Not so fast!

[indybyathread]

I'm getting good at this! My son has ADHD in addition to his high-functioning form of autism. His psychiatrist recommended trying a new medication before school starts so we can improve his ability to stay focused in middle school. H has not been to a single appointment since S started therapy and was diagnosed with AS (ADHD was diagnosed several years ago).

When I told him about the change today he looked it up on the net and emailed me all of the side effects and negative things that could happen from taking this particular drug. My first thought was, "Oh, now you want to be involved? You take him to the shrink every two weeks if you don't trust my judgement!" I did not do that. I carefully responded that his concerns were valid and asked if we could talk after work.

When we spoke on the phone after he left his office I said that he seemed to have reservations and I didn't want him to feel like I was unilaterally making such an important decision without his input. He said that he appreciated that but that he just wanted to make sure that we had considered all of the potential issues and were careful to keep a watchful eye on him.

He then added that he consulted the EA about it (her husband is a pediatrician and she works part time in his office) and that it is a commonly used drug and her H prescribes it regularly. He felt better now that she had given her opinion.

I don't know if he is so out of it that he just can't see how stupid it is to tell me something like that or if he is testing me. In any case, I did not react at all. I said nothing in response to her critique of the doctor's recommendation or his feeling that she is in any way qualified to have an opinion, just said, "OK. Well I just wanted to make sure we are on the same page. I don't want to make assumptions about something as important as this." He said he was happy I called. We wished each other a nice evening.

I hung up and kicked a laundry basket across the room! The important thing is that it was a laundry basket and not his head! In the past I would have let him have it and verbally beaten the crud out of him for being so insensitive. Look at me go!