Will's Journey: Part I

I've always known that Will was special.  Not like in the way that a parent believes their child is special.  No, I've always thought that Will was "change the world" special.  Okay, maybe not that special, but special nonetheless.  When everything started declining in his fourth grade year, I pulled up my big girl mommy panties and told Will the way it was going to be.  The way it was going to be was that he was going to do what I said.  The only thing that he didn't have to do was have a smile on his face while doing it.  Imagine my surprise when my angel turned into a devil.  Homework sessions that should be fifteen minutes turned into two hours.  There was homework missing, lying, crying.  It wasn't a simple case of laziness.  That's what I contributed it to at first.  That's why it wasn't until May that the light bulb went off.  Lets get Will tested for ADD. 

By the time we got the testing started, it was already mid-July.  Not exactly an ideal time for testing when most of his problems stem from being in school.  After I discussed my concerns with the psychologist, I was convinced that it wouldn't matter enough to change the result.  Will either had ADD or he didn't.  I didn't tell anyone about the testing except for my sister and my best friend.  I wasn't one of those mom's that was looking to throw medication at a problem.  Will was not (and is not) a problem to me.  I felt that there was a problem that needed to be addressed before it was out of my control. 

We got the official results on September 1st.  Will has ADHD (inattentive type).  They don't differentiate with ADHD and ADD anymore.  They clarify with inattentive or hyperactive.  Will is by no means hyperactive.  That is laughable and anyone that knows Will is probably smiling at the thought.  It changed everything and nothing for our family.  It changed everything because Will has to try harder.  I have to work harder to make sure I'm attentive to his needs.  If he needs help, I have to see it almost before he does.  I walked out of the office that day and I was in tears before I got to my car.  All I kept thinking was of how hard it was going to be.  I kept forgetting that it might have been hard with a kid within the normal boundaries of ADHD.  Will isn't normal.  He's special.  We've already had our ups and downs.  We'll continue to have them.  I still cry, but it's less now.

Will wasn't with us on September 1st.  We took him back the following week so the psychologist could explain the results to him.  When it was explained to him, he said "I already know that homework is hard for me".  All that was missing was a "duh" at the end of his sentence.

I love that kid.