NC as outing
This week is neurodivergence celebration week and DS school are embracing it all week. Great. Obviously a much deserving topic to raise awareness of.
However, as a mum of a potentially ADHD child causing us so many issues!
Ds went to school in fancy dress this morning as required. When he asked why I explained what for etc. ds is 6 so has not been told you possibly have ADHD so we don't get it as ann excuse.
However he came home telling us about an assembly where they were taught about autism and ADHD, how the mind functions differently etc. we have told ds that his mind possibly processes things differently. He's since been saying this evening "it's because I've got ADHD".
A few issues I have with this are that he isn't fully diagnosed yet (although it's so obvious in him, it's not a question that he has it!) but also that I really don't want him saying this and viewing it as an excuse or reason to get out of behaviour that is unacceptable.
I also don't want to keep it from him if he is diagnosed and then one day have this announcement moment in his teens and him ask us why we kept it from him. Soo ND mums, how do you tackle the topic of telling the child about their diversity?
And as for the celebration week, I can't help feeling it's the schools way of looking like their raising awareness when in actual fact the change in routine and structure this week is sending a lot of the ND kids off kilter.
Plus DH (who is ND himself) kindly pointed out that the last thing many ND kids want is a day all about them! (DH takes things every literally and I think he took celebrations as meaning banner and balloons saying "congratulations, you're different")