I haven't posted in a while, which is because I have not had to deal with any real meltdowns or arguments from my son this summer, except one emotional day last week when I tried to enforce the daily requirement for exercise. He did not want to swim in the pool that day, nor did he want to take a walk or ride his bike alone. He finally agreed to take a walk, but only if I could provide a destination (walking six blocks then turning around and walking back is not motivating apparently). I thought back to what I have read about children with ADHD needing more tangible rewards than non-ADHD children. I finally decided we would walk together to a store that would have paper for his Language Arts project. I am hoping that next time he can walk to that store alone, get something we need in the house, and come home. (I don't plan to accompany him to the store when he is 40!)
In any case, it seems the slower pace of summer and limited homework has decreased the stress in the household. Even this week, when my son has a three hour camp in the morning and a one hour guitar lesson in the afternoon, followed by 30-45 minutes of work (Spanish or math practice/games) and a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise, he seems so much calmer than during the school year. This seems to be the pace that works for him, at least at this point in his life: some structure interrupted by frequent breaks. Not everyone needs to pause as frequently (my daughter does not seem to), but the breaks really reset and recharge my son, which is typical of the child with an ADHD brain.
I am thinking about one of my son's teachers, who told me (and my son) that my son is one of the hardest working students she knows. It is great to hear that about him, but I am sorry that he has to work that hard at the age of 12 when he has so many years of work ahead of him. During the school year, I hope he can remind himself of these lazy days of summer and know that they will come around again.
