Volume I, Issue 20 August 14th, 2008 Published every Thursday morning and distributed to subscribers for one of our programs. To change your e-mail preferences, please see the link at the bottom of this e-mail. Sign me up for this ezine. - A Note From Rory: This Week From Tampa, FL - Featured Article:  Back To School: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - News & Announcements: Group Coaching Starts Next Week Please add "Info@thetruthbehindadhd" to your whitelist or address book in your e-mail program, so that you have no trouble receiving future issues!

A Note From Rory Dear Reader, A hearty hello this week from Tampa, FL.  The entire family has gathered together to celebrate my parent's respective 65th birthdays this coming weekend.  While their birthdays aren't until September and October, summer is always the best time to travel without limitations on time and responsibilities.  Okay - so maybe that's a bit of a generalization. Before we get started, I'd like to send out a warm welcome to our newest readers.  It's a real treat to have an opportunity to be in your space, and connect with you on a pesonal level.  I hope you find the information in this newsletter to be helpful and supportive.  Please know your feedback and suggestions are always welcome.  This newsletter could not exist with you! Well - it's that time of year again.  Back to school is fast approaching (if not already here).  I have received many questions about successfully managing this often difficult and frustrating process.  Let's get to it... Rory Stern, PsyD http://www.theADHDparentsmovie.com - Have you seen it yet?

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Featured Article: Back To School Tips: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly! By, Dr. Rory Stern  Ok, so I have to admit, that titlte might be a little misleading.  I just wanted to spice it up, and this is what popped in my head. On a more serious note, I know all too well how difficult a time "back to school" can be.  It wasn't that long ago that I was heading back to graduate school classes.  And yes - even as an adult, back to school was a process.  The goal might have changed, but everything else is the same. Getting Back Into A Routine Doing Things You Don't Necessarily Want To Do Getting That New Outfit (Haircut, Shoes, etc...) Thinking About Seeing Your Friends (Or Just Classmates) And So Much More... There can be a lot of excitement around going back to school - mixed in with the "anxiety" and general concern over whether or not this year will truly be different.  And chances are, you are hearing more of the anxiety, worry, concern, or frustration than anything else.  It can often take over and be very consuming - for your child too! Important Tips For Back To School: This time of year, you are likely seeing a lot of tips for "heading back to school," so let's see if we can do things a little different: Setting Up A Routine: In all likelihood, I'm not telling you anything you haven't already heard before.  But this basic component can be the key to everything.  No matter how structured your child's summer is right now, it is very different from the structure and rigid setup that you and your child(ren) will face once classes begin. The closer you get to the first day of school, you want to make sure you are preparing the routine.  Start getting back in the habit as soon as possible.  Don't just wait for the first day and expect things to change overnight. New Situations: A lot of parents I work with are always telling me how much their children "dislike" new situations.  And of course that is putting it extremely mild.  Quite frankly, there is a wide range of reaction to new situations.  In some instances, it's just a way of life. To successfully manage "new situation anxiety," leave it alone.  Don't try to fix it.  Don't try to fight it.  In fact, I want you to do the opposite.  Work with it!  Don't call attention to it, and don't try to change it. Instead, I want you to listen to your child.  Let them know you understand that new situations can be difficult. Why?  New situations come to an end fairly quickly. Prepare: If your son or daughter is making a major transition this school year, plan ahead for this.  Spend some time at school.  Introduce them to their new surroundings.  Help them visualize the new locker, homeroom, or walk from class to class or building to building. In situations where your child is concerned about being embarrassed, find a way that will help them have their own space - while you are right near by to support them.  Sometimes bringing a friend is all it takes! Communication: Be proactive!  Start the school year off with open communication with teachers.  Don't be pushy, but instead take a collaborative approach about how your child, his or her needs, and what the teacher expects.  In some ways, it's a dance for both student and teacher to learn about one another's individual styles. For those of you who have children with supports in place, be sure you are reviewing these supports to make certain they are necessary. Expectations: Be aware of your expectations and your own anxiety level.  Yep - I said it.  A lot of what I end up hearing from both parents and children is the mismatch between what parents hope for their children, versus what their children want for themselves. It's as simple as a parent who wants their child to be a doctor or lawyer, when the child wants to do something entirely different. Best thing to do - Have a conversation about these differences.  Ask questions.  Be prepapred to listen, and before you answer (or comment) - ask more questions. Last But Not Least - For whatever it is worth....  Good grades in school do NOT always lead to good grades in college, and they certainly do NOT guarentee success in life! I wish that I had some magic answers to help you get that school year off on the right foot.  If I could take away all the stress and anticipated frustration, I would.  But there are no magic answers or solutions.  All I can leave you with are the following suggestions: Be Proactive Be Thoughtful (Not Reactive) Plan, Schedule, Test, Tweak, Repeat!

Blog Updates:

News & Events ADHD Virtual Conference My colleague and friend Jennifer Koretsky (of the ADD Management Group) is co-hosting the 1st Annual Virtual ADHD Conference.  Here is your opportunity to hear from experts like Ned Hallowell, Daniel Amen, Sari Solden, and many more...  All from the comforts of your home! To learn more, please visit http://www.thetruthbehindadhd.com/conference. This event runs during September 22nd - September 24th.

Questions Ask Dr. Theresa Cerulli We are doing this AGAIN!  We have received such wonderful feedback, and honestly, Dr. Cerulli and I had such a blast answering your questions - we can't wait to do it again. To ask Dr. Cerulli a question, you may visit http://www.askdrcerulli.com Parenting Questions: As always, you are still more than welcome and encouraged to contact me directly if you have questions, comments, or feedback about your children, this newsletter, or all things ADHD. Send in your questions here...  Just be sure to use "Question" in your subject line.

Who Is Dr. Rory Stern? Dr. Stern is a father, husband, son, "former therapist", ADHD coach, and information provider.  He works from home while caring for his two young children (3 y/o daughter Dylan and 9 month old son Gavin).  His blog, The Truth Behind ADHD, is really an expression of a message he once delivered to children and parents while working as a psychotherapist. Having left the workforce to care for my two children, I still feel the burning desire to share my message with others.  I am passionate about supporting children and their parents, and making sure that the right information gets to the people who need it the most.  In terms of ADHD, I became active in the community because too many of my patients and their families did not have enough information.  And often times, the information they were getting was as absent as the support and understanding they received from colleagues, friends, and professionals. Dr. Stern's message is just as much about education and advocacy, as it is about understanding ADHD.  I do what I do because I want to change all that.  It is my intent to make sure that parents and children all over the world realize that while ADHD is real, it is also a label and a name to characterize certain traits and qualities that can do so much good in a time when there is so much bad. "I don't want to see another child simply be misunderstood, mislabeled, misdirected, and mistreated," says Dr. Stern. Professional Bits: Dr. Stern earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.  While studying, he also completed a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching.  He is a member of the American Psychological Association and currently serves on the National Board of Directors for the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA). ___________________________________________________________________________ Twitter. I'm on Twitter.  Are you?  Twitter is a great way to keep in touch and follow what your friends are doing.  If you'd like to follow me and see what I am up to, you can check out my Twitter profile. ___________________________________________________________________________ Facebook - You can also see what I am up to on Facebook.  But more  importantly, I'd love for you to join the ADHD Support Network - where you can connect with like-minded people.

Disclaimers The material contained within this newsletter and any additional mailings are only for educational and informational purposes. The Truth Behind ADHD does not guarantee or provide any warranty for the information presented. You should continue to make any and all medical and mental health decisions with your licensed medical professionals. The Truth Behind ADHD cannot make any specific diagnosis or recommended individualized treatment plans in this capacity.

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