Thank you Shari and cindergretta !! I pulled him out 5 weeks before the last school year ended. We are doing a very watered down Abeka/DVD. After one week he was tired of the DVD's. Right now we are just trying to do math,language, and spelling/vocab. We also do a very simple Spectrum science. Most days we have not been able to complete that little bit of work. I am trying to balance my task oriented mentality with his ADD/ADHD. It has not been a very good mix. My fear has been that he will get behind to the point that I am unable to get him caught up. Again, I appreciate your comments, encouragement, and support. You folks have been such a blessing to me!!! It certainly helps to know that there are others out there making it happen. Lisa Diane

Thank you: Katie Jo Karen Anne Momto2Ns Lisaroe

I so much appreciate all of your comments and advice. Some of the things mentioned I have thought about, and others had not even crossed my mind. Thank you so much for your encouragement to hang in there. We brought ds home from public school because of bullying issues at school. We felt as if he had enough stress to deal with at home ( husband is a brittle diabetic, and 17 year old daughter has cerebral palsy and in a power wheelchair.) The diabetes and cerebral palsy can not be changed, but we could at least remove him from the stress he was experiencing at school. I had no idea that we would discover problems. My focus was going to be counseling for his anxiety about his sister and dad, and teaching him some social skills, which he seemed to be lagging behind in a bit. Considering that his sister has required so much of our attention, I thought that we must have dropped the ball with teaching him some basic social skills. We have a 2nd appointment tomorrow with a psychologist. Also, he meets with his very sweet counselor this week. We will start a different medication Tuesday. Can't remember the name of it. Thank you all again for your support and encouragement. I appreciate it more than you know. I hope that each of you have a blessed week. Lisa Diane

I am new to homeschooling and I am ready to give it up. DS is 11 with something going on... not sure what (possibly ADD). He can focus on anything except for school work. This is driving me crazy!! I mean crazy!! We have been trying to get one page done for 2 hours. I unfortunately lost my temper and sent him to his room. Does this stuff every get better?. We were on focalin xr for 3 days and he had dizziness and nausea for the entire time. I have put a call in to the Dr. I just want to send him back to school and forget this. I really do know that is probably not a good option, but it sure does feel good to think about it. How he managed to fly under the radar with this throughout the entire school year I will never know. I am just tired and very frustrated with life right now.

HAS ANYONE EXPERIENCED DIZZINESS WITH FOCALIN XR MEDICATION? My son has been on this medication for 3 days. He has complained of feeling bad ( he gets red faced etc. ) He has also complained of being dizzy. I noticed that dizziness is a possible side effect. Has anyone experienced that, and how long did it take for dizziness to go away. Is this an indication that we should switch medications?

Whew!!!! It is tough being a parent... especially when your child has special needs. Since homeschooling my 11 yr old son, (which this is our first year) I have discovered his inability to concentrate. Last school year he usually finished his homework before he got home from school.... so this is a shock for me. He thinks he has ADD, and I am beginning to believe him. I consider it a good day if I can get 1 hour of consistent concentration out of him. Today was a total waste..... I finally gave up. I feel as if we beat our heads against a brick wall all day!!!!! This is so exhausting. At this rate we will never finish 6th grade. I called the doctor today. We started on focalin XR 10 mg every morning for 4 days, and then 20 mg every morning after day four. Has anyone had any experience with focalin XR? I am at my wits end. I hate to do the medication thing, but I really don't know what else to do.

I am so sorry!! I am new to home schooling and also struggling. It is a hard job!!! Be kind to yourself.

I am concerned that my 11 year old son has ADD or some other ?? something going on, maybe a high functioning form of ashberger's ( not sure how to spell). I am a new home school mom. My son has alot of stress issues ( my husband is a brittle diabetic,and my 17 year old daughter has cerebral palsy and is in a power wheelchair). He often says, " I don't get any attention, my sister gets it all." He has alot of trouble concentrating. I was feeling very tired today and decided to let him do something a little different, and easier I might add. I really thought he would enjoy a change of pace, but what I discovered was that it just ended up being a very unproductive day. Has anyone out there noticed anything along those lines with their ADD child? Do they like consistency? He has not been diagnosed yet but he for sure has at least 75% of the symptoms.

Hello Everyone, I am new to these boards, and I am a new home school mom to my 11 year old son.:confused: We are seeing a child psychologist Thursday. I am concerned that he has some attention issues. He has many of the symptoms listed under ADD and (? Ashberger) ... can't remember how to spell it. I have been reading some of the posts and you folks give out some great advice. I am so glad that a friend of mine recommended these boards. Any other advice that you have for a new home school mom would be greatly appreciated. We are doing a very watered down version of Abeka. He is having so much trouble focusing, and managing his anxiety that I had to eliminate some of it for now. Accepting further advice! Thank you all so much!!!