things that he needs to do all at once, you should give him1 or 2 things to do.  It may also help if he starts a checklist so that he will follow the directions give on that list. 

You may also want to look on the internet to find books that deal with this type of behavior for children as young as your son.  If he learns to control himself early, you will find that by the time he is in middle school, he will be coping well. 

My prayers are with you and your family. 

Tina - posted on 01/25/2009

Hi, Im Tina. I am struggling with the same thing right now. My son is 5. It can be so frusterating!!! My son is wonderful sweet and very lovable. He was recently diagnosed with adhd. I am constantly at school, conferences with the teacher and guidance counsler. He sees his father once a week, but his father is like a child himself. When he sees him there are no rules. They play video games and it's like a free for all. When My son comes home the next day it's like starting over at square one! Stability is most important right now so it might be better that he doesnt see his father too often. Is your son on medication? Mine is not. I've been going back and forth with the idea. I wish you all the luck in the world. By the way your son is addorable. I'm here any time you want to talk.