Parents do not casually put their child on medication. It’s a tough question and usually there is a lot of advice being given to you. What is a parent to do with all the pressure?
If you are trying to make this decision with advice being offered from all sides how can you make a decision you are comfortable with? If you are able to answer the following 5 questions then you know you have thought this out and you can be comfortable with your final decision.
1. Is this behavior so severe that it is impacting your child’s life, learning, or play? This is the question that will send you to the doctor. If your child’s life, learning, or play is badly effected by their problem then you need to take action. A depressed child may stay in their room of instead of going out to play in the snow. A child with ADHD may no be able to focus even with adjusting your homeschooling to their natural behavior. I Hate Myself an article on childhood depression.
2. Have you done your homework on your doctor? You need to be sure that your doctor shares your values and beliefs about medical care. If you are a more natural leaning person than find a doctor that will guide you that route first. Steer clear of doctors that write scripts for medications just to keep the parents quiet!
3. Have you thought or tried other strategies to help deal with the issue? This can go with the last question. A good doctor can help guide you through suggestions other than straight to medications. Dietary changes can make a large difference in behavior. Working with a psychologist to reduce obsessive thoughts can be helpful. These strategies should also be looked at along with medications to teach the skills or strengthen skills that will help your child come off their medication in the future.
4. Is this a long term medication or a short term medication to stabilize your child’s mood, while you work on coping strategies? Talk with your doctor get a feel for how long your doctor thinks this medication is going to be needed. Have a plan of what things need to be in place to attempt coming back off.
5. Have you checked the side effects to this medication, and are they a safe enough trade off considering the problem? Some medications are worse than the problem. Medications should always be used with caution. I have found over the years that pharmacists are the best person to talk to about a specific medication.
Now for some great news! Homeschooling can help you when you are dealing with medications.
First you can give the medications on a rock solid schedule. You don’t have to wonder if the school nurse gave your child their meds or checked their sugar, you know!
Second you can delay or not take many medications that under other circumstances would be necessary. A child with moderate ADHD that can focus but they just do so in short intense bursts would not get along well in a middle school classroom where you need to sit for 50 minute stretches. At home they can get up walk around with a book. Sit upside down on the couch while reading or talking about a science experiment with you. Go outside and get some of the frantic energy out of their system.
Another great thing about homeschooling is you can carefully monitor your child’s diet. If you decide to try a dietary change it is important to carefully follow the diet. Homeschooling allows you to be in full control of the foods your child eats and remove completely any temptation foods. That can help a dietary change tremendously!
You have not failed as a parent if you child needs medication. Make sure you are comfortable that the decision to medicate is being done for the right reasons. Then when the peanut gallery starts giving you advice you will be able to deal with it without guilt. You know what is right for your child and have thought it carefully through.
Here are some articles that you might find interesting:
Change the food before medicating!
**This post was one of a 10 day series I did along with these other ladies.**
Be sure to visit these brilliant women in this 10 days adventure between February 7th-18th! We love these ladies and we know you do too.
10 days of socialization for mom | The Homeschool Chick 10 days of classical education | Milk & Cookies 10 days of large families | Chocolate on My Cranium 10 days of special needs | Special Needs Homeschooling 10 days of struggling learners | Homeschooling the Chaotic Family 10 days of homeschooling girls | Homegrown Mom 10 days of homeschool enrichment | Confessions of a Homeschooler 10 days of building a spiritual legacy | Mommy Missions 10 days of frugal homeschooling |The Happy Housewife 10 days of Charlotte Mason | Our Journey Westward 10 days of unschooling | Homeschooling Belle 10 days of organization | Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom 10 days of getting started | Blog, She Wrote 10 days of homeschooling boys | The Tie That Binds Us 10 days of homeschooling Montessori | Fruit in Season 10 days of preschool | Delightful Learning