ADHD / ADD Support Group

HI, I stumbled upon this site while I was looking for ideas on how to deal with my stepson. Hopefully someone out there can help!

Here is the situation:

I have inherited a very bright little boy that does well in school as long as he is engaged. He has classic symptoms of ADD/ADHD and has been diagnosed. He also has emotional trauma because his birth mother abandoned him in the divorce, has not seen him in 3 years /contacted him in 2.

My husband is in the Army and we move every so many years. The first 4 years of his education have been in Hawaii and now we live in Louisiana. The education systems are vastly different. I fought to get him enrolled at what I heard was the best possible public school in the area. This is week 3 in school and there are already glaring issues happening. I have spoken to the teacher twice about his homework and school performance. Teacher seems nice and understanding, willing to work with me. I haven't mentioned ADD/ADHD because I am trying to work with him without the meds and he keeps up in school (most of his grades are a's or b's). Last week he came home with 4 infractions, not working, talking, not following instructions and disrespect. All of which are not tolerated in our house or at the school. I got a call from the school this morning, he got an 'F' on an assignment he was supposed to turn in. This is his second 'F' and he also has 3 d's. in three weeks of school. This class is english/language arts. His math, science and social studies are all a's. I have tried everything it seems in the last few years trying to encourage communication and support him at home. It just doesn't seem to work. Ive yelled, Ive cried, I've screamed, I've hugged, I've talked. I can't seem to figure it out!! Ive envy tried to empower him to understand its HIS grades HIS future. Nothing works. His dad, my husband is not here often, he has been deployed, in school and basically just gone. The poor kid has none but me. Im at my wits end. Im angry and frustrated and trying not to give up.
Posted on 08/27/12, 12:54 pm