What I wish everyone knew .... Continued

After I posted the "What I wish people knew" post on Facebook, I wanted to keep a few more of my comments as they contained more information.

Both my boys are in fact medicated.

The notion that Ritalin is an evil drug is based on someone we know who had a friend whose child was on it.... bottom line is, like any medication, we don't know if it will work.

Medicating any child is always a difficult decision, one my husband and I did not make lightly, but I'm very glad we did. My son now has the opportunity at a normal childhood and a normal education.

Please be careful and aware that generalised comments about the choices parents make for their own children is what led to me writing the above to begin with. Both my boys are calm, loving boys with truckloads of patience. They know and feel that they are loved and safe. They also understand that their brains don't process information the way it should and that the medication is what assists with this. Medication is very strictly controlled with monthly paediatrician visits to check their height, weight, BP and heart... believe me, the decision to medicate was the last resort for us.

While I really do appreciate the wonderful comments (thank you) my post wasn't a "toot my own horn" - We've been doing all of this for more than 3 years now so its all just a part of our lives. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there are such narrow minded people out there who really have no clue - as I pointed out above, people are so quick to make snap judgements based on incorrect information or personal opinion information they get from people around them instead of realising that each situation is unique and different.

I guess we could lliken this situation to that of the diet industry - the Paleo diet, the atkins diet etc - everyone will have an opinion of each of these either based on personal experience or hearsay - at the end of the day we each choose and do what suits us best - we shouldn't have to wear a scarlet letter for our choices because someone doesn't agree. Thanks again everyone, its nice to know people are willing to take 10 minutes out of their day to read something that is raw and real and me and appreciate the message I'm putting out there.