I think ADHD works in like this.
We have an idea, and it becomes written down in our brain.
Written like scratches in the sand, then the next moment arrives, and washes over the sand, beginning to erase what was scratched. The thought is carried out to sea, and we forget it ever existed, until we are reminded of the thought by a repetition of the circumstances that created it, or for some reason it comes drifting back to the beach, landing gently on the shore, only to have the process begin again.
There are those who say it is best to live in the moment, I've spent my life living in the moment, and what living in the moment lacks is context.
The other day I took my daughters out to dinner, we went to a pizza shop, and there was arguments between them. Over where the particular shop they wanted to eat was, and the name of it. When we went in, they both wanted me to sit next to them in the booth, so I had to pull up a chair to sit at the table edge.
Abigail wanted me to dance with her, I used to be that zany, and fun, we did, with her defining the dance steps and moves. Okay, I'm about encouraging freedom, right now Abigail seeks control of her world, her struggle is to exist in a world she is not in control of, it is a tough line to walk for anyone, with both parents or not, or divorced parents or not. Still I see progress all the time.
Sadie is telling jokes to the Pizza guy behind the counter. She has a great idea of what is funny, but she needs practice in telling the jokes. Figuring out the delivery, and how to shorten them. She often asks me for help there, and I'm careful to offer suggestions, if she asks. She is like me I think, she sees how great it is when there is funny in the air.
A little later Sadie joins in the dancing with Abigail and me. Abigail doesn't fight it, instead she makes room for Sadie, who after a little while dances to her own moves, but no yelling from Abigail.
They are really great sisters.
Then the confilct happens, someone comes into the pizza parlor with a dog, and my girls want to pet it. They have forgotten my rules, so I gently remind them. - You have to ask the dogs name from the "owner", ask if it is alright with the owner, and ask me as well. So the girls pet the dog, after fulfilling the requirements, but it is a smallish dog, and Sadie kind of blocks Abigail. Abigail tries to get Sadie's attention to so she can move over and let Abigail pet the dog, but this doesn't work. Suddenly Abigail is yelling at Sadie, and Sadie gets up and moves away, Abigail still yells, and then we have to leave. Abigial is upset she didn't get to pet the dog as much as she wanted.
Perfect. I get to DAD. I gently explain that we didn't have time anymore, that we were going to the park. She is upset, but stops short of saying it isn't fair. She blames Sadie, and I point out that after Sadie moved away, that Abigail kept yelling, instead of just petting the dog. This bit of information stuck.
My daughters are amazing, talented, beautiful, caring, empathic, and it is sad what they are going through, with their mother and I, but after their being exceptional, they are human just like you and I, and This sort of behavior happens to everyone. Someone says one thing, and we are upset, so we hear something else. Or we get upset over not getting what we want, and then when we actually get what we want, we are to angry to even notice, bent instead on convicting the person who we blame, and we miss out.
Abigail understood when I explained why we had to go, and that it wasn't because she got angry, it was just time to go, and her explosion cost her the time. Of course I did let her run back to pet the dog for a moment.
Then off to the park, kickball and Frisbee. The advantage of frisbee here was that I had two frisbees with me.
You learn, it takes a while, but sometimes the waves wash back the thoughts at just the right time.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
The journey continues
Yes, it has been a long while. Many apologies for that. Since I last posted, my weight has gone up 20 pounds. Good news though, more than a year at the job. Started jogging again - man it is cold. Got the thumbs up from the eye doctor, my maculla is 100 percent normal, got to keep sugar in control, so the blood vessels in the eye can heal. The scintilating vision thing has disappered. My reaction to my wife leaving me, really did me in. Well, that's past, now just to stay strong.
ADHAD, well, after a long time on Adderal, I'm going off of it. I have. It wasn't providing enough of a benefit, and it just made me STOOOOOOPID.
What I mean is that, my thoughts were more focused, but they were also so slow, that I couldn't accomplish anything. What this means. The mediation didn't magically "fix" my issues with organization. It wasn't like the movie "Limitless" - G-d how sometimes I wish there was a pill that just did that. No, there isn't, and the medication wasn't doing what I had hoped. If I "spin out of control" I'll go back on that med, or try something new, but. . .
Now, as actually it always was, it is up to me. I may get distracted, but I've learned to bring myself back. I've learned to start planning in advance. Work backwards, so to speak. If want this to happen, then I need to have that happen before, and before, and etc. Yeah, sure I can adapt on the fly, and fix most things, but that is a bonus, and too exhausting to live my life like that. I did it for years, and now I've built habits to counteract them. Heck I'm writing a budget - I love building spreadsheets, not so much fun doing the data entry, but still. Making myself a budget. Always talked about it, but never did it. Good for me, pay attention to life.
The girls, this was an excellent week, NO yelling or fights. Well, not from me, Abigail still gets angry. It's hard, I've realized how much like me she is, in her temperment and her thought process. I don't want to be an anger role model for her, so that's it. She yelled at me both this morning, and I did use a stern voice, but also a soft and loving when she calmed down. Wehn my wife and I were together, I once said that being a husband was the toughest job I had, and being a father the most important. I think she was upset that the order wasn't reversed. I suppose that the truth is that being a dad is the hardest and most important job.
I want Abigail to learn to express disappointment and upset without yelling and screaming, and Sadie without whinning (I'm not sure which is worse.) So I work very hard with Abigail, slowly, slowly, maybe she is getting it. We will see, I just don't want her to have that ingrained in her, she needs to be able to express herself, in the moment, without screaming all the time. She insisted on making soup the other day, in the microwave. She also wanted to help cook the steaks, she tries so hard, and I love her so. Learning/reading still a problem. It isn't that she can't do it, she is right where she is expected. She just gets frustrated, because she has to work at it so hard. It seems so easy for me and her sister. I've had to explain to Abigail that I couldn't read until I was in third grade (true actually - don't lie to children), I get frustrated when she "forgets" what she just did, and then she senses it, so something else to work on, encouraging without showing frustration. So much to do as a parent.
Did I mention that the biggest problem as a parent is that our children think of us a Perfect G-d like beings, and we aren't. So in the end, we are doomed to disappoint our children. I praise my kids appropriately (Like nuts) when they do things well, and when they struggle, I tell them the story of the butterfly, and tell them it is okay to struggle. I never really had to struggle with school work, but then it came too easy, and then I didn't work, and by the end of the semester, I went from top of the class to bottom. The struggle builds strength, and I never learned that strength as a child. Not my parents fault, but I want my children to have it. Sadie shows it, she is able to stick with, and plow through what doesn't come easy (with some encouragement), and I work with Abigail so she can develop it. If that is the only thing I can do for my children, then that would be good.
Sadie is now informing me she is afraid of making mistakes, because the third grade exams are coming up. I told her, that she can make mistakes, it is how you learn, and it is fine, and not to worry about the third grade exams, until she is in third grade. If any educators are out there - The way GRADES are used is terrible, and crushing to the students, and are all about grading the teachers, and justifying putting money in someone's pocket. Kids love to learn, and adults don't. when I taught, the best parts of the job was encouraging my students, and learning from my students. Grading them, was the worst, it turned their learning into a grade chase, where the grade was the goal, and not facility with the material.
On the one hand, I wish life was always easy for my children, that they never had to grow up, and they never had to choose, or face disappointment or upset. However, they need to grow up strong and determined, and self reliant. I just want them to grow up happy, and unburdened by their parents issues.
Food, stay off of carbs and sodas. Carbs is harder, but Soda, I'm giving it up, so hard, so so hard. Cherry Coke Zero, best soda I ever had, diet or otherwise. BUT I must stay away. I promised myself, promised my girls. I suppose that is enough for today. It is hard being ADHD, and Diabetic, and some days I just want to give up, but I love my daughters so much, they are worth the struggle.
ADHAD, well, after a long time on Adderal, I'm going off of it. I have. It wasn't providing enough of a benefit, and it just made me STOOOOOOPID.
What I mean is that, my thoughts were more focused, but they were also so slow, that I couldn't accomplish anything. What this means. The mediation didn't magically "fix" my issues with organization. It wasn't like the movie "Limitless" - G-d how sometimes I wish there was a pill that just did that. No, there isn't, and the medication wasn't doing what I had hoped. If I "spin out of control" I'll go back on that med, or try something new, but. . .
Now, as actually it always was, it is up to me. I may get distracted, but I've learned to bring myself back. I've learned to start planning in advance. Work backwards, so to speak. If want this to happen, then I need to have that happen before, and before, and etc. Yeah, sure I can adapt on the fly, and fix most things, but that is a bonus, and too exhausting to live my life like that. I did it for years, and now I've built habits to counteract them. Heck I'm writing a budget - I love building spreadsheets, not so much fun doing the data entry, but still. Making myself a budget. Always talked about it, but never did it. Good for me, pay attention to life.
The girls, this was an excellent week, NO yelling or fights. Well, not from me, Abigail still gets angry. It's hard, I've realized how much like me she is, in her temperment and her thought process. I don't want to be an anger role model for her, so that's it. She yelled at me both this morning, and I did use a stern voice, but also a soft and loving when she calmed down. Wehn my wife and I were together, I once said that being a husband was the toughest job I had, and being a father the most important. I think she was upset that the order wasn't reversed. I suppose that the truth is that being a dad is the hardest and most important job.
I want Abigail to learn to express disappointment and upset without yelling and screaming, and Sadie without whinning (I'm not sure which is worse.) So I work very hard with Abigail, slowly, slowly, maybe she is getting it. We will see, I just don't want her to have that ingrained in her, she needs to be able to express herself, in the moment, without screaming all the time. She insisted on making soup the other day, in the microwave. She also wanted to help cook the steaks, she tries so hard, and I love her so. Learning/reading still a problem. It isn't that she can't do it, she is right where she is expected. She just gets frustrated, because she has to work at it so hard. It seems so easy for me and her sister. I've had to explain to Abigail that I couldn't read until I was in third grade (true actually - don't lie to children), I get frustrated when she "forgets" what she just did, and then she senses it, so something else to work on, encouraging without showing frustration. So much to do as a parent.
Did I mention that the biggest problem as a parent is that our children think of us a Perfect G-d like beings, and we aren't. So in the end, we are doomed to disappoint our children. I praise my kids appropriately (Like nuts) when they do things well, and when they struggle, I tell them the story of the butterfly, and tell them it is okay to struggle. I never really had to struggle with school work, but then it came too easy, and then I didn't work, and by the end of the semester, I went from top of the class to bottom. The struggle builds strength, and I never learned that strength as a child. Not my parents fault, but I want my children to have it. Sadie shows it, she is able to stick with, and plow through what doesn't come easy (with some encouragement), and I work with Abigail so she can develop it. If that is the only thing I can do for my children, then that would be good.
Sadie is now informing me she is afraid of making mistakes, because the third grade exams are coming up. I told her, that she can make mistakes, it is how you learn, and it is fine, and not to worry about the third grade exams, until she is in third grade. If any educators are out there - The way GRADES are used is terrible, and crushing to the students, and are all about grading the teachers, and justifying putting money in someone's pocket. Kids love to learn, and adults don't. when I taught, the best parts of the job was encouraging my students, and learning from my students. Grading them, was the worst, it turned their learning into a grade chase, where the grade was the goal, and not facility with the material.
On the one hand, I wish life was always easy for my children, that they never had to grow up, and they never had to choose, or face disappointment or upset. However, they need to grow up strong and determined, and self reliant. I just want them to grow up happy, and unburdened by their parents issues.
Food, stay off of carbs and sodas. Carbs is harder, but Soda, I'm giving it up, so hard, so so hard. Cherry Coke Zero, best soda I ever had, diet or otherwise. BUT I must stay away. I promised myself, promised my girls. I suppose that is enough for today. It is hard being ADHD, and Diabetic, and some days I just want to give up, but I love my daughters so much, they are worth the struggle.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Losing my Balance
G-d I wish I was OCD sometimes, instead of ADHD.
I'm doing so well these days on most everything, except my weight. I can't seem to stop eating too much, at the wrong times, and the wrong foods. Work too, it has gotten hard again, I get bogged down, and can't move faster. It just takes me time, I'm slow. Not churning out enough product. That isn't it though, I can't physically send in work that is no good. I won't do it, I can't I've tried, but unless I'm late with it, I just can't let it go.
SO I built an excel spreadsheet, so I can track my work. I like building spreadsheets, but I don't like using them. Is that weird? It's always like that. It's sort of the conundrum that I always face, that plagues me.
I see a therapist, that's okay, I was surprised to find out just how many people do. I've been going for the last couple of years I guess. He just came back from the group vacation every therapist seems to take in August (so I'm told). I asked him if they all got together to compare who had the wackier client. He said he didn't do that, but I saw the plague on the wall, "Second place most nutty client - two years running." Well at least I'm not the craziest, wait why am I not the craziest?.
I suppose the choice it is to see a therapist or actually get a friend I can talk to. I have friends, a few. but I can't actually tell them EVERYTHING.
Sure sure friends say you can, but then when you do, they always pitch a fit, or are judgmental. I have a friend, female - not romantic or sexual - and she kept telling me how judgmental I am - and while I am judgmental so is everyone, besides which unless you are threatening my loved ones, I don't really care what you do, but I will form an opinion.
Well after 5 minutes of being told how judgmental I am, and how I need to be more accepting - I am really, don't go after my loved ones, and you can say and do what you want - I finally said "look, I listen to everyone who delights in telling me my flaws, but no one wants to hear that they have flaws." She said "See, you are judging instead of just listening."
Arrrggghhhhh - does this happen to you?
So I asked if I could point out her flaws, that's important to do. Now she hadn't asked me if she could point out my flaws before she went off on me, but that's not important I guess. Anyway, she agreed, and I pointed out her most severe flaw (well the thing that bugs me most about her anyway) - her response:
"That is just not true, and I'm hanging up now, and you should think about how you talk to people."
Am I the only one this happens to?
Well, we've talked since, she no longer tells me how judgemental I am.
My Girls
The separation of their parents is hard on my daughters, as you would expect. It's been about a year now sine we told them. Sadie said "this is the worst day of my life", I told her "good", she wanted to know why, and I told her "I hope this is the worst day, because that means that every day from now on will be better than today" That seemed to help her. My daughter Abigail, she's doing so well. Friendly and joyous and yes she still has itchy skin, but she was with me for two weeks, and by the end of the second week, finally, finally the scratches on the inside of her elbow have healed and are almost gone, perhaps it was all the swimming in the salt water pool at her grandmother's/aunt's house. Also, only giving her the Claritan when she exhibited signs of allergies. I've dropped the Zyrtec, because it really seemed to make her much more irritable. Anyway - we were having Rosh Hashona Dinner, and I wanted my daughters Sadie and Abigail to try some new foods. Now when we go have dinner at someone elses house, my girls will pretty much try anything. Sadie even apologized to me because she is more food adventurous at other peoples houses. However with me, or family, they are very selective. I understand it, they are at home, they want to eat what THEY want. That's cool, I do understand, I was a picky eater myself. However we came up with a new way for trying food. I will put the food I want them to try on my plate, and they can try it off of my plate. They both tried Brisket, and the meatballs, and they ended up loving the meatballs. Some success at this dad thing.
Did I mention Sadie just burned through Animal Farm by George Orwell in three nights? She reads it, and she gets it. I think she reads too fast, but we talked, and I'm going to let her read how she wants to and not bother her about it. The Hobbit is next for her, already ordered - Sadie is about to enter second grade, I think she has started to eye her aunts law books.
The drum set came for Abigail. Hey, we were at a party and all these kids were banging on a drum set. When they finally left the room Abigail asked me to come with her. She sat down, picked up the sticks - I showered how to hold them (I took drums for a month when I was a kid) and she played. It was soft, and gentle, and in time. Not at all about making noise, or pounding, but just about playing and listening. I told her about the drum set, and promised that they are hers, just hers, and she can play with them, and when she WANTS lessons, I would arrange them. Sadie has her keyboard, and stagecoach (musical theater) on Saturdays. They've already begun to sing together, but I'm not sure the band will last, you ought to hear the artistic differences already.
Where did the summer go? So much more I wanted to do with them. And why am I eating so damn much?
Thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment, share, subscribe.
I'm doing so well these days on most everything, except my weight. I can't seem to stop eating too much, at the wrong times, and the wrong foods. Work too, it has gotten hard again, I get bogged down, and can't move faster. It just takes me time, I'm slow. Not churning out enough product. That isn't it though, I can't physically send in work that is no good. I won't do it, I can't I've tried, but unless I'm late with it, I just can't let it go.
SO I built an excel spreadsheet, so I can track my work. I like building spreadsheets, but I don't like using them. Is that weird? It's always like that. It's sort of the conundrum that I always face, that plagues me.
I see a therapist, that's okay, I was surprised to find out just how many people do. I've been going for the last couple of years I guess. He just came back from the group vacation every therapist seems to take in August (so I'm told). I asked him if they all got together to compare who had the wackier client. He said he didn't do that, but I saw the plague on the wall, "Second place most nutty client - two years running." Well at least I'm not the craziest, wait why am I not the craziest?.
I suppose the choice it is to see a therapist or actually get a friend I can talk to. I have friends, a few. but I can't actually tell them EVERYTHING.
Sure sure friends say you can, but then when you do, they always pitch a fit, or are judgmental. I have a friend, female - not romantic or sexual - and she kept telling me how judgmental I am - and while I am judgmental so is everyone, besides which unless you are threatening my loved ones, I don't really care what you do, but I will form an opinion.
Well after 5 minutes of being told how judgmental I am, and how I need to be more accepting - I am really, don't go after my loved ones, and you can say and do what you want - I finally said "look, I listen to everyone who delights in telling me my flaws, but no one wants to hear that they have flaws." She said "See, you are judging instead of just listening."
Arrrggghhhhh - does this happen to you?
So I asked if I could point out her flaws, that's important to do. Now she hadn't asked me if she could point out my flaws before she went off on me, but that's not important I guess. Anyway, she agreed, and I pointed out her most severe flaw (well the thing that bugs me most about her anyway) - her response:
"That is just not true, and I'm hanging up now, and you should think about how you talk to people."
Am I the only one this happens to?
Well, we've talked since, she no longer tells me how judgemental I am.
My Girls
The separation of their parents is hard on my daughters, as you would expect. It's been about a year now sine we told them. Sadie said "this is the worst day of my life", I told her "good", she wanted to know why, and I told her "I hope this is the worst day, because that means that every day from now on will be better than today" That seemed to help her. My daughter Abigail, she's doing so well. Friendly and joyous and yes she still has itchy skin, but she was with me for two weeks, and by the end of the second week, finally, finally the scratches on the inside of her elbow have healed and are almost gone, perhaps it was all the swimming in the salt water pool at her grandmother's/aunt's house. Also, only giving her the Claritan when she exhibited signs of allergies. I've dropped the Zyrtec, because it really seemed to make her much more irritable. Anyway - we were having Rosh Hashona Dinner, and I wanted my daughters Sadie and Abigail to try some new foods. Now when we go have dinner at someone elses house, my girls will pretty much try anything. Sadie even apologized to me because she is more food adventurous at other peoples houses. However with me, or family, they are very selective. I understand it, they are at home, they want to eat what THEY want. That's cool, I do understand, I was a picky eater myself. However we came up with a new way for trying food. I will put the food I want them to try on my plate, and they can try it off of my plate. They both tried Brisket, and the meatballs, and they ended up loving the meatballs. Some success at this dad thing.
Did I mention Sadie just burned through Animal Farm by George Orwell in three nights? She reads it, and she gets it. I think she reads too fast, but we talked, and I'm going to let her read how she wants to and not bother her about it. The Hobbit is next for her, already ordered - Sadie is about to enter second grade, I think she has started to eye her aunts law books.
The drum set came for Abigail. Hey, we were at a party and all these kids were banging on a drum set. When they finally left the room Abigail asked me to come with her. She sat down, picked up the sticks - I showered how to hold them (I took drums for a month when I was a kid) and she played. It was soft, and gentle, and in time. Not at all about making noise, or pounding, but just about playing and listening. I told her about the drum set, and promised that they are hers, just hers, and she can play with them, and when she WANTS lessons, I would arrange them. Sadie has her keyboard, and stagecoach (musical theater) on Saturdays. They've already begun to sing together, but I'm not sure the band will last, you ought to hear the artistic differences already.
Where did the summer go? So much more I wanted to do with them. And why am I eating so damn much?
Thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment, share, subscribe.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Routine
As I wrote it was a tough year. August of 2012, my marriage crumbled away to nothing, I had so much stress, more than I had ever had before. Big and hard and in my face every minute of the day. I had to fight so hard for my kids, it was as if suddenly the world, which I have always battled with on a low level, was now a thousand worlds strong, attacking me, trying to kill me instantly. I fought, I won - enough, barely, 50/50 joint custody, almost equal time split with the kids, but it all took its toll on me. In August I lost control of my diabetes and the ADHD continued to plague me. By March 2013 I was in really bad shape physically. Constantly sick, barely able to function, in a full time job for the first time in nearly a decade. I went to a new doctor, my blood sugar over three hundred, and the doctor said - time for insulin.
Enough. I got back into my routine. Started jogging, but that doesn't help. Great for my pulse and blood pressure, but doesn't really handle my diabetes. For me it's diet. That and I suppose the medication. In March, A1C at 11, three months later A1C at 5.9 and the doctor stops insisting on me taking insulin injections. Shows you what a 1630 calorie a day diet can do. More importantly as I found out, the routine becomes all important.
I hate routine, just can't stand it. My whole life I have fought against it, and everything about it. You see I'm terrified of being trapped. I freelanced for years, always afraid of what would happen if I had to skip out on a job for an emergency. It became a great excuse, no I'm not available for family planning, because what if a job shows up? Ugggghhhhh. How much of that is ADHD, I'm not sure. What if a really good job came along that I wanted to take, well I couldn't if I had a full time job. The funny thing is, that once in a while that - excuse me for a moment.
Abigail just had a nightmare, she was asleep and screaming, I told her I was here, and asked if she had a nightmare - she said "not allowed" I told her of course she's allowed. She was still asleep through this. We had a BBQ/Grilling thing, and one of Sadie's friends stayed late and I think Abigail felt a little excluded by the two of them. It is so hard being the little sister.
She's settled down now, a kiss goodnight to her forehead.
So about work, funny thing was, with always wanting to be free to take a better job, when they came along, I just never did. I couldn't walk off the job I had promised to do, even though the other job was so much better. A mistake on my part I suppose, the story of my career in the film business, always making the wrong choices.
And back to routine. In March, I had a resting heart rate in the low 100s, my A1C was 11, which is blood sugar levels so terrible I was constantly sick, missing work, sleeping all the time trying to recover, peeing ten times a day, I had nausea, migraines, and ear infections, and my high blood sugar ripped the hell out of my eyes. Three months later I had a resting pulse rate in the 60s, A1C of 5.9 , and I stopped being sick.
Of course then the summer hit, and my routine has become lost again. I eat late, and bad, and too much, taking my pills becomes a struggle, where once I had it down cold. School is on the horizon for my daughters again. So that will help with the routine. Establish a new one, because the school plans are slightly different this year. There is something else about routine that I learned, as a father, a morning routine is absolutely essential. Night routines, they can vary a bit, but in the morning we had to catch the bus at a certain time (and we missed only one, and that was to take Sadie to the doctor one morning.) So catching the bus at a certain time means out the door at a certain time, which means dressed and etc. etc. etc. So it is get the girls up by a certain time, and smooth sailing. Wake them up 5 minutes later, disaster, and rushing and stress.
For me, by myself, if I over sleep, not really an issue, I adapt, change, adjust. However after the first year of being by myself and having to get my kids off to school in the morning when they were with me I learned a few things.
1. I can't wait until I can send them with sandwiches or they start eating the school lunch. They always want soup, or something hot, which means I can't make their lunch the night before, as I can with mine, that eats into my time.
2. I need to be dressed for work before I wake them up, or I'm going to be rushing to get dressed.
3. There are 5 things my children can handle in the morning for a stress free morning, Get up, eat breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth and hair, put on shoes. Add ANYTHING else and problems. So clothes must be picked out the night before. Any paperwork signed the night before, because there is a schedule, we have to meet. I started to realize, add a sixth item to the morning, and it became rocky and stressful. Keep it to those 5 things, and smooth sailing.
I hate routine, well at least I used to. I'm not a slave to it now, we can vary it, at night or during the day. Plans can become flexible, hey if we are out having fun, no reason to leave one place just to go somewhere else because that's the schedule. When we have time, the schedule can change, but when we don'†, like mornings getting to school. Varying the routine just plays havoc, so build a routine and don't change it. I'm not single anymore, so what I do affects others. I no longer have a partner; someone I help out when they need a hand, or someone to help me if I need a hand. So I'm alone here, and as a dad, in the morning a solid routine just makes all the difference.
As a diabetic, and as someone with ADHD, having a routine to follow may just save my life. For my eating habits, for my exercise, for taking my medicine. When I stop following the routine, it all goes out of whack, and it isn't good. So I start again tomorrow, Sunday, counting my calories, even though it might make more sense to wait until Monday, I start on Sunday, food journaling, I use the My fitness Pal app on my phone. And I start testing my blood sugar twice a day again, every day, and no recriminations. Testing the blood sugar is key for me, because it keeps me focused on my health, and even when I have great readings, in the 70s, once in a while there is a high one, and I have to think on what I am doing, and why that happened.
In case you don't know what the numbers mean, when you test your sugar on a daily basis the "Normal" score is 120 - above that, not good, below that is better. I'll go into detail on that in another post, because you can have problems if your sugar goes too low. The A1C number is different and is an average of your levels over the past three months, as opposed to the daily checking of your blood sugar.
As for ADHD, I've started keeping a timer on myself at work, how long it takes to do this task, or to do that one. I can identify my weaknesses, and when I am just letting the work get away from me, and when I need to stay focused and finish, because I can't spend unlimited time on one thing. I'm more used to something taking as long as it takes, but really I need it to take how long I plan on it taking.It doesn't always, but it is better to set a goal for how long it will take, rather then just let it take as long as it takes. It's made a difference just in the past three weeks since I started using the timer. My most productive month at this job yet.
Sorry, this post is a little meandering, but it is three in the morning, the only time I have to write for the next few days, and tomorrow, I can actually sleep late, nowhere to be with the kids until the late afternoon/evening. Sort of the end of summer, and the free form days.
Thanks for reading, please feel free to comment, share, subscribe and follow.
Enough. I got back into my routine. Started jogging, but that doesn't help. Great for my pulse and blood pressure, but doesn't really handle my diabetes. For me it's diet. That and I suppose the medication. In March, A1C at 11, three months later A1C at 5.9 and the doctor stops insisting on me taking insulin injections. Shows you what a 1630 calorie a day diet can do. More importantly as I found out, the routine becomes all important.
I hate routine, just can't stand it. My whole life I have fought against it, and everything about it. You see I'm terrified of being trapped. I freelanced for years, always afraid of what would happen if I had to skip out on a job for an emergency. It became a great excuse, no I'm not available for family planning, because what if a job shows up? Ugggghhhhh. How much of that is ADHD, I'm not sure. What if a really good job came along that I wanted to take, well I couldn't if I had a full time job. The funny thing is, that once in a while that - excuse me for a moment.
Abigail just had a nightmare, she was asleep and screaming, I told her I was here, and asked if she had a nightmare - she said "not allowed" I told her of course she's allowed. She was still asleep through this. We had a BBQ/Grilling thing, and one of Sadie's friends stayed late and I think Abigail felt a little excluded by the two of them. It is so hard being the little sister.
She's settled down now, a kiss goodnight to her forehead.
So about work, funny thing was, with always wanting to be free to take a better job, when they came along, I just never did. I couldn't walk off the job I had promised to do, even though the other job was so much better. A mistake on my part I suppose, the story of my career in the film business, always making the wrong choices.
And back to routine. In March, I had a resting heart rate in the low 100s, my A1C was 11, which is blood sugar levels so terrible I was constantly sick, missing work, sleeping all the time trying to recover, peeing ten times a day, I had nausea, migraines, and ear infections, and my high blood sugar ripped the hell out of my eyes. Three months later I had a resting pulse rate in the 60s, A1C of 5.9 , and I stopped being sick.
Of course then the summer hit, and my routine has become lost again. I eat late, and bad, and too much, taking my pills becomes a struggle, where once I had it down cold. School is on the horizon for my daughters again. So that will help with the routine. Establish a new one, because the school plans are slightly different this year. There is something else about routine that I learned, as a father, a morning routine is absolutely essential. Night routines, they can vary a bit, but in the morning we had to catch the bus at a certain time (and we missed only one, and that was to take Sadie to the doctor one morning.) So catching the bus at a certain time means out the door at a certain time, which means dressed and etc. etc. etc. So it is get the girls up by a certain time, and smooth sailing. Wake them up 5 minutes later, disaster, and rushing and stress.
For me, by myself, if I over sleep, not really an issue, I adapt, change, adjust. However after the first year of being by myself and having to get my kids off to school in the morning when they were with me I learned a few things.
1. I can't wait until I can send them with sandwiches or they start eating the school lunch. They always want soup, or something hot, which means I can't make their lunch the night before, as I can with mine, that eats into my time.
2. I need to be dressed for work before I wake them up, or I'm going to be rushing to get dressed.
3. There are 5 things my children can handle in the morning for a stress free morning, Get up, eat breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth and hair, put on shoes. Add ANYTHING else and problems. So clothes must be picked out the night before. Any paperwork signed the night before, because there is a schedule, we have to meet. I started to realize, add a sixth item to the morning, and it became rocky and stressful. Keep it to those 5 things, and smooth sailing.
I hate routine, well at least I used to. I'm not a slave to it now, we can vary it, at night or during the day. Plans can become flexible, hey if we are out having fun, no reason to leave one place just to go somewhere else because that's the schedule. When we have time, the schedule can change, but when we don'†, like mornings getting to school. Varying the routine just plays havoc, so build a routine and don't change it. I'm not single anymore, so what I do affects others. I no longer have a partner; someone I help out when they need a hand, or someone to help me if I need a hand. So I'm alone here, and as a dad, in the morning a solid routine just makes all the difference.
As a diabetic, and as someone with ADHD, having a routine to follow may just save my life. For my eating habits, for my exercise, for taking my medicine. When I stop following the routine, it all goes out of whack, and it isn't good. So I start again tomorrow, Sunday, counting my calories, even though it might make more sense to wait until Monday, I start on Sunday, food journaling, I use the My fitness Pal app on my phone. And I start testing my blood sugar twice a day again, every day, and no recriminations. Testing the blood sugar is key for me, because it keeps me focused on my health, and even when I have great readings, in the 70s, once in a while there is a high one, and I have to think on what I am doing, and why that happened.
In case you don't know what the numbers mean, when you test your sugar on a daily basis the "Normal" score is 120 - above that, not good, below that is better. I'll go into detail on that in another post, because you can have problems if your sugar goes too low. The A1C number is different and is an average of your levels over the past three months, as opposed to the daily checking of your blood sugar.
As for ADHD, I've started keeping a timer on myself at work, how long it takes to do this task, or to do that one. I can identify my weaknesses, and when I am just letting the work get away from me, and when I need to stay focused and finish, because I can't spend unlimited time on one thing. I'm more used to something taking as long as it takes, but really I need it to take how long I plan on it taking.It doesn't always, but it is better to set a goal for how long it will take, rather then just let it take as long as it takes. It's made a difference just in the past three weeks since I started using the timer. My most productive month at this job yet.
Sorry, this post is a little meandering, but it is three in the morning, the only time I have to write for the next few days, and tomorrow, I can actually sleep late, nowhere to be with the kids until the late afternoon/evening. Sort of the end of summer, and the free form days.
Thanks for reading, please feel free to comment, share, subscribe and follow.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
I had a dream
I had a dream last night. I was at a gathering, and some guy was trying to hawk himself as a doctor, which was not why we were all there, and he was having his friend bother me about my health. Well anyway I told this "doctor" that I wouldn't go to him because he was a fraud. Now remember this is a dream. So this guy punches me in the back, and I spin around and punch him. Not too hard, because I'm spinning around. Chaos breaks out, and then there are police, and well What was nice was that in this dream, I wasn't the one in trouble. You could even say I was victorious. Normally in my dream I'd end up being blamed, and I'd have to argue my way out. All in a dream of course, and yes I've had to argue on my own behalf in my own dreams, just me against the world. But not this time, last nights dream during the chaos, my friend Adam and his wife were there, backing me up.
A strange dream, but nice at last not to have to fight the world in my dreams, I do enough of that when I am awake.
Next post, Diabetes and ADHD, and what is good for them, or rather bad for them and good for me.
ROUTINE.
Thanks for reading.
A strange dream, but nice at last not to have to fight the world in my dreams, I do enough of that when I am awake.
Next post, Diabetes and ADHD, and what is good for them, or rather bad for them and good for me.
ROUTINE.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
47
Sometimes I realize I'm forty seven. It just smacks me in the face.
My age didn't used to bother me. I just went on in life, happy go lucky, well go lucky mostly. Happy is a relative term, I'm happy a lot, but define happy. Any way, I can't believe I'm 47.
I spend 9 hours a day at work writing, then I come home and after I feed, bathe and put my girls to bed, what do I do? I go write. Not the things I ought to write, like my screenplays and stories, but this blog here. I am so tired, and instead of sleeping, I'm writing.
You know that phrase, there is always tomorrow.
I think I have lived my life by that phrase. But I'll let you in on a little secret.
No, there is not always a tomorrow.
If you read this and think that I'm contemplating something dramatic, no, I'm not.
I believe you get one go around at life, and while you may think "Damn Steve, you should have done more by now." I've done quite a bit.
For me, this all makes sense as I write it, but this world and I, we have never been a good fit. I say 2 plus 2 equals four, and the world tells me I said 5. I don't understand the world, and I never will.
No, this is not a prelude to something dramatic. I'm not depressed, a little disconsolate perhaps, I'm 47. Still that is a fine thing to be, 47.
No it isn't.
47, and gaining more scalp by the day. When did I get so old?
Still,
The most important part of my life lies sleeping a few feet away, Is I write this.
My two daughters.
So you see
There are no more tomorrows, all that is left are todays.
Goodnight, sleep tight, wake up shiny and bright.
My age didn't used to bother me. I just went on in life, happy go lucky, well go lucky mostly. Happy is a relative term, I'm happy a lot, but define happy. Any way, I can't believe I'm 47.
I spend 9 hours a day at work writing, then I come home and after I feed, bathe and put my girls to bed, what do I do? I go write. Not the things I ought to write, like my screenplays and stories, but this blog here. I am so tired, and instead of sleeping, I'm writing.
You know that phrase, there is always tomorrow.
I think I have lived my life by that phrase. But I'll let you in on a little secret.
No, there is not always a tomorrow.
If you read this and think that I'm contemplating something dramatic, no, I'm not.
I believe you get one go around at life, and while you may think "Damn Steve, you should have done more by now." I've done quite a bit.
For me, this all makes sense as I write it, but this world and I, we have never been a good fit. I say 2 plus 2 equals four, and the world tells me I said 5. I don't understand the world, and I never will.
No, this is not a prelude to something dramatic. I'm not depressed, a little disconsolate perhaps, I'm 47. Still that is a fine thing to be, 47.
No it isn't.
47, and gaining more scalp by the day. When did I get so old?
Still,
The most important part of my life lies sleeping a few feet away, Is I write this.
My two daughters.
So you see
There are no more tomorrows, all that is left are todays.
Goodnight, sleep tight, wake up shiny and bright.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Just a quick little note, and then to shower and sleep.
Just before midnight, Girls are asleep, got to flop laundry. As a follow up to last nights post. Well Abigail hasn't repeated being interested in reading a word since the other night, but I'm steadfast, and loving, which is a hard combination but one I am getting better at achieving. But Abigail has been spelling and sounding out words, reluctantly perhaps, but I keep suggesting how amazing it will be when she can read words, then she can read notes from me. Okay she says, but only if I write what she tells me to write.
Abigail still doesn't want to let go in the morning at drop off, which is frustrating, but she also will clue you in to what she needs to let go. Today it was the little purple bear she won at Coney Island. Both my daughters cleaned up at the games at Coney Island when we went about a month ago. What with the candy and rides and games, I ended up spending what I had budgeted for the week on that one day. I didn't even win one prize at the carny games, of course I already have my two prizes.
So Abigail, she struggles with herself, and she is doing great, I love her. I'm not allowed to tell her I'm proud of her anymore, but I may still tell her I love her.
Sadie, she eats books, just devours them. I gave her Animal Farm to read, because the books on her second grade reading list were so easy. On night two of her reading Animal farm, I asked her how far she had gotten. Page 133. Shock and disbelief. However we had a big discussion, because although I love that she is such an avid reader, I think she may be reading too fast. It's something her First grade teacher, Miss Unay, was concerned about. Now in my family, we read fast, and in Junior High School I devoured 120 books in one month, real books like Childhood's End. 120 books, something like that. I asked Sadie the name of the pig, or the horse and she couldn't remember. So I talked with her about how she reads, and that maybe she could slow down, and she might get more out of the book. The goal isn't to read as fast as possible, the goal is to enjoy the book. Sadie says she reads at a pace that makes her happy.
It's a hard concept, getting more out of a book. I tell her that most everybody misses something the first time they read a book, which is why it is great to go back and read it again, and find something new. Sadie told me this suggestion Miss Unay had, about every three pages writing down key points from what you read on a post it note. So, I bought Post it notes today for her. I don't want this to be a test, and I explained, I just wanted her to understand that she might enjoy the book more, or get more from it if she took a little more time. Like looking around more when we walk. When she races she just focuses on getting to the finish line, the front door, but she might miss a beautiful bird. She seemed to understand, but I don't want to push that much. I can't really force them to do things the way I want them to, and I want them to enjoy the things the do.
Now to switch gears. ADHD, I hate having to plan, having a schedule, It has always felt like being trapped. Of course I wasn't very productive for all my life, very much fits and starts, and TV, oh forget it. Like a black Pit that I would get lost in. But I'll tell you, even though I still chaffe at having to be somewhere, or take care of something. It's the best thing, because even if I am so drained after work I can't get anything done, at least I'm working. And now, I've my kids, and I come home from work and have to fold the laundry, do more laundry, do the dishes, make their lunch, plan for playdates, and on and on, and I've no freedom, which is in a way great, because now, I've got my girls.
It isn't all about ADHD, there are other factors involved, and coming home on the subway is like being assaulted. Tonight with some people talking like New York Valley Girls. "Oh My G-d". Please please please I wanted to scream, stop ending every sentence with the same sound "ooooooonnnnnnggggg", Every damn sentence ended the same. It is about all I can do not to curl up in a ball, or scream at them. Any way it is late, and my thoughts disjointed. I'm sorry if this wasn't such a good read. Still finding my way.
Best
Abigail still doesn't want to let go in the morning at drop off, which is frustrating, but she also will clue you in to what she needs to let go. Today it was the little purple bear she won at Coney Island. Both my daughters cleaned up at the games at Coney Island when we went about a month ago. What with the candy and rides and games, I ended up spending what I had budgeted for the week on that one day. I didn't even win one prize at the carny games, of course I already have my two prizes.
So Abigail, she struggles with herself, and she is doing great, I love her. I'm not allowed to tell her I'm proud of her anymore, but I may still tell her I love her.
Sadie, she eats books, just devours them. I gave her Animal Farm to read, because the books on her second grade reading list were so easy. On night two of her reading Animal farm, I asked her how far she had gotten. Page 133. Shock and disbelief. However we had a big discussion, because although I love that she is such an avid reader, I think she may be reading too fast. It's something her First grade teacher, Miss Unay, was concerned about. Now in my family, we read fast, and in Junior High School I devoured 120 books in one month, real books like Childhood's End. 120 books, something like that. I asked Sadie the name of the pig, or the horse and she couldn't remember. So I talked with her about how she reads, and that maybe she could slow down, and she might get more out of the book. The goal isn't to read as fast as possible, the goal is to enjoy the book. Sadie says she reads at a pace that makes her happy.
It's a hard concept, getting more out of a book. I tell her that most everybody misses something the first time they read a book, which is why it is great to go back and read it again, and find something new. Sadie told me this suggestion Miss Unay had, about every three pages writing down key points from what you read on a post it note. So, I bought Post it notes today for her. I don't want this to be a test, and I explained, I just wanted her to understand that she might enjoy the book more, or get more from it if she took a little more time. Like looking around more when we walk. When she races she just focuses on getting to the finish line, the front door, but she might miss a beautiful bird. She seemed to understand, but I don't want to push that much. I can't really force them to do things the way I want them to, and I want them to enjoy the things the do.
Now to switch gears. ADHD, I hate having to plan, having a schedule, It has always felt like being trapped. Of course I wasn't very productive for all my life, very much fits and starts, and TV, oh forget it. Like a black Pit that I would get lost in. But I'll tell you, even though I still chaffe at having to be somewhere, or take care of something. It's the best thing, because even if I am so drained after work I can't get anything done, at least I'm working. And now, I've my kids, and I come home from work and have to fold the laundry, do more laundry, do the dishes, make their lunch, plan for playdates, and on and on, and I've no freedom, which is in a way great, because now, I've got my girls.
It isn't all about ADHD, there are other factors involved, and coming home on the subway is like being assaulted. Tonight with some people talking like New York Valley Girls. "Oh My G-d". Please please please I wanted to scream, stop ending every sentence with the same sound "ooooooonnnnnnggggg", Every damn sentence ended the same. It is about all I can do not to curl up in a ball, or scream at them. Any way it is late, and my thoughts disjointed. I'm sorry if this wasn't such a good read. Still finding my way.
Best
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)