Saturdays!

[Momof4blessings]

Oh my gosh --- Saturdays. There was a time in my life, when Saturdays were my catch up days, get things done days, or special outing days. With three of my four children currently clinically diagnosed with ADHD, I find Saturdays to be my crazy days!!! Unless I stay BUSY with activities that interest them ALL day long. It's exhausting. So exhausting. The worst of it is my oldest daughter, 7-1/2 years, with autism and ADHD combined. Today, she has been totally stir crazy. We've been out, I've tried to keep things exciting, but honestly --- I'm worn out this afternoon. Ugh. And it's a gorgeous day! And a Saturday! I'm steeling two minutes to write this post while she is "watering" the garden....more like drenching it -- lol! She's keeping herself busy with trying each spray pattern on the watering nozzle. Oh. My. Anyways....not to complain. I just figured I'm probably not the only parent out there with long, sometimes difficult Saturdays!

[MVinSeattle]

Weekends are BY FAR the hardest days in our family. My 12-year-old with adhd thrives on structure and routine. During the school week he takes medication to help with focus and sitting still in class. But the weekends he is usually off his meds...so he is often, literally bouncing OFF the walls. He seeks sensory stimulation by crashing into his sisters, climbing on furniture, drumming on everything or wants screen time to play video games (which only seem to make his hyperactivity worse after playing them). I often get anxious leading up to weekends (and all school breaks) because I know I will need to be fully devoted to keeping my son busy with healthy activities. I know a clearer rhythm and weekend routine would make life better for him and us but there are vacations, parties, family events or house projects that throw off that routine regularly. :/

So yes, Saturday’s are so hard!!

[Yazzie123 in reply to MVinSeattle]

I can relate MV. I don’t give my son medication on weekends usually and so weekends are...interesting....in a whole different way

[Momof4blessings in reply to MVinSeattle]

Oh my gosh --- my sons are the same. Both of them! They crash into each other alllllll weekend, seeking the sensory input. Ugh! Jumping over couches, sliding across the floor.....I can hardly reprimand one infraction before they are on to the next. Often, on a Saturday or Sunday morning, I find myself watching them over my hot cup of tea, yelling, screaming and tackling each other, and I just don't have the energy to stop it. Ugh. But -- we do medication for my two oldest children 24/7. We don't take weekends off. And I do think it helps our weekends. Medication of course doesn't fix everything, and my son's might need to be adjusted to get a better fit, but it does help tremendously. Have you guys considered continuing the meds over the weekend? Thanks so much for sharing and commiserating with me!!! I so appreciate it!!

[Cardosoc]

Glad I’m not alone! I hear ya momma. You are doing a great job planning activities to keep them busy. I work part time and very blessed to, but sometimes the days I’m home all day I’m more exhausted then work! I always tell my husband jokingly I should have joined a circus so I could better entertain our son lol! Weekends can be tough! I need to write a post about weekends and bday parties, we dread being invited sometimes because it can be so hard!

[Momof4blessings in reply to Cardosoc]

I hear you!! At times I envy my husband....he "gets to go work" and I'm at home with the kids! Lol! I always wanted to be a stay at home mom, but ADHD has been a whole different reality for me. Thanks so much for sharing!!

[Ericanason]

I have 4 children my oldest 12 years old with ADHD Saturdays are by far the hardest longest day of the week you are not alone lol

[Momof4blessings in reply to Ericanason]

Oh, thank you for commiserating with me! Lol! It's good to know others in my shoes. And can I just say, Sundays aren't always better than Saturdays?!?! Today has been tough. It's good to connect here. Thank you! 😊

[Jenngrrl75]

Saturday’s are my longest and most difficult days because I don’t know what to do to keep us busy. Very difficult to get anything done housework and laundry wise. Those are the days I feel especially alone. I live far from family and hubby is of very limited help. It’s depressing.

[Momof4blessings in reply to Jenngrrl75]

I sooooo hear you!!! We lived on the border of Mexico and Texas for several years, with no family near, and we didn't have a diagnosis yet. Those were such long, lonely and depressing times. We recently moved back to California to be near family for more support. And if I can just whisper this to you --- in some ways, my friends in the border town were actually more helpful to me at times than my family here in town. I can't believe I'm saying this. But it's true. I begged my husband for 2.5 years to move home, that I couldn't handle these children without some family support. And he wouldn't do it. Finally, he did. Took a transfer and here we are.....and I can hear it in some family members voices when I call to ask for some help. They're already tired of helping. Or they can have one child to visit at a time.....two or more is too difficult. Sigh. This is truly a lonely road to walk as a parent. Hang in there, my friend!!!

[Hidden]

Yes, indeed, today is Saturday, 10:30 AM! And I’m already exhausted. When I work in my yard he gets louder and louder until I give him individual attention. It’s constant. He has chores, and activity station. But he wants me to stop what I’m doing and give him 100% of my attention. He’s 7.5 and I’ve been holding off with the diagnosis hoping he grows out of it. The teacher is hard on him because he’s so frustrated and ready to explode. It helps to hear your stories. I am a single Mom and I set up a meditation center for myself so I can seek calm and patient parenting. Is this genetic? I’m afraid he may develop more serious mental disorders like narcissism or borderline personality disorders. The school would love me to just put him on meds to keep him from distracting the entire classroom. I’m sorry to say, at this point, I tend to agree with the meds.

[Momof4blessings in reply to Hidden]

From my knowledge, ADHD is indeed genetic. Once one child in a family is diagnosed, each younger child has a 3-4 times more likely chance of having it to. Medication has made a tremendous difference for two of our children. It definitely isn't a fast fix, but I wouldn't do life without meds for a single day at this point in time. It was such a hard decision to make originally, but once I realized that the hyperactivity is a chemical imballence, that it doesn't respond to typical behavior modification, I decided -- that's it! We have to try it. And I won't go back. Maybe down the road, when they're older. Wow! You must be super woman! A single mom, with a child with ADHD. Talk about hard!!! I think a formal diagnosis actually helps your child at school.....helps him get what needs. And from my research, many children do out grow ADHD, around 18-20 years old, but..... that's a long time to struggle. I personally have found that having a formal diagnosis, helped me to truly see the behavior as a medical problem, not being naughty. And it's helped me be able to research what kinds of helps each of my children could benefit from. 😊 Not that you have to do what I did! Lol! 😉 Just saying what has helped over here.