Gotta Love 'Em

First and foremost I love my family and my friends. By family I mean my brothers, sisters, Mom, Dad, in-laws...you get the picture. I said this blog would be about advice that I really, truly do not need in order to raise my happy-go-lucky daughter. I know they mean well so I take everything that they say with a grain of salt. And, if truth be told, some of it is very good advice and I have used some of it now and then!
Hmm. OK. There are different degrees of ADD/ADHD. Em just happens to be at the very high end of the scale. Her mind doesn't work the same way as someone who doesn't have ADHD. She isn't able to sort all of the thoughts that are going around in her head at a million miles an hour out into separate thoughts. She's very impulsive and obviously distracted very easily so things don't hold her interest for long unless she is on her meds. Her meds. are a necessity for her. They help her be herself but controlled so she can concentrate on what she needs to concentrate on. She is very bright and has no problem keeping up in school. A lot of kids with ADHD are extremely intelligent. That is a definite positive. What I am trying to get at here is that Em needs her meds. Please don't tell me that she would be better off without them. She feels better with them. She wants to feel in control and she doesn't without them.
Em is very healthy and on track for her height and weight at this point. No, she isn't very tall but she isn't the shortest one at her school that is her age. YAY! I think she'll end up passing Allison in the height department. So, please don't tell me that she is too skinny. Her doctor has been monitoring her height and weight regularly and we are both pleased at where she's at. She looks great!
As most of you know I had a hard time deciding whether to work summer school this coming summer. I didn't want to leave Em alone for 6-7 hours everyday but I didn't want to send her to a day care either. My other 3 children always had each other to rely on during the summers. I know that she probably would have done OK but who at 12 years old wants to be by themselves all day, everyday? And like I said earlier, kids with ADHD are impulsive and a lot of times will act before they think so I am taking the safe route on this matter. I thank my friend Jill for "making me see the light." I'm not exactly sure how she put it but it went something like this: When you're older will you regret not working summer school or will you regret not spending time with Emma when she is still young? No brainer. I want to spend time with my daughter. She's fun! Yes, I realize I could be making extra money but money isn't happiness. Money is money. Emma is happiness. I can't wait for summer! Adventureland, here we come!
To those of you who offer your advice.... I love you but if I want your advice I will ask for it. And I DO ask for it sometimes. If you still feel you need to offer it that's OK. I won't get angry or hold it against you. But beware, I may not follow it. <3