[mypov]

My 4yr old son sounds just like that. He is hyper, defiant, loud, aggressive, and bedtime is always so hard because he can never unwind. We too came to the conclusion he needs to be medicated and through trial and error he is on adderall in the day and melatonin to help him sleep at night. It may be the inutero exposure to cocaine but we still pursued the treatments bc if it works iit works. He is still a very- no, extremely difficult child but I have raised him since he was 4 days old and I often see in him the potential that exists. He is intelligent, creative, imaginative, sensitive and caring. I told him just yesterday he was driving me crazy and he said, "oh I'm sorry Mommy, I want you to be happy so I will stop!" He gave me a big hug and was much better for about....ten minutes!

I try to tell people (warn them) occassionally but until you meet him you just can't comprehend it. I worry about preschool this fall but hoping the structure will help him. Still, sometimes I see he is that kid that other grown ups look at and just think we must not be strict enough. That hurts because we love him so much and only thru the use of medication do others get the glimpses of what we see in him.

Its that alone that takes away the guilt of medicating him. Keep searching for the right drug in the right dose as our children do not like to feel out of control either!