An ADHD poem

The poem below was first read to me by a friend that said that she thought of me when she read it . I would like to share it with anyone who has children of school age. 
  
ADHD THE PLAY GROUND POEM
This poem was written by Linda Hurley and appears in “What is ADHD” a useful booklet written and published by Mandy Burke of Future Awareness Through Education. The message for all of us who support children with special needs is how we need to be aware of the support a whole family needs if their child is to be successful. Understanding of other children, their parents and the teachers is part of the package children need. Adjustments and understanding must start from the knowledge that ‘being like others’ may not be achieved. However, with adjustments and understanding and enjoyable life can be achieved.

I stand alone in the playground
No one talks to me
I see the looks, and hear their whispers;
She’s the mother of the ‘little beast’
The boy who can’t sit still in the classroom
The one that fools around
The child who torments others
And throws himself to the ground.

She must be a useless parent
No control or restraint
We’ll go and see the headmistress
And make a formal complaint.
We want the ‘looney’ expelled
You know the one we mean
The boy who runs around the playground
As if driven by a machine.
Who send the other children flying
Cuts and bruises everywhere
Get rid of the little menace
How you do it, we don’t care.

The ‘brat’ whose been banned at lunchtime
The boy who has no friends
The boy whose never invited to parties
And Christmas cards – not one was sent.
The child who cries because he’s a loner
Through no choice of his own
Who struggles in the classroom
And is made to sit alone.

The boy who lags behind
As hard as he may try
Who at the age of seven
Can barely read and write
And so I continue to stand alone
No one talks to me
The mother of a little boy
Who’s been diagnosed with ADHD

People in all sectors of the community should think before they judge

Thank you 

Christine McLanachan