Here's a hot topic:

Since its ADHD month, we might as well talk about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Back when this was all new, a close relative of mine was diagnosed with ADD and given (gasp) medication to control it. As far as I know, he’s still on the medication today, but we are all incredibly proud him—now an infantryman stationed in Iraq with a young child of his own at home.

There is an awful lot of blame, shame, and anger surrounding any ADHD diagnosis. Complete strangers offer parents a lot of well meaning (yet somehow critical) advice. Some lash out at teachers, others blame a lack of recess or too much TV, while many point to artificial food coloring and vitamin deficiencies or even suggest that kids themselves are manipulating their parents. For anyone dealing with such a diagnosis, remember this bit of advice from the National Institute of Mental Health: “you are your child’s best advocate.”

NIMH gives some simple suggestions to help ADHD children cope:

• Post your daily routine with set times for homework, indoor and outdoor play.
• Organize everyday items and have "a place for everything and keep everything in its place”--must be good advice because my mother also said it!
• Stress the use of homework organizers to write down assignments.
• Keep rules consistent and simple.
• Look for reasons to praise the ADHD child, who may receive a lot of criticism.