I’m Not Really That Tired.
During the last week of school, Dylan went to bed a bit late. He was still taking his L-Tyrosine, and following a behavior chart, and supposedly maintaining a high protein diet and getting plenty of rest. (The protein and rest is essential for the L-Tyrosine to work.
But my idea of “plenty of rest” and Dylan’s idea are different. In order to get a star on his behavior chart, he has to go to bed before midnight. And he did. He went to bed at 11:45.
My idea of a reasonable bedtime – especially on a school night – is much closer to 10:00. Even 10:30 is sometimes okay. He seems unaware – but Dylan’s ADHD symptoms flare up like actual flames when he doesn’t get enough sleep.
He came downstairs late to go to school. He seemed confused about what he should be doing, even before we got in the car. He started beat-boxing within five minutes, a sure sign that he was tired. (That’s when I asked what time he went to bed.)
“I’m not really that tired,” he said – several times – during the car ride. Two minutes later, he’d go right back to beat-boxing or humming or tapping his foot against the car door or drumming on his leg.
By the time I picked him up, I wasn’t sure how he would make it through the evening. I played music in the car, which helped stop his random noises. He went straight to the piano and started playing. When I asked him to go study, he decided to do voice exercises instead.
The sounds of Italian opera over my garage never sounded so beautiful.
But really, he needed to study. He had both an algebra and a physics exam coming up – and only four days of school left, to pull both grades up for his high school transcript.
“Please, Dylan,” I begged. “You are going to be too tired to study tonight, and you only have one more night to study for both tests!”
“I’m really not that tired,” Dylan said for the umpteenth time. He wandered over to the keyboard and started playing it. (Yes, we have both a keyboard and a piano. And it’s impossible to keep him away from either of them.)
Eventually he wandered downstairs to get his book. Then he put it on the floor and walked away. He announced loudly, “I’m going up to study now!” and went all the way upstairs before he realized he didn’t have his book.
This was beginning to look like the “old” Dylan – pre-L-Tyrosine. But I saw him take it with my own eyes!
He did settle down to study then – for a little while – although I’m not sure how much he retained. And then, a few hours later, after more rambunctious behavior and spit-singing and bouncing balls all over the house, he finally decided to try to get some sleep.
“I’m still not that tired,” he said.
And then he fell asleep … in three minutes flat.