Would you drug your kid?

Hi, I am Caroline (Mrs Ceee Ceee on Twitter). I am a pom on an adventure in Melbourne. I love it here, but it is very far.

I am here with The Saint, the love of my life and my two boys. Boy Wonder is 11 and has Asperger's Syndrome. Cheeky Monkey is 8 and very cheeky. Together we are muddling through the challenges of being expats and having a unique person in our family.

I love: macarons, chocolate, Melbourne coffee, diamonds, hot air balloons, seahorses (the daddies have the babies don't you know), rabbits, rainbows, the smell of freshly washed children, my boys.

I dislike: two-faced people, fresh tomatoes (soup/paste/sauce is fine), the smell of dirty boys, bullies.

In my previous life I was a marketer, brand manager and salesperson. It seems like a very long time ago.

Find me at www.presentimperfection.wordpress.com

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When Boy Wonder was first diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome my first thought was "What are we going to do?".

We looked into programs helping children with ASD. Like most parents of children with Special Needs we search out therapies that we hope will make a difference to our child. We are all looking for 'The Magic Wand',  that we hope will change our lives for the better.

Recently my psychologist gently reminded me that no therapy would change BW's diagnosis. It would just give him skills to manage his condition better. She's right, of course. So, we continue to pursue support for BW through school and externally. Looking for skills that will help us all.

In the past few months, Boy Wonder has been tested to confirm what we all know. He is too high functioning to qualify for an aide.

Bittersweet news. On the one hand, I am excited at how bright and intelligent my boy is. On the other I am dismayed that the help he needs so badly in the classroom won't be available to him.

The results have also thrown us another curve ball.

It is highly likely that Boy Wonder has ADHD as well as Asperger's Syndrome. Again, this wasn't a huge shock, the idea of ADHD had been in the back of my mind for a year or two. Obviously, we are all coping fine, so another condition to deal with is great! (Imagine I am saying this in my very sarcastic voice).

Almost immediately, the subject of Ritalin and other medications were raised. Straightaway, The Saint and I take very different views. He is imagining a saner life for all of us, while I am worrying about turning my child into a spaced out, drugged up zombie who bears little or no resemblance to the bright, vivacious child I currently live with.

'Google' Ritalin and the potential minefield is there for all to see. Ritalin - the new party drug, side effects, scare stories. It's enough to send you mad.

I talk to Boy Wonder about how he feels during one of his excitable 'high' moments, or when he is excessively asking random questions. "How does your head feel right now", I ask.

"Busy and Fizzy" he replies.

How must that feel for him? It sounds exhausting to me.

I wander into my favourite territory. "What if ?"

What if it changes who he is?

What if it damages him permanently?

What if it leads to depression and psychosis later in life?

My list is never-ending.

So what to do? We are meeting with our fantastic pediatrician in a few weeks and I will listen to what he has to say.

Then we will decide.

What would you do? Does your child have ADHD? Do you medicate?

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