an interview with:
Sarah Eckert
ADHD child(ren):
Bekah, age 10, 4th grade
Bekah, age 10, 4th grade
NON-ADHD child(ren):
Conner, age 7, 1st grade
Conner, age 7, 1st grade
Who are you?
I am a working mom (part-time). I married my high school sweetheart 2 1/2 years ago. I have only good memories of my childhood. I grew up on a small farm with two sisters, one older and one younger. My parents were involved in all of our activities.
Describe your ADHD child using only ONE word: loving
What about your life makes your ADHD story uniquely yours?
Bekah's dad & I adopted her as an infant and then he and I divorced when she was six years old. Bekah's dad lives in the same small town as we do so she is blessed to have three active parents in her life. She is also blessed in that we are in close contact with her birth family. So we are able to know her family medical history.
How did your ADHD child come to be diagnosed?
When she turned five it was as if a light switch was thrown and my ''lovey, dovey - easy going child'' turned into a tempermental child who didn't sleep a whole night through for a solid year. After about a year of going from doctor to doctor we finally were given the diagnosis of ADHD (much better than the original possible diagnosis of Early Onset Bi-Polar Disorder).
What are your ADHD child’s strengths/gifts/talents? Weaknesses? Obsessions?
Fourth grade has been a little bit of a difficult year for Bekah. Academically it's been harder and her grades have slipped a little. Socially it gets harder for her every year and that is my real concern for her right now. She is a highly-sensitive, compassionate child which is a plus, but also at times works against her. Her nervous habit is constantly having her fingers in her mouth and biting at the skin around her fingernails.
What sports or extra-curricular activities does your child participate in successfully?
Bekah was is competitive cheerleading for two years and really excelled but unfortunately, because of the cost, we had to pull her out. She has played softball the past two summers and really enjoys that, though at times she has trouble focusing and remembering all the rules. She is currently playing YMCA league basketball and likes that but she has struggled with the fast pace of the game. She is taking Jazz/Dance lessons right now too and that's great for working off some of that extra energy!
What strategies do you employ to cope with ADHD?
If you could give one piece of advice to a parent of an ADHD child just diagnosed, what would it be?
Allow your child to be who he/she is. Don't put more stress on them by trying to make them conform to what you think is "normal."
If you could have a free 60-second spot on a public broadcast station, what would you share, show, say?
Kids with ADHD are misunderstood and often unfairly judged. Teachers need to be educated on the disorder and implement ideas/strategies to help the ADHD child succeed at school!
Does your child take medication to manage their ADHD? Is so, what medication and at what dosage? How does it work for them? What side effects do you see?
Strattera 80 mg in AM and 10 mg in PM
Risperdal 1 mg in PM
Lamictal 25 mg in AM and PM
Risperdal 1 mg in PM
Lamictal 25 mg in AM and PM
Does your child attend public school or a special school? Does he or she have an IEP or a 504 Plan? What kind of accommodations do they receive?
Public school. Bekah's psychologist recommended that we begin to implement an IEP this year but so far the school doesn't think it's necessary. We are working in close contact with the teachers but if things do not improve quickly we will be pursuing an IEP.
What else would you like to share with other parents on this similar journey?
I love this forum and am so thankful that we can share ideas here. It's nice to know that my Bekah is not alone in this journey.
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