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My son is very sweet and he has ADHD. He gets to do most of what he wants because our life is so hard. The only issue with his freedom is that sometimes he goes to far. For esample, yesterday, he could have gotten run over when he ran after the Ice Cream Truck. He would not listen to myself or anyone else, and he just kept running.
It is difficult to ground him because he doesn't have that much to do.
Our church attendance somehat hinges also upon how R. feels and how I feel. And I have often felt like I am one of thosem others who doesn't let him play enough with his friends in the neighborhood, so some Sundays or Wednesdays, I allow him to play with his friends.
But also I don't think that he listens to me and he takes my illness as a "green light" to do whatever he wants.
I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Answers?
It is difficult to ground him because he doesn't have that much to do.
Our church attendance somehat hinges also upon how R. feels and how I feel. And I have often felt like I am one of thosem others who doesn't let him play enough with his friends in the neighborhood, so some Sundays or Wednesdays, I allow him to play with his friends.
But also I don't think that he listens to me and he takes my illness as a "green light" to do whatever he wants.
I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Answers?
As far as him listening to you..I don't know. I am in therapy for parenting my daughter and she is therapy as well. I get support that way since I am her mother and father due to her father living in another state and not participating in her life. Maybe therapy would help for you too. Or a support group for parenting.
Hang in there and wish you the best with all this.
I do, however, believe in discipline.
My son's autistic and if he ran into traffic, punishing him for it would be ridiculous. He wouldn't 'learn' anything from it and it would only serve to make him unhappy and puzzled.
I don't know if your son should have 'known better' or if his behavior was just a symptom of his ADHD.
And I don't know if grounding him would be a good thing to do or not help at all and just make him feel bad.
Can you get any kind of 'therapy' for either or maybe both of you?
Not the kind of therapy that addresses 'dysfunction' but rather therapy that just takes place to dope out the best ways to handle these kind of situations, where you have to question both yourself and your son's motives and capabilities, given your 'mental challenges'.
if that's not an option, have you read up on every book you can find about dealing with a child who has ADHD?
Maybe you'll find some helpful tips there!!!
Are there any good online support groups for parents of kids with ADHD? Other parents who deal with the same things might have some good solutions for your and your son!!!!
One thing popped out to me, though.
Groundings aside, maybe you can put on your thinking cap and come up with more things for him to do, when he IS at home!!
It is a tough place you are at, but I think tommy is right on too, in saying that what your son did is not all that different than what a 'normal' kid might do!!!
The questions you are struggling with are ones that every decent parent asks themselves!!!!
You just have a couple extra considerations because of Bipolar Disorder and ADHD.
Good luck to both of you!!!
Sounds to me like you're being a good mom!!!!
(((((Hugs)))))