Hi there. I am fairly new here as well but I so related to your post that I wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I am the mother of 4 boys ranging in ages from 4-12. My 8 yo is bipolar and nothing you wrote was foreign to us. Ryan was stable for a couple of months (Depakote worked wonders for us) but now seems to be a bit off so we my need a med tweak.

I agree with Joann about The Bipolar Child book. After I read that book I saw my son in a whole new light. I had more sympathy for what he was going through and taught me that my gift to him was to have a calm heart when dealing with him. It doesn't however, go into effective strategies in dealing with BP kids or families. I haven't read The Explosive Child but plan to. I have made myself familiar with the Basket Approach and do try and use that now. Yesterday I was handed a book by our family's therapist called Survival Strategies - Parenting Children with Bipolar Disorder. I'm reading it now and can let you know how it is when I'm done.

Lastly is therapy. It has helped our family tremendously. Only the three older boys and my husband and I have been going. Our next appt we will be leaving the 6 yo at home as well. Ryan causes a great deal of stress on everyone. My oldest has taken the brunt of Ryan's issues and frankly is fed up. They have started to get physical with each other which I will not have in my house. Our therapist (different than Ryan's ped psych) has helped us with working out strategies for having a more peaceful home life. Now, none of this was possible before Ryan was on meds. The only reason we're able to make progress like this is because Ryan is doing pretty well and when I see it's more than Ryan trying to stir it up and he's really struggling and out of control then the other boys need to be supportive of that, or, as we often do, let them get away to someone else's house for a while. My mother has been great when Ryan's being horrible to everyone she'll come and pick up either him or the other boys and go do something else for a while.

I hope you find this board a support. I certainly have, if nothing other than to know I'm not alone. I also found a local support group that meets once a month.

Being a mom of many is exhausting enough without ADHD and BP kids. I hope you have some support that allows you some down time. You need it to keep up your energy.

Lisa
mom to 4 boys (one BP/ADHD)