Summer Time Stir Crazy

This has been one heck of a summer here in the PNW.  We’ve had a lot of rain and now we’re getting some hot days.  The boys were going stir crazy on rainy days and now it’s fun in the sun.  I’m thankful our neighborhood this summer has kids to play with.  But now you get to were the problem comes in.  Little Caden is my early riser (like his mama) he has now gotten in the habit of dressing himself (see pic to the left on one of the hottest days this is what he put on). Now this is of course after I have to send him back to him room that he has to wait until 9am to knock on someone’s door. 6am to 8am is NOT ok to bug people. He will walk across the street to play with the neighbor’s little boy (I of course watch him walk across).  Caden and the neighbor boy (who is around the same age) play great together.  That is until Cole my late sleeper (like his daddy) get’s up.  Then this is when the screaming and fights start.  Oh boy I’m telling you 3 play together is not a good thing, 2 is great but when you have 3 there is always an odd man out. 

Cole sadly is the only one in his age group so he doesn’t really fit in with the big boys and he doesn’t fit so well with the young boys.  So this causes a lovely day for me and my friend Kristen (the other mom).  We end up playing referee along with Judge and Jury.   And yes it is mostly Cole who is the troublemaker … boy wants to fit in and can be such a turd.  Next summer I may just have to pay for him to go somewhere the whole summer … UGH.  The hurt in my wallet may be worth the pain of the daily drama here.

For now I think I’ll sit back at night with a glass of wine (or two if it is a really bad day) and next week will go fast so we can go back to school and the routine of the little one playing during the day!

Cheers to you!

On the Road to a Happy Boy ....

The reason I've been so behind on emails and replies is we've been having some issues with Cole and his behavior. Cole has always been a very hyper child some doctors have said "Oh he's just a boy" some hinted to you know he may have "ADHD". We've just have gone the course, I plan lot's of activities that keep us busy and no real sitting time. We don't stay long some places since a lot of people don't know how to deal with a hyper kid. I see the stress on their faces and the need to correct him. Being his mom I of course know what to battle and want to just bear and grin.

School has been a tricky situation, PreK was half days and then daycare with a wonderful 2 ladies that adored Cole and took him under their wing so not many problems. Then on to K where one of the daycare ladies became an Aid & knew how to handle if we had problems. During both years we would hear from the teachers Cole would make noises while doing his work. They had a key system you had to turn a key if you acted up and go up and down the key system along with loosing items like recess.

Now onto 1st Grade we changed schools to another Faith Based Private school that was easier on the budget but new place and new teacher. The noises have increased and some of the behavior too. After doing a lot of research and talking to a few people and nurses I've gone on a path to what can I do to help him with being focused and his impulse control.

So we Start out with this first adventure at Super Suplements, they were very nice told me I was on the right track that this is what she even took with her Adult ADHD. The only problem with this is they were all pills. Let's say I tried hiding in PB, in Chocolate milk everything and could not get him to take them. I have learned the Bacopa is a horrible taste and taking it out of the container you CAN'T mask that flavor!!

So I headed to Marlene's Natural Foods which I found some amazing people that helped me. We started with replacing the Bacopa with MindCare Jr. in a capsule form. Well we had the same issues not good trying to hide it. So onto the Liquid form and we have a hit that can hide in juice along with the Calm Child. The powder is the Lecithin for brain function that can be added to oatmeal etc. Well I can take the taste Cole not so much, he's not in love with oatmeal for breakfast so we're still working on that.

Then on to Vitamins mom picked up the Omega-3 & I picked up the Nutri Stars. Both not BIG hits with Cole, Caden love it.

So more research and I found Focus Factor for Kids, Costco has it so called dad who has a membership to pick it up for me. And YEAH Cole loves the flavor.

Then on to my newest item that I must say I'm in love with. Nichol at Kiddies Corner Deals did a review on Homepathic products. I picked up BrightSpark that helps with the noises and I can tell you that it really has HELPED a lot. We've had a few bad days but overall I must say the noises have calmed down and so has the behavior.

So there you have our adventure in a Happy Boy, I hope I could say we've found the magic thing we haven't but I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and better days that keep me sane and less screaming. It's a work in progress, I'll keep adding Cole to the prayer chain at school and know the best will come. Thankfully the new school we have a wonderful teacher that is so helpful. All teachers have said how bright Cole is and he has no trouble learning it's just getting him to sit in his seat along with not needing to be the center of attention (I wonder where he gets that from). I'm so relieved to hear that is very smart just needs help with impulse noised (aka singing, animal noises, speaking out of turn). Life teaches us many things and I'm learning as I go and I'm so happy and pleased to have this little boy in my life and I know God has a plan :).

I think I have a handle on this and will be back to my blogging commenting self soon :).

When the tough gets going ... It all falls on me?? (PINT Style)