Life with a Bipolar Child
They do not officially diagnose children with Bipolar Disorder, but it is commonly known that children can exhibit "early onset" bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, Caroline exhibits some classic bipolar symptoms.
This morning was particularly exciting.
Caroline wasn't able to get to sleep until around 11 pm, then woke up at 4 am and went downstairs. I heard her rustling about and knew she was manic (if not, she would have gotten into bed with us) but I was too tired to care. I should have gotten up and given her Seraquel.
So at 5 am she comes and wakes us up and says she's planned a big surprise downstairs and she wants us to come down "right now!!!" My husband said he would come down at 6 am, and told her to go lie down until then.
So at 6 am, she was asleep. Hubby went downstairs and saw what she had done. It was adorable. She had streamers and signs that said "Family Day." It was a bit surreal, like a pint-sized Martha Stewart had invaded the house. She even had a plate of chips and Cheetos artfully arranged in the center of the table. Next to each person's spot at the table, there was a "gift" and flowers.
Mark was given a short story she wrote (last night while manic). Next to my spot she had placed some gluten free recipes printed from the Internet for me, and her brother's spot had her Nintento DS Lite and iPod with a note that he could borrow them. Each of us had a "breakfast" of sliced pears and M&M's. Very sweet, not counting the unsupervised use of knife and Internet.
Mark left for work without waking her up, since we were glad she was getting some rest, but sadly she was up again fairly soon after (around 6:30). I came downstairs and cooed over everything ("oh that is so cute!") and Caroline was grinning and then suddenly her face fell and she burst into tears. She literally went from radiant to miserable in the space of a second. "This isn't how it was supposed to go!" she wails. Then a rant about how she had all these games and activities planned and now she can't do them because Daddy isn't there.
I tried (gently!) to remind her that she knew Daddy had to go to work. Even if he had woken her up, he wouldn't have been able to play games with her. But she's just sobbing uncontrollably. So I left to get showered and dressed. When I come back down at 8 am, she's cried herself to sleep. But now I have to wake her up to get her to choir camp.
So she's angry and refusing to get up, doesn't want to take her pills, won't go to choir camp ("I won't I won't I won't!!!") She says choir camp is boring and she hates it. (Yesterday she was over the moon about how much fun it was.) So I explain that other kids are counting on her to be there and that this is not a choice. I brush her hair, bring her clothes to her, pour her cereal, get her shoes, pack her bag, like I'm some sort of lady-in-waiting and promise to drive her (it's three blocks).
She's limping around the house and falling against the wall like some sort of prat-fall comedy skit. I held her up as we went to the car and helped her in. Suddenly, she's chattering about the book she read (in the middle of the night) and happily recounts the plot. We get to choir camp, I let her out of the car, she kisses me and says "I love you, Mommy! You're the best!" and runs into the school!
Whew. That was easy.
This morning was particularly exciting.
Caroline wasn't able to get to sleep until around 11 pm, then woke up at 4 am and went downstairs. I heard her rustling about and knew she was manic (if not, she would have gotten into bed with us) but I was too tired to care. I should have gotten up and given her Seraquel.
So at 5 am she comes and wakes us up and says she's planned a big surprise downstairs and she wants us to come down "right now!!!" My husband said he would come down at 6 am, and told her to go lie down until then.
So at 6 am, she was asleep. Hubby went downstairs and saw what she had done. It was adorable. She had streamers and signs that said "Family Day." It was a bit surreal, like a pint-sized Martha Stewart had invaded the house. She even had a plate of chips and Cheetos artfully arranged in the center of the table. Next to each person's spot at the table, there was a "gift" and flowers.
Mark was given a short story she wrote (last night while manic). Next to my spot she had placed some gluten free recipes printed from the Internet for me, and her brother's spot had her Nintento DS Lite and iPod with a note that he could borrow them. Each of us had a "breakfast" of sliced pears and M&M's. Very sweet, not counting the unsupervised use of knife and Internet.
Mark left for work without waking her up, since we were glad she was getting some rest, but sadly she was up again fairly soon after (around 6:30). I came downstairs and cooed over everything ("oh that is so cute!") and Caroline was grinning and then suddenly her face fell and she burst into tears. She literally went from radiant to miserable in the space of a second. "This isn't how it was supposed to go!" she wails. Then a rant about how she had all these games and activities planned and now she can't do them because Daddy isn't there.
I tried (gently!) to remind her that she knew Daddy had to go to work. Even if he had woken her up, he wouldn't have been able to play games with her. But she's just sobbing uncontrollably. So I left to get showered and dressed. When I come back down at 8 am, she's cried herself to sleep. But now I have to wake her up to get her to choir camp.
So she's angry and refusing to get up, doesn't want to take her pills, won't go to choir camp ("I won't I won't I won't!!!") She says choir camp is boring and she hates it. (Yesterday she was over the moon about how much fun it was.) So I explain that other kids are counting on her to be there and that this is not a choice. I brush her hair, bring her clothes to her, pour her cereal, get her shoes, pack her bag, like I'm some sort of lady-in-waiting and promise to drive her (it's three blocks).
She's limping around the house and falling against the wall like some sort of prat-fall comedy skit. I held her up as we went to the car and helped her in. Suddenly, she's chattering about the book she read (in the middle of the night) and happily recounts the plot. We get to choir camp, I let her out of the car, she kisses me and says "I love you, Mommy! You're the best!" and runs into the school!
Whew. That was easy.
posted by Sandy and Cathy at
12:24 PM
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