It may be time for a second opinion on ADHD or OCD or something, especially with picking at his legs to an extreme like that. You gotta push until you find a doc who will help him. There is no harm in trying meds either, to see if something works because when you find it does...whoa, what a difference! Life is so much more enjoyable for them. Believe me, I did not want to start my kids on meds, had a lot of reservations about it, but I'm so glad I agreed with their doc to try at least. My daughter was first in the line-up and when we found what worked for her it was like night and day. Now we have a girl who can enjoy being at school, actually learn, have fun and have friends. Not perfect by any means, but manageable and enjoyable.

You CAN do more than just send him to bed. Bedtime should be enforced and structured so he can learn good sleep habits. There's value in him having "wind down" time in his room, but not rambunctious play. Consider giving him a few options of quiet activities like reading a favorite book that's special just for bedtime, listening to quiet music. You can reward him for going to sleep by a certain time - make sure he has a clock in his room of course. So in room by 7p, in bed and asleep by 7:30 or 8p...? Something like that. Do that on school nights and he can earn later bed times for Fri and Sat night, or a special movie, or whatever motivates him. :-)

The bedtime routine is so important for my kids to get to sleep and sleep well. It's predictable, structured, they know what to expect and it's all part of the winding down process. Trust me when I tell you, my kids may drag their feet sometimes but there are no arguments about bedtime and they fall asleep within 20 minutes.



I'm sorry you're feeling so drained. I really do know what it's like. My kids came as foster kids, now we're adopted, and we've had no end to the challenges we've faced. It's constant and some days I feel so ill-equipped to deal, ya know? I have to maintain a support network of my own so I can have that "me" time to rest, physically and emotionally.

More than anything, make some time for yourself, too.

Hugs hugs hugs hugs and more hugs to you!