Good Morning?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 9:26AM While we're on the subject of God, let's mention His sense of humor.
For instance, it is completely hilarious that a morning-hater like myself gave birth to a boy who not only bounces cheerfully out of bed before 7 each morning but is also extremely hyperactive.
(Note: I have Hayden's permission to post occasionally about his ADHD in the interest of bonding with other mothers and children who live the ADHD life. Plus, he thinks he is funny.)
Judge if you will, but we treat Hayden's ADHD with medication. He has responded really well to it and it makes a tremendous difference in his day. But it takes about 45 minutes after he takes it to kick in.
45 really long, loud, boisterous minutes.
45 minutes first thing in the morning.
I get up a half an hour before he does on purpose so that I can shower and get some coffee in my system before we have to deal with each other. Reagan, also a non-morning person, schedules her breakfast so that she doesn't have to meet up with her brother. Faith the lucky-duck gets up after he has eaten.
So it is just Hayden and me. Mano a mano. Head to head.
This is how it goes:
Me: Good morning Hayden.
Hayden: Hi. Hey, I don't think I should have to go to school today.
Me: You are going to school. Take your pills.
Hayden: Yep. Hey Mom? Mom? Mom?
Me: What?
Hayden: Hey Mom, what is the longest that anyone has ever held their breath?
Me: I don't know. Take your pills.
Hayden: Yeah, I will. (he heads for the cabinet) Hey Mom? Mom? Mom?
Me: Take your pills
Hayden: I'm getting them. But Mom?
Me: What?!
Hayden: Do you think I could set the world record for holding my breath?
Me: I don't know. Take your pills.
Hayden rummages around for a few minutes, banging doors, clanking dishes and swinging the milk carton.
Me: Do NOT swing the milk carton. The top is going to come off and milk will fly everywhere.
Hayden: Okay. Hey Mom?
Me: What Hayden?
Hayden: What is your favorite movie?
Me: I don't have one. Did you take your pills?
Hayden: Um . . . . I think so. Wait! No. Yes? Um, let me think.
Me: Grrrrrrrrr.
Hayden: No! No I didn't. I'll take them now.
I watch intently while he swallows. He then tips back in his chair, puts his feet on the table and starts on his cereal.
Hayden: Hey Mom? Mom? Mom?
Me: Hayden. Eat your breakfast.
Hayden: I am. But Mom?
Me: WHAT?
Hayden: If you did have a favorite movie, what would it be?
Me: Stop tilting in your chair and eat your breakfast. You have to get ready for school.
Hayden: Okay. But Mom? The movie?
Me: Hayden, I don't get to go to the movies. I haven't since you all were born. I have no idea what my favorite would be. Now get moving.
Hayden: I am. Mom? Mom? Mom?
Me: (through gritted teeth) What Hayden?
Hayden: Mom, can you balance your spoon like this? Oh and can you bring home rubber bands today?
Me: Hayden. I love you. Now stop talking.
Hayden: But Mom . . .
Me: I mean it. Stop. Now.
And then he finishes eating, goes upstairs as noisily as possible in the hopes of waking Faith up and gets in the shower. By the time he's dressed and ready for school he has dialed back to a reasonable level and we make up. Until tomorrow. When we do it all again.
Reader Comments (13)
He was moving! HIs mouth that is.
I'm not a morning person either. My kids get up before 7 am every single morning. All three of them. I fight with myself every morning about getting out of bed. To the point where I've actually made them late for school. Ooops.
I need pills too. Caffeine pills that is.
I think I just got hives thinking about this situation . . .
Baha! I am not a morning person & I can so relate to this post! I have 2 boys who do the very same thing! I'll have to come back later & read more. :)
Oh, & I found you thru @screweduptexan. I'm another screweduptexan, but I don't admit it. Ü
Holy crap that is SOOOO funny!!!!! My girls have to be reminded to take breaths sometimes, they simply won't stop TALKING - I have told them there are times I have been locked up in the car with the both of them I have wanted to drive straight into a wall to make it stop!!! Just STOP talking, please for the LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY.... One is 18 and the other one is 7 so I get a lot of "like" "can we" "I wanna" "so stupid" "whatever" - you know the drama of it all. Then the poor 14 year old angel of a boy, just quietly takes it all...
Oh, you definitely need coffee first!!! Ha! He sounds like a sweetie!
He IS a sweetie and I adore every word! But I'm not a morning person either and perhaps
I would see him a tad differently if it was a daily deal.
Grandma
That is funny, but it would drive me bonkers...I do not like talking in the morning. I don't do it, I don't want to hear it. I remember in high school my mom wanted me to get up with her and fix her hair (I did the curling iron...it was the eighties after all) and she would ask me questions about my day or my homework or boys or whatever and I would be like,"Mom! I can't talk yet. I don't have my contacts in!" I'm still that way. I wear my glasses all day though, sometimes...those are quiet days. :)
I have a student with ADHD. She's 11 and also takes pills. But they make no effect. This girl can't be sitting for an hour: she stands up, jumps, throws her pencil, starts singing, or interrupts me every 5 minutes to tell me whatever crosses her mind. And all I can do is to take a deep breath, and think to myself "Be patient".
OH my, oh my I am so not a morning person either I need a good 30 minutes just to think. Funny how God works. I had a kid in class with me that was like that on days he forgot his medicine nothing was done, because he literally couldn't sit still or keep quite long enough, we loved it!
Thanks for sharing that. Our adopted son has ADHD and the scenario is quite similar, thank goodness the time between wake up and go to school is only 25 to 30 minutes.... they eat breakfast at school and only have to walk a block to get there so by 8 the meds have kicked in for the teacher. Occasionally he forgets (actually, he almost nearly never remembers) and tries to convince me, between bouncing between the walls, that he has already taken them. I appreciate you sharing it because it helps me be more patient with him and not get irritated with the little annoyances.
As a special education teacher, I can truly appreciate what you go through each morning. I have students I also go through that with on a daily basis. When I get frustrated, I just try to empathize with the parents, knowing I have their child for an hour a day. What patience God must have blessed you with!
Phew! I'm exhausted just reading this exchange. I have my own special brand of 'annoying' jumping around me in circles every morning so I can relate a tad bit. =)
Mindy
www.thesuburbanlife.com
I know too well your pain. My kids, who are (somehow) grown now and in their 20's were all three ADHD, and NONE of them were medicated... We tried with my son, but he was such a zombie with any meds they put him on we stopped trying... we have since discovered that he also has Narcolepsy (sleeping disorder) and that was why the meds never worked.
I remember the days of trying very hard through gritted teeth to nicely tell them that if they did not shut up, their very next word, just might be their very last word.
It was certainly an adventure raising them, and now I can look at each of them and smile with the satisfaction that even with all the 'mistakes' along the way, they survived, and have turned out pretty well! Thanks for sharing this little slice of life -- it brings back very fond memories!