Strix, is there anything specific you want to know? (I have no idea about the money part, though, other than "a lot," usually.)

Thanks, Connie!

Hil, it's a Reform COngregation. The webpage for bar/bat mitzahs say they welcome all family members to participate in the ceremony, regardless of religious affiliation, and they customize the ceremony with the kid's input, so I think it's up to M. He's a doll, and loves all of his parents, so I'm happy to participate or to witness, whatever HE wants.

What roles might a parent-figure play in the ceremony? Do family members give speeches or toasts at the after-party? As long as I wear a modest dress, are bright colors or such verboten? Do parents just pay for the party, or is an additional gift to the child de riguer?

I think I'm going to put a cap on our contribution at $500. When we figure in travel costs and a hotel, I think that's reasonable. If she wants to go all out, then she can do whatever she likes with contributions from her far wealthier family.

So, if I opened the tab for the ADD quiz an hour ago and then forgot about it while I was doing other things...I probably don't need to take the quiz, do I.

I scored a 33, which is moderate ADHD... but since this is a test of symptoms, I think my anxiety and anxiety-coping behaviors add to the score.

Note that being really busy will also increase your score....

I should have mentioned when I posted the link that an online test is only going to point you in a direction. It's not a diagnosis. And, as several people have noted, having comorbid conditions like anxiety will affect the results. If your results are high and that resonates with your suspicions that ADD might be an issue, then the only way to really get diagnosed is to follow up with a clinician and get tested in person.

With the research I've been doing this weekend, there were swaths of information that were "Dang, that could have been written about CJ specifically" and other pieces that were more "huh, I do that sometimes".

Had a long talk with B last night about online school options, summer school options, and other stuff to research. A lot is riding on whether or not he gets into the Fire Science program next year - they are putting out the announcement this week. If he gets in he just needs to deal with making up any credits he misses this semester. If he doesn't, we are going to have to get much more creative in dealing with his senior year.

I hope his advisor is back this week. She "gets him" and what we have gone through to date.

other pieces that were more "huh, I do that sometimes".

I think most people, including people without ADD, have that reaction. When I was trying to explain it to an acquaintance who wondered why Tim is so involved with the local ADD support group, and detailing symptoms, she said, "Well, *everyone* gets distracted *sometimes*! I guess we ALL have ADD, don't we?"

Uh, no. (She is kind of a snotty jerk and I tend to avoid her whenever possible.) Most people feel down/blue/sad sometimes; that doesn't mean most people have clinical depression. ADD is the same way; it's not the isolated existence of a symptom, but the severity of it, in combination with other symptoms, as well as the persistence of those symptoms and how they impact your life, that determines the difference between someone with ADD and someone who gets distracted when a car full of yelling kids drives by.

Yeah, I think some of the issues for me are Internet, like I said, and also just listening issues--I've never been able to focus on a speech unless I'm taking notes. So in class it was ok because I took notes and could look at them , but in church or something, by the end of the homily I couldn't tell you what the beginning said. But that's just beig a much better visual learner than auditory learner.

But that's just beig a much better visual learner than auditory learner.

Yeah, if you read aloud to me without visual aids, I will lose the thread within minutes, unless, like you said, I'm taking notes.

I know the interwebs have affected my concentration/attention span, too.

What Steph said about the difference between distraction and ADD. Ironically because the DH can hyperfocus the kids don't bug the ever living snot out of him when he drives because he doesn't really hear them, but I just can't do that. I hear and try to respond to all their question AND pay attention to the road.

Burrell, is this a local anesthetic?

No, you're not being nosy, and yes, I'm sensitive to local anesthetics. I've passed out twice now, but the two occasions were over 20 years apart and I've had numerous encounters with local anesthetics between the two incidents. Luckily I was lying down both times :-). So sensitive but not allergic. Obviously I want enough to block any pain, I just don't know how deep they need to cut. It looks pretty small to me, but I know they want clean margins, etc. Don't think he's using the fancy technique, Mons or whatever, since he said it'll be 1/2 hour surgery.