My 13 year old son is in 7th grade in Mansfield. He is a very kind boy, very sweet, good to other students, very good to his parents, no behavior problems at all, either at home or at school. Academically - oh my. His problem is disorganization and lack of focus. His grades this six weeks have not been good and I find that he is unable to remember anything. He cannot remember his homework, he cannot rememeber to turn things in, he cannot remember to bring things home, etc. Even if I remind him of something when I drop him off in the morning AND i write him a sticky note in his binder - he gets home and I find out he forgot again. It's day after day like that too. He's very lazy about keeping up his room, I have to stay on him constantly. And personal cleanliness? I make him shower every night - he wouldn't if it were up to him - and he still smells awful when he comes out of the tub. When I confront him on it he says he didn't use soap because he forgot - even though 5 minutes before he got in the tub I REMINDED him to use soap!! I am wearing myself and him out with my constant reminding and badgering every day that doesn't seem to do either of us any good. I am beginning to wonder if maybe he has some sort of mental impairment - whatever a total lack of memory and focus would result from. Can anyone recommend a therapist or psychologist in the Arlington/Mansfield area that could help me figure out what is wrong with this kid. (Or really I would drive to Forth Worth or Dallas if there was someone highly recommended. He has so much potential but we all must be doing something wrong! (sorry for the rant!)
P.S. I just wanted to add that I am currently at odds with my son's father and step mother. Their attitude is this - the assignments are his, if he doesn't finish them it's his problem. They don't check his homework, assignments, anything, so I find that half of his grades are very bad and half them (The ones I help him with) are pretty good. So who is in the wrong - me who will remind him all weekend long to do his math homework or them who will let him go to school on Monday and get a zero if he doesn't do his homework?
Hi Kathleen. I can relate to your story as my son showed the same symptoms for years and went undetected. It sounds like he has ADD which is a problem focusing. Unfortunately, my son went through high school and one day I was speaking with a counselor (not at school) and she told me she felt that he had ADHD. He also went through MISD. Teachers are not allowed to mention to a parent if they feel it is ADD because they say they are not qualified. What will happen if you don't get him some help, he will get frustrated and will not want to go to school when he reaches the higher levels. Dr. Jan Hesley is a counselor for adolescents but her husband John is more in th field of ADD/ADHD and does testing. Phone number is 817.478.0666 If your son is diagnosed with ADD/ADHD there are so many things the school will work with. I didn't realize this either. It is a little costly to take the test, but if your insurance covers it, and even if it doesn't, it is worth it. Men don't want to admit there might be a problem especially for their sons, but this can be corrected. Good luck!
It sounds like the sweet boy is so confused. Lake Arlington Baptist Church has a counseling center called IMPACT. Contact Kim Peters at 817-451-7732 for an appt. There are several therapists there that can help you. Kim will set you up with the one that will best assist you and your son with this situation.
Take Care and God Bless!
Dr. Mark Welch in Arlington is very good. He worked with three of my four children during their school years. He was a pediatrician who had attention issues himself, so he began to specialize more and more in ADD back when it wasn't so commonly diagnosed (of course, he does work with other behavioral issues as well). He's great with students, whatever their ages. His # is 817-465-7359.
I am also familiar with the Impact Counseling Center at Lake Arlington Baptist Church and would probably have taken my kids there if it had existed back then. I would trust anyone on their staff to be one of the best around!
Good luck. I hope you get connected with someone who will help your son reach his potential & be the best he can be. It can be very discouraging for students to be unsuccessful no matter how hard they try!