I have a very bright 7 YO DD with ADHD (professionally diagnosed, not just my gut feeling or teacher's opinion). Actual diagnosis is still pretty new (about 3 months) and we are treating with medication, which we are still experimenting with to find the right option. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with my dilemma though.
I'm struggling with what are "reasonable" behavior expectations for her and how to handle things that aren't going well. One continuing issue for us has been jumping on the couch. She has done this since before she could walk, and it was OK when she was really little (say, younger than 3). But now she's 7 and its seriously damaging the couch and since she's graduated from simple jumps to front flips, I'm increasingly worried about her safety (though she's never actually hurt herself much). She is enrolled in a 2x/wk gymnastics class (where she excels) and gets sports at school daily, as well as afternoon outdoor playtime. So she isn't lacking in exercise. The minute she comes in to watch TV (generally right before or after dinner), she starts bouncing on the couch. I ask her to stop -- she does, for about 2 minutes. I ask her to move off of the couch -- she does, for about 2 minutes. I would ask her to turn of the TV but that would seem to punish 10 YO DS at the same time as he's peacefully sitting on the couch watching the show and getting annoyed at her disruption. I don't really want to send her out of the room because that seems like isolating her and she's a very social creature. I have on occasion removed the couch to the garage for a week or so. No change in her once its back but a pain for the rest of us while its gone. We've tried a small trampoline but that's not really safe anymore either and it starts a new game of bounce from tramp to couch and back again.
I get that she has trouble sitting still. I get that she has trouble controlling impulses. But how do I balance this with a desire for furniture that is comfortable for the rest of us to use, not broken to bits? How much of a pass do I give her due to the ADHD? Is that even a factor?
And why is it always the little things that drive us (parents) nuts? I mean, I can see that this is a small silly problem. But it still bugs me.
I'm struggling with what are "reasonable" behavior expectations for her and how to handle things that aren't going well. One continuing issue for us has been jumping on the couch. She has done this since before she could walk, and it was OK when she was really little (say, younger than 3). But now she's 7 and its seriously damaging the couch and since she's graduated from simple jumps to front flips, I'm increasingly worried about her safety (though she's never actually hurt herself much). She is enrolled in a 2x/wk gymnastics class (where she excels) and gets sports at school daily, as well as afternoon outdoor playtime. So she isn't lacking in exercise. The minute she comes in to watch TV (generally right before or after dinner), she starts bouncing on the couch. I ask her to stop -- she does, for about 2 minutes. I ask her to move off of the couch -- she does, for about 2 minutes. I would ask her to turn of the TV but that would seem to punish 10 YO DS at the same time as he's peacefully sitting on the couch watching the show and getting annoyed at her disruption. I don't really want to send her out of the room because that seems like isolating her and she's a very social creature. I have on occasion removed the couch to the garage for a week or so. No change in her once its back but a pain for the rest of us while its gone. We've tried a small trampoline but that's not really safe anymore either and it starts a new game of bounce from tramp to couch and back again.
I get that she has trouble sitting still. I get that she has trouble controlling impulses. But how do I balance this with a desire for furniture that is comfortable for the rest of us to use, not broken to bits? How much of a pass do I give her due to the ADHD? Is that even a factor?
And why is it always the little things that drive us (parents) nuts? I mean, I can see that this is a small silly problem. But it still bugs me.
