| Just this evening I was speaking with a close | | | | could do. |
| friend about parenting and some of the struggles | | | | Just maybe her son would be "normal." |
| that we as parents face today. We talked about | | | | Imagine that! |
| difficulties with bullying, progress reports, | | | | Here is a problem or difficult situation faced by |
| behavioral outbursts, as well as how to approach | | | | many parents. Regardless of whether the |
| other parents when difficulties occur between | | | | diagnosis is autism or ADHD, the take-aways are |
| children. | | | | the same. |
| Shortly into our conversation, my friend asked | | | | You have to believe. |
| me if I had seen the latest news on Jenny | | | | You have to fight hard. |
| McCarthy and her son's struggle with autism. | | | | You have to keep your options open. |
| "No, I haven't," I replied. | | | | You have to be willing to try alternatives - even if |
| While I might not have all the details down | | | | they never work for you. |
| exactly, and I personally did not hear her talk, I | | | | You have to look for answers. |
| truly believe the underlying message is what really | | | | You need to be informed. |
| counts in this case. | | | | Most of all, you have to keep trying and fighting |
| As it was explained to me, and from what I have | | | | even in the face of despair and almost uncertain |
| read online, Jenny McCarthy's son has been | | | | failure. |
| diagnosed with autism. It all apparently came to | | | | While a gluten-free diet might not be the answer |
| light after her son suffered a few seizures and | | | | for you or your child, or even ADHD for that |
| one that ultimately led to cardiac arrest. And this | | | | matter, the important point is that you need to |
| all happened while Jenny was on tour promoting | | | | consider what else might be happening here. |
| her latest book at the time. | | | | What else might you be able to do to find out |
| I might be missing some details here, but what is | | | | what is affecting your child? |
| remarkable is that Ms. McCarthy did not simply | | | | You have to be willing to ask the questions. |
| rest with her son being diagnosed with autism. | | | | Sure, Jenny McCarthy has the money and |
| Instead, she reached out for help. She turned to | | | | resources to explore these options. |
| research and read up on the latest findings, the | | | | I get it! |
| latest trends, and found out about certain | | | | An ADHD diagnosis can shatter your life as you |
| alternatives that have worked for other parents. | | | | know it, but it does not have to, especially if you |
| After trying a gluten-free diet, it appears that her | | | | do not stop with the diagnosis. You must continue |
| son has shown some "improvement." According | | | | finding out about the latest information and |
| to her report, her son recently connected with a | | | | treatment options. |
| cartoon show where he had otherwise shown no | | | | Can you imagine the devastation if someone got |
| interaction. | | | | it wrong? |
| Just hearing her son laugh, she was brought to | | | | Or what if the slightest change in your life or your |
| tears with the hope that perhaps something else | | | | child's life made all the difference for your child |
| was going on with her son. | | | | with ADHD? |
| Or perhaps that there was something more she | | | | |