How Do You Know If Your Child Has ADHD?

This question has been occupying our minds for some time now.  One thing we love about Anna is her boundless enthusiasm and energy. But at some point, we've noticed that she seems to have a LOT of energy, and restlessness as well. Like way more than that of an average preschooler.

One reason we've probably seen this increase is that, at our pediatrician's recommendation, we've started giving her melatonin at bedtime to help her relax. It's been a true godsend to have drastically shortened the bedtime routine and made it way easier. But the flip side is that, now that Anna's getting a full night's sleep on a consistent basis, we are seeing her at maximum energy capacity during the day. And it's simply astounding.

But we're not just talking about energy. It's also the ease with which she becomes distracted, the length of time it takes her to finish a meal because she's constantly up and down from the table, her rapid movement from activity to activity without finishing prior activities, her incredible restlessness even when she IS focused on a task....you get the picture.

No More Distraction

Distraction is inevitable....to some extent. Ours is a fast-paced world that prizes productivity and multitasking, so finding ourselves distracted at times from the task at hand is unavoidable.

Except when it comes to our kids, that is.

You see, the kind of distraction I'm talking about is the technology-induced, smart phone-related kind. It's the temptation we all seem to have (yes, myself included) to check our Facebook account or e-mail or text messages with an often ridiculous frequency. Let's face it, there's probably nothing new from your last check-in a minute ago.

And, more importantly, while you're reading notifications and status updates and junk e-mail messages, your kids are there, waiting for your undivided attention.

Do they get it?

Other than for picture taking, we really don't need phones at the beach...

20 Children: Happy Family, or Just Plain Crazy?

As many of you have probably read by now, the Duggar family is expecting child number 20.  This is the couple whose lives are featured in the TLC program, "19 Kids and Counting."  Except now they are adding to their already large brood.  Please check out the article (which features interesting statistics like number of diapers changed) here.

I saw this article posted on Facebook yesterday and the lively comments that followed the post got me wondering what MLWP readers would think about this.  Is this amazingly expansive family a wonderful thing? Or is 20 kids too many?  Who is to say how many is too many? Ordinarily, I'd probably be of the view that it's nobody's business, but if you're going to chronicle your life on a TV show, some of that is just to be expected.

Photo from huffingtonpost.com

The views I read yesterday ranged from thinking it's wonderful because they seem to do a good job raising the kids and they're not expecting outside help, to thinking it's nuts because it would be nearly impossible to ensure that each of the kids receive enough quality time with mom and dad. I'm sure there's more to it than this, and I'd love to hear from YOU.  So please read about it and weigh in on the blog!