My name is Johnetta and I have 2 kids and a 20 year old stepdaughter. Jacklyn, my youngest daughter, has ADHD with destructive tendencies. I am pretty sure she has Dyslexia too. I am in the process of trying to get her tested for that.
I have to be as creative as I can to get her to learn something new. I taught her multiplication through song and hand games. I am still searching for something to help her with her reading and spelling. I have found one site that I like: Spelling City. You type in your spelling words and it provides games that help them practice those words. I love that!
Jacklyn does have a hard time learning her school work but there are things that she excels at too. She started taking painting lessons about a month ago and she is doing great with it. She gets so excited every Friday when her paint instructor comes over. She also started her own business last year making bead pet key chains – not bad for a 9 year old!
If you think your child has ADHD or some other mental disorder, you should take your child to a psychiatrist to be tested. A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They don’t only talk to you and your child to come up with a diagnosis, but they also run a series of tests to aid in diagnosis. That is why they are more likely to diagnose your child correctly. A family doctor does not specialize in that area and they do not run all the tests that a psychiatrist does, which makes it easier for them to misdiagnose your child. I took Jacklyn to both and they both diagnosed her with ADHD, but the psychiatrist report was more detailed. It showed her destructive tendencies and a bunch of stuff that I could do to help her. Plus, they told me everything that they recommended for her. Some of the things I had never heard of. I think taking Jacklyn there was one of the best decisions that I have made with her.
Please do not judge other parents of kids with ADHD. There are different levels of ADHD, which means what may be right for one kid, may not be right for another. It is very hurtful when you judge them only because they are doing what they think is best for their child. Each person and family is unique. Always do what is best for you and your family.
Thanks for sharing your story and I love he blog name. 🙂
You’re welcome. I hope you enjoyed it. My friend Dawn is the creator of this page and she came up with the name. She is very talented and creative. I’m glad you like the blog name as much as I do. 😀
Thanks a bunch, ladies!
Dawn
This is such a GREAT post. And that picture is awesome! 🙂
Thank you! It is my favorite one that she has done by herself so far.
I love her painting! Very nice!
Thank you! I can’t wait to hang it up at my house this Christmas.
Your daughter is so cute! So nice to know that you are working with her. I am dyslexic and I did not find out till I was in college, which made sense why I hated math and would get so frustrated with it.
Thank you. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you end up finding out that you are dyslexic and how did they test you? Did the school do it or someone else? I have been getting the run around. For the past two years, the principal at her old school told me she was too young to be tested. I just called the school again a few days ago and they told me that I need to get a copy of her IEP from them and take it to her family doctor, who will tell me who I need to take it to next. It has been a big headache. I don’t know anyone that has ever been tested for this, so any information that you may have would be greatly appreciated.
As moms we have to do what we think is best for our kids! WAy to go! and btw – we love spelling city too!
Thank you! It is a great site and it has helped Jacklyn a bunch with her spelling words.
My children do not have ADHD but I can sympathize with your family. It is hard to go through it on a daily basis. Good luck and I will pass the info on to some friends of mine. 🙂
Thank you!
Hi girl! Great article. It’s not easy to get there, but we do what we have to do out of love for our kids.
You are right about it not being easy. When I was a kid, I thought being a parent would be so easy. Boy was I wrong! It is the hardest and most rewarding job in the world.
Her painting is really good and how awesome that she has her own business! That is pretty good for a 9 year old.
Thank you! I am very proud of her.
Love the painting she did. Great job!
I am glad that you have found different ways to help Jacklyn. Art can be very therapeutic and she obviosuly has some talent
She loves painting, drawing, sewing, making necklaces and making key chains. I think you are right about it being therapeutic for her. It also builds her confidence, which I love!