Depakote vs. the Bipolar Child

It just doesn't seem right. Why is it that the kids who would have the most resistance to taking medicine, have to take medicine? Don't answer that, it's just  rehtorical question.

We just had a one-plus-hour stand off. He takes the Depakote sprinkles because he cannot swallow pills (yet). We ran out of pudding so he had to take the sprinkles with peanut butter sandwiched between two crackers. I was tired of waiting for him to take it and stop the stalling tactics (bathroom break, give me five more minutes, I'm thirsty, another bathroom break and repeat this sequence over and over). He finally sat down to eat the cracker sandwich with medicine. I stepped out of the room and he said he ate it and was done.

I did not believe that he ate the sprinkle sandwich like he said he did, so I looked in the trash can. Surprise, surprise, there it is was. My first instinct was to go confront him on this. I didn't though. I went to him and told him I found it in the trash can and he needs to go take it and that I've poured a glass of milk for him to help him wash it down.

After several minutes had passed, I reminded him again and told him if he chose not to take his medicine now, he would have to stay in his room until he was ready to take it. He reluctantly sat at the table and ate it.

I told him that we would talk about his deceitful act later. It's always such a fine line between getting him to take his medicine as he should and holding him accountable for his behavior that sometimes he's not really in control of.

All seems peaceful in the house at the moment...but I have to talk to him about his lie and I know that that will bring on some real anger. I think I'll wait to tackle this one until dad is home. That's not wimping out, right?

Sarah:)