What's Up, Doc?

 Happy May Day! Looks like winter has actually come to an end here in the frozen tundra otherwise known as Minnesota! Hard to believe that we were in the midst of a raging blizzard just a couple of weeks ago! It was such a long winter this year! After living here for almost 25 years, I can now say whole heartedly that the novelty of cold, snowy, icy weather for 4 to 5 months each year has most definitely worn off. I would so LOVE to move to a warmer climate that also is by the ocean. It's just all those pesky details like income and housing, and selling our home here, that's in less than stellar condition (and that's putting it VERY kindly). Still, if all that could be worked out, I would do it in a New York minute.

Since I seem to have many symptoms of ADD, at least according to all the online assessments, which usually put me in the moderate portion of the scale, and since it does cause some challenges for me on a fairly regular basis, I've finally decided to see my doctor to talk about the possibility of trying medication. I don't know whether or not that would be a good option, but I'd at least like to get her opinion on the matter. I can hear the naysayers chanting, "Meds are bad! Skills not pills! It's a pharmaceutical conspiracy!" So, in my mind, I have to tell them to calm down and take a chill pill, but that's probably the wrong thing to say since pills are evil, right?

For the record, I believe in skills. I don't believe in using medication as a substitute for skills, but I honestly get so tired of hearing people (usually ones who aren't dealing with ADHD in themselves or with the kids) saying that parents who put their kids on meds are lazy and looking for an easy way out instead of taking the time to teach their children "skills." OK newsflash from a mom who's oldest kid has MAJOR ADHD, you can't even begin to teach the skills if your kid can't calm down enough to focus for more than a nanosecond. The meds were never about skipping skills training with my child. All the meds did was level my playing field to be somewhat closer to "average", so she had a better chance of success with learning and applying those skills. OK now I will step down from my soapbox. Sorry, it's just one of my pet peeves.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see what my doctor has to say. Who knows? Maybe meds will make a big difference. And for any naysayers, real or imaginary, who would say that I'm foolish to even consider the pills as an option, maybe they would like to come over to my house right now and scrape out all the charred clumps of burnt rice that's bonded to the inside of my newest pot. This happened because I started to cook and totally forgot about it until that telltale aroma of burnt food attacked my nostrils and triggered my memory. I'd like to say this was the first time or even the second time this has happened, but then I'd be lying. So, at this point, I'm thinking meds might be a viable option.  Either that, or I need to look into getting a fire extinguisher.

Til next time!