As a licensed professional counselor people often seek my opinion regarding whether their children should be diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficient and Hyperactivity Disorder). Strictly speaking, that is a question more for a psychologist than a counselor. Yet, ADHD is a real disorder and the successful identification and treatment will help any individual face life more effectively. However, in the opinion of many professionals this label is wrongly applied to millions of children, most particularly to young boys. A recent advertisement posted by the University of Nebraska serves as an example of this tendency. They ask parents to see if their children have the “symptoms” of ADHD (see ad below). These include difficulty paying attention in school, being easily distracted, losing things, having trouble taking turns, and being fidgety. Frankly, I am not sure if they are defining ADHD or simply childhood in general! This description fits 99% of every boy in America.
Loving parents, seeking to do the best for their children, listen to these voices. The professionals promise a better child for only the cost of a small pill. As a result, an untold number of children walk around drugged up in a massive effort to keep them from being children. What’s worse, this robs mom and dad the opportunity to be the parents God has called them to be.
Scripture offers another method. I need to be very honest with you here: the Bible’s method for parenting is much harder than giving your child a daily pill. Proverbs 22:6 commands parents to "train up a child", implying that parenting requires a plan and that it will be hard work. Next it says "when they are old" which means there is no such thing as “quick fixes”. Negative behavior in your child will only be fixed by a consistent, long term commitment. God expects parents to set boundaries and give consequences for wrong behavior in a spirit of love. Children wiggle, squirm, and disobey. A pill won’t solve that problem, God never intended it to.
HT: Al Mohler
It is about time you posted something new. As a pastor your primary responsibility it to make sure that I am constantly entertained.
ReplyDeleteI harbor a conspiracy theory that medications are so popular because it makes it easier for parents, teachers, doctors to deal with kids being kids with as little effort as possible. Rather than parent, rather than discipline, it is easier to slip them a sedative and chemically keep them in line.