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"My Child Is Not A Monster!"

© Carol Gossard

They are everywhere, 3.5 million of them arrive each year. You unknowingly pass them by, day after day. Chances are you have one living in your own home and don't even know it. They populate our streets, towns, and schools. What are they, you must be asking yourself; the question is, however, not what are they, but - who are they?

They are children. Not just any children, but special children. They are children with AD/HD, Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. If you are unfamiliar with this disability, Suite 101 provides a wealth of information on the subject; the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, help for living with AD/HD. There are also endless numbers of books, web sites, articles, workshops and seminars that pertain to this topic. Information about AD/HD is readily available and easy to obtain, but what about the true source - the children themselves. Let us, for a moment, forget about the symptoms, the technical aspects, and go straight to the heart and soul of the matter. What better way to do that than to delve inside the mind of one of these special children.

I would like to introduce you to my son. His name is Justin, he is thirteen years old and he has AD/HD. Justin has so graciously agreed to an interview with me, but first let me give you a little background information on him. Justin was reading before he entered school. He knew his ABC's, 123's, colors, shapes, and his address before he started kindergarten. His pre-school teacher expressed concerns of him getting bored in public school. He began kindergarten on a good note, he had a wonderful teacher and eagerly looked forward to spending his mornings in class. About six months into the year, our world turned upside down. His behavior changed radically, he was constantly disruptive to his classmates and he never completed his assignments. He was ridiculed and was called names like pest and monster. He would come home feeling frustrated and angry. We began counseling and it was then that he was diagnosed with AD/HD. With the help of his counselor, teacher and a lot of research, we learned about this disorder and how to live with it. We have our good days and our bad days; the bad days can be unbearable at times, but the good days are filled with creativity and a genuine love of learning. Let us hear from Justin himself now.

Q. Justin, what does AD/HD mean to you?

A. It's a disability, like when someone can't walk and is in a wheel chair. Only with AD/HD not being able to walk isn't the problem, it's not being able to control yourself sometimes.

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