CLARIFICATION
Ok, I would like to clarify since I have gotten lots of feedback and questions regarding yesterday's post.
I am seeking out a counselor not so I can determine whither or not Lane has ADHD but to help me understand why his behavior is what it is. I would rather do this now instead of in like 4 years.
His may behavior may be normal for a 3 year old, if so, great, then I want some guidance on how to handle certain situations better. I want to know if I am disciplining him appropriately. Who knows, maybe I don't and therefore confuse him more when it comes to right vs. wrong or what the consequences may be.
Maybe he is just dealing with all the life changes he's gone through or stresses that are beyond what he can comprehend so he deals with them by acting out (out of rage/angry/frustration/trying for attention/etc).....his grandpa died, we moved out of the house we shared with his dad, his dad was on drugs (and therefore who knows what he was subjected to), his dad has anger issues (again, who knows what he was subjected to), his dad stopped seeing him, his dad moved, he has a new male role model and that role model now lives with us - who Lane is still learning about and getting to know. So yeah, he has gone through more then most 3 year olds. And if those are the reasons he is the way he is, then yes, I would like to know that rather then letting these issues manifest and end up raising a the type of kid you see on a talk show like "My kid is out of control, help me send him to bootcamp" or some crap like that.
Or he may have a hearing loss for all I know and its not so much as he's ignoring me, but he can't hear me. I was born with a 25% hearing loss in both ears and for the longest time my parents thought I was ignoring them or that I had a speech impediment because I would pronounce certain words/sounds wrong. But it was just cause that I was miss hearing them...they didn't know I had a hearing loss until I was in 2nd grade! And its not cause they clued in, its because we had a hearing test at school (you know, the mini bus converted to a sound booth and say words into headphones and you say them back or press the button when you hear the tones). I've seen lots of kids go through this and its almost like its takes so long because the parents are in denial or think its just a phase.
I am not sitting here saying he has an issue so I can sedate him or anything of the sort. I want to know whats up. If its nothing to worry about, FANTASTIC, if there is some underlining reason then I want to know so it can be dealt with accordingly and appropriately. If it turns out he does need medication, like I said yesterday, I have no intention of starting them until he is well into school and if there is an issue with focusing in school or learning. And if at all possible I will try alternative methods, like learning to deal with certain situations differently in a way that Lane understands.
As for Lane needing to burn off his energy....this is why I am concerned: He does daily activities, he goes to the park with the daycare kids at least twice a week and jumps on the daycare lady's giant trampoline on a daily basis, not to mention typical running around with the other kids. Then when he is home, I take him to the park (he walks there and back) at least 2 or 3 times a week for an hour as well. It's like he's on a constant sugar high, which is doubtful since I am ANAL about how much sugar he gets - I even delute his juice to: 50/50 water/juice. It almost seems like if he gets wound up he can't unwind. If thats the case, I want to know that....
ADD/ADHD is a very controversial topic and thats why I am not rushing to say thats whats up with Lane. I don't know if I even believe that there is such a thing. I've been researching thats all. Did you know they even have classified kids who don't listen to their parents with ODD - Oppisional Defiance Disorder. Yeah. My niece was diagnosed with that (in addition to bipolar)...go google that. But I really do worry that it is more of a ME issue then a Lane issue, mostly because he hits me but no one else or talks back to just me. Anyone who watches Lane for me says they would love to have him over, any day, any time because he is "sooo good." And don't get me wrong he is a GREAT, wonderful, fantastic kid but I just want to make sure everything is...well..."normal."
*sigh*