Wishful Wagon

  Discussion of topics to build awareness, increase knowledge-base, and ultimately assist in conquering the challenges of being special parents of kids with special needs, such as those with autism or adhd.       A fter being in school for a few weeks, I noticed that my son started chewing on things more than usual.  I understand that children with adhd have oral fixation, or a strong impulse to stimulate their mouths.  Kids with sensory issues chew to calm themselves.  Children with autism will also try to self-regulate by means of chewing, to deal with anxious feelings.     In my mind, his school is a cesspool where Covid, RSV, and the Flu (among other things) thrive.  I cringed when I received a message on one of his daily reports saying that he had chewed up a part they were using during their math activity.  Constantly having the urge to chew on random things would most definitely expose him to more germs.  Seemed logical to me to send him to school with something purposed for hi

    Discussion of topics to build awareness, increase knowledge-base, and ultimately assist in conquering the challenges of being special parents of kids with special needs, such as those with autism or adhd.     O bviously, I don't expect the school to fix my son on it's own.  I definitely have to play my part.  I tirelessly researched ways to improve his behavior for a while.  Oh, how I wished there was a pill I could buy to give to my son that was all-natural, safe, with no side effects, and affordable that would instantly improve his neurodevelopment.  I found no such pill.  A family member suggested that I give my son melatonin for a while, then stop.  However, I was afraid to give it to him for any extended period of time after reading the label that said explicitly that it was for "occasional" use.  I didn't know how long was too long.        Perhaps melatonin works if it is administered under the supervision of a doctor.  My son's Pediatrician had p