Formerly ava grace

Okay, it's late and I should be either sleeping or meal planning, but that first attempt of an intro was way too short...lol!

I started on Hearts in 2005 when my daughter was my foster daughter. Most of you remember we adopted her when she was 1 1/2 years old. She is now 10. I used to call her Lil D on the board quite often.

I've been married for 13 years.

I am a stay at home mom. My dd has some special needs that are mild to moderate, and it often keeps me quite occupied while having a husband who works long night shifts.

Two months ago I started a new volunteer adventure. I wasn't looking to do it, it was asked of me. Quite honestly, it was waaaaay out of my comfort zone but with dh's encouragement and prayer, I decided to try it. I am a tutor at my dd's school and I tutor dyslexic kids, taking them through a Reading and Spelling program specifically for dyslexic kids and/or adults. It has been a huge blessing, and I love to watch my student build her skills. My dd is in the same program, as she has been unofficially diagnosed with moderate dyslexia. I don't tutor her, though- at least not at school- she'd be way too comfortable with me as her tutor! I did tutor her at home a couple times though, when she missed her sessions at school due to being absent.

I was diagnosed with adult adhd 10 years ago. I had it all through my growing up years, it just went undiagnosed. It isn't the funnest thing to deal with as a homemaker, but I am very blessed in that there are many things I understand about my dd due to having issues of my own. I truly understand her in a special way.

I have one dog, a Labrador Retriever, and one cat. I am passionate about all of God's creatures- wild ones and pet ones.

Dec 7, 2014 15:20:36 GMT -5 2lplvr said:

Were you diagnosed by your PCP?

Yes. Actually by three different professionals- a therapist, PCP, and the person who studied the MRI of my brain. I had an MRI to rule out MS. It ruled out MS, but detected something else going on which totally explains ADHD.

I was the kid growing up in the 80s who was distracted, had problems with reading retention, took the easy way out rather than working to my full potential, waited until the last three days to complete a project I'd been given three weeks to complete, was very impulsive, difficulty with self-control (I didn't respond, I reacted), constantly losing important stuff.

As an adult it became very noticeable when I was no longer working in environments that were already structured for me, and didn't involve physical tasks (plant nursery, grocery store), but mental ones (banking- paperwork, deadlines, keeping track of things). Constantly losing stuff, difficulty keeping up on housework. Many failed relationships before meeting dh, that were full of drama from both me and the guy.

Dec 7, 2014 21:20:36 GMT -5 2lplvr said:

My oldest son is lot like you have described. College has been a really bad experience for him because of the lack of focus. He did not have the structure of home I'm hoping we can get some answers for him soon

College was a bad experience for me as well. I went to college my senior year of high school (not the best thing for me to do) in the Running Start program. I did well in English 101 and some other English/Writing type of class, but I bombed out of Geography 101, Sociology 101 and the history and government classes I had.  I decided to take a year off, and its now been 21 years. I looked into being an Xray technician, but decided I couldn't handle bloody trauma and would never be able to maintain the required B average necessary to stay in the program. Then I had the opportunity to get a bank related degree supplemented by the bank I worked for. I thought about it, but didn't think I could handle living on my own, working full time and going to school. I had no desire to have a roommate to help with expenses (maybe not the right move, as many young people have roommates). So I didn't do that either. (Do you see a pattern here- yes I am my own worst enemy! So self-critical!) Then I met dh who was at the time 9 years into his good paying job. He made good enough money, and we had the same life goals when it came to family and child rearing. His hours were/are much too atrocious to be a household with two working people while raising a child. So there it was- my out. I didn't have to worry about this school stuff. But man was I a bit concerned in 2009 when the economy was going down the drain, and I had a hubby working in the shipping industry. I definitely took the easy way out, and thankfully it has worked out. But if I had the wisdom of 40 years of life back when I was 19, I would have made a different decision! I would have been a stay at home mom with a degree in something, in case I needed to fall back on it. I always encourage my dd to seek higher education, whether it be a trade school, 2 yr or 4 yr degree and then be a stay at home mom.

I think my dd has adhd. She has a few other things that go along with adhd- dyslexia, sensory issues, anxiety. We are having her go through a neuropsychological eval in a couple months. Then we will know for sure if she has it. A neuropsych eval is just one way to get diagnosed- in our case it is the best way given her sensory issues which are causing vertigo type symptoms. 

Given my experience, I will encourage dd to live at home if she goes to college. Though she is rather independent, she may object to that when she's a young adult!!

I can message you a couple of helpful links I use regarding adhd.