Does anyone know any facts about putting kids on ridelin?

Question

My husband has a son who lives with his mother. Unfortunatley we can't afford a lawyer to get joint legal custody. She doesn't allow us access to his school records, wont let us talk to his teachers and rarely lets us talk to or see him. She wants to do it all on her own but doesn't see how bad it is affecting the child. My husband is a great father to his son and to our four month old here at home. He pays child support has recently secured a great job (so we can get a lawyer soon and is just overall a great catholic man! My step-sons mother just put him in counceling, he is seven by the way, because she thinks he has ADHD. She blams this on my husband as well. We recently found out she will be putting him on ridelin, I think it should not be done and so does my husband. I would like to hear the thoughts of anyone who know or has delt with this kind of situation. The boy is very active but no more than any other seven year old!! He gets great grades in school too.

Answer 1

First, though individual state laws vary, I am pretty sure as his father he can still access his educational records.  All he has to do is go to the school, show who he is and ask to see them.  They don't necessarily have to copy them for him, or they may charge for copies, but even without being the custodial parent he has rights to access his child's records.

Second:  Look up and research ADHD.  Psychiatrist are held to a medical standard and won't just start prescribing pills without some sort of need.  For some children, medication means the difference between functioning and failing in school.  

Third:  Best of luck, if your husband is truly interested in his son's life then he is a good man.  It will still be a long battle.

Answer 2

First if your husband really wants to talk to the teachers he can.  There is legal custody and physical custody and in most cases both parents have joint legal custody which simply means they both have an equal right to access all medical and educational records and to know what is what with the child.  Physical custody is who the child resides with.

Second.  As far as ritalin is concerned there are other options for medications that are not addictive which ritalin is.  Once they start taking this they will take it everyday, while others they can take during the school year only.

Third I have a child with ADHD and he does not get great grades in school without help.  If the boy is making great grades then I would say there is something else going on, he can focus in school and someone wants to drug him.

Counceling would be good for the boy if he is being used as a pawn by the mother and caught in the middle of mom and dad but a councelor should be able to see the difference between emotional issues and ADHD.  Your hubby needs to start calling to find an attorney now, go to Legal Aide and explain the circumstances and seek assistance if you have to, if he is paying support he can go through "Parent's Fair Share" and get assistance as well.  Call the school on his own and request a meeting with the teacher, same thing with the councelor.  It is his son as well and proffessionals see this and unless there is strict orders in the custody/visitation order then they will talk, they want to help the child not pacify the mother.

Answer 3

The spelling would be Ritalin. This sight has a lot of insight into the use of Ritalin.

http://www.worldandi.com/public/2000/nov...

Answer 4

My son is ADHD and has all A's in school.  Most of the time, the ADHD kids are the smartest but most socially awkward.  My son, now nine, has taken Ritalin since Kindergarten and has thrived on it.  

I suggest you get online and learn all you can about ADHD and Ritalin (and other medication options)

I also suggest trying to keep an open mind and give a lot of thought to all you learn.

Ritalin works by helping the little connectors in their brain actually make those connections.

We have found that a stringent schedule, a lot of patience and tolerance, medication, three times as much physical activity as any kid you know, and a really healthful diet are all equally essential to his sucess.  If we don't balance them all well he doesn't do so good.  And balancing those things becomes difficult when the child lives between two houses and families.  Sameness is crucial.  Being a united front has helped our son sooo very much.  

Good luck!