Ritalin

I was having a conversation with a co-worker of mine. We got on the subject of our children and how we like their teachers. I like my son's teachers very much. They really seem to care and work with his autism. During the school year he has had only 1 meltdown during class.

While the meltdown was in progress the teachers lead him out of the class into a sensory break. They applied a deep pressure massage and put headphones on him to listen to soft music. After about 10 minutes he was better and returned to class.

My co-worker explained to me that his son got a note sent home from his teacher. The note explained that his son wasn't doing his math and should be put on ritalin. That to me is not right. How can a teacher make you, the parent force upon a prescribed medication just so it makes her job teaching easier? Needless to say, he was upset and had quite the talk with the teacher and the principal.

I will never medicate my kids. I will fight the school system or pull my child out before that ever happens. To me, medications at a young age only ads up to a long term drug addiction. Not to mention withdrawal. Kids are energetic. Let them run and play. I will not turn my child into a zombie.

My brother-in-law has ADHD and was put on ritalin at a young age. That escalated to depression and he had to be put on anti-depressants. From that, he can't sleep and he's on medication for that. He has nightmares all the time. I do not believe a pill is worth the long term affects.

You see commercials to stop smoking. Here, take this pill. May cause suicidal thoughts, restless sleep, panic attacks, increased heart rate, etc. One pill and you get the side affects, in which, here's another pill for that and another and another. Not worth the risk.

Ritalin is a drug. No teacher has the right to make you do something to your child you are not comfortable with. If you want to control your child, get them involved with something that interests them for the sake of their happiness.

With my sons autism, he can't watch the teacher and learn. He has to spin wheels on a matchbox car while she teaches. That's how he learns. All kids are different in how they learn. Will I get a note from my sons teachers saying he's not paying attention in class? Teachers need to understand that some kids need to be taught differently than others. Isn't that why they become teachers in the first place?

Diagnosis

Before my son was diagnosed with autism, I was making excuses that he wasn't autistic. I was in such denial. I was constantly searching for clues and taking online free quizzes about his development skills. Even the quizzes would result in, "Probably Autistic."

Still, seeing those words made me think, "No, that's not right."

I was searching up MMR vaccines with thirmersol or mercury causing symptoms of autism, early signs of autism, aspergers syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). I wanted specifics! "Tell me what I want to hear! My son is fine! He will outgrow these weird habits and start talking I know it!"

This may be why you are here reading this. You want to know the truth what is going on with your child. I know. I've been there. You know the truth but your thoughts are setting you back telling you that that's not possible. There is another explanation why my child is doing the things he or she is doing.

You talk to other parents what their child is doing or not doing. You compare you child to theirs. You want to know, "Is this normal?"

Deep down, you know something is wrong. You choose not to accept it like I did. You want to wait and see the results that everything is okay. Nothing to worry about, right?

You enroll your child in school. The teachers are seeing things your not. They also give you quizzes about what you see your child doing at home. You and your spouse take separate quizzes and then the school psychologist compares. You put in your comments. It boils down to where the school wants your child labeled. Finally, you get them screened. Diagnosis, Autism.

After that long day with the doctor, occupational therapist and speech therapist the results come in. The doctor says it appears your child has autism.

I took that news in trying not to choke up and held back. The doctor says not to give up hope. I knew this was gonna be the final result but I didn't think it was real.

After the facts were laid out, I also felt a sense of relief. Now, I know it's not all behavior problems. It's things inside that aren't connecting. We have to figure out a way to cope with this. He is our son and we love and accept him unconditionally.

I just hope I can break a barrier with you. Stop denying and get your child screened for autism. It may not be autism. Whatever it is you'll feel better knowing what it is and what you can do about it.