The Benefits of Concerta: Three Children on ADHD Medication and Life is Great

When I was 18, I saw myself in the future living in a beautiful home, married to my very handsome husband with 2 gorgeous and talented children.

More than 20 years later, let's check the success of those plans.

I am still living, so that one worked.

My house is beautiful (since beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and, even better, is warm in the winter, large enough for me to escape to a quiet corner and never much more than tidy. I'd say I was 3/4 successful on that one.

The handsome husband becomes more handsome when he picks up his own dirty socks and makes it home for dinner at least a couple of times a week, so let's put this almost into the win column.

Lastly, for the couple of beautiful children, I scored brilliantly. We have 6 amazing kids (a couple more than a few) and their talents never seem to amaze me.

I'd say I have the perfect life, but 10 years ago, I felt doubt and fear. I had just given birth to our 4th child whenour 3rd child was diagnosed with autism. Life became complicated.

Thank God I didn't have time to wallow in a vat of self-pity because I was a fighter. I took classes, read every book ever written and knew as much about this disorder as any doctor.

My beautiful boy entered a full-time program and progressed but his progress was not what it could have been. As is legally required by public schools, their suggestions involved behavior modification techniques and those were only taking us so far. The last book I picked up dealt with pharmacological solutions to different disorders and ailments.

Up until this point, I had vehemently believed that the use of medications was something for the weak-minded and unimaginative or lazy parent. I thought I could create an environment in which my son could thrive and life would be great.

Guess what? Life wasn't great. He could not find success in any environment and our frustration level was as high as his. He was in 1st grade at school and I was finally ready to consider chemical intervention.