My daughter Kimmy just turned 13 on Saturday. She is a wonderful kid. Free spirited and very artistic in so many ways.

Kimmy was dx'd with ADHD at age 5. We started her on Strattera in December of 02. She was like a different child after taking this medication. She was attentive, alert and even surpassed the teachers and my expectations in school. It was a complete turn around for her. At the end of the last school year, June of 04 she asked if she could stop taking her Strattera because she wanted to be a "normal" kid. I told her no because the medication has helped her so much. She persisted and persisted and we went to the Dr and we made a compromise. During the summer months we would take her off the Strattera and see how she does.

To my suprise, she did pretty well. She was able to stay on task with alot of things. The only noticable thing was her twitching and rocking. Other then that, pretty normal. As school approached I was going to refill the Strattera before school and before our move to TX because our health insurance was only until the end of July.

Now she has started school, in a brand new place and is doing horrible. She is extremely disorganized and she said she can not think clearly. I feel like a horrible mom because its my fault that I even allowed her to end her medication in the first place. I should have stuck to my gut feeling and said NO, NO, NO. But I didnt. I gave her what she wanted instead of what she needed and as a mother, I should have known better.

I have emailed her counsellor at school and explained the situation. The thing is, here in TX they do not consider ADHD a disablility as they did in VA. She also has some developmental delays. The school is still waiting on records from her last school so i am hoping that after they receive those, she will be eligible for services.

I feel so bad that I have done this to her. It's 11 pm right now and that poor girl is sitting at the hotel table doing work that she should have done last week. She had crumbled it up so I wouldnt see it. She is extremely frustrated with herself. i am frustrated to. I am angry at me and at her. I'm so stupid.