911 Season 9 finale spoilers
So I was thinking the other day how Buck and Theo almost definitely have ADHD, right?
The Buckley-Diaz family (and by extension the firefam) are used to adapting to neurodivergency/disabilities with little to no fanfare. With Chris's CP, Eddie's CPTSD, Hen's Dermatomyositis, Maddie's PPD, and Buck's (undiagnosed) ADHD. They just go with it as new and old symptoms surface.
Plus because of their jobs they're used to adapting. So over time they've learnt to adapt their ways to accomodate and support one another.
But for Theo, going into a school environment that is more rigid to change without a diagnosis, he struggles. He struggles so much. Too much sitting still and focusing on one thing at a time. Just as he's getting to understand and enjoy a topic its time to move on. He gets called too loud, excitable, impulsive, doesn't think. Theo understands that something is wrong with him, but its seems like only school can see it. His Dads and brother don't seem to treat him differently like the kids at school does.
The comments on report cards and at parents evening continue until 2nd Grade when his teacher pulls Buck and Eddie in for a chat.
She says she's been looking over Theo's school reports and observing him in class. She explains her observations and how they seem to fit the DSM criteria for ADHD and she suggests he gets tested.
Buck's initial reaction is "he can't have ADHD, that sounds like me as a kid and I don't have it" not in a complete denial thing, refuse to deal with it attitude but in an initial shock way.
The teacher tries to gently suggest it often runs in families.
Buck looks to Eddie for his opinion and he looks pensive, thoroughly thinking through the teachers findings. Finally saying something like "it would make a lot of sense if he does have it"
Buck puts aside his own feelings in that moment to focus on Theo, and asks what are the next steps to get a diagnosis.
She points them to their healthcare provider with a letter of recommendation signed by herself and the special educational needs co-ordinator of the school.
Naturally this leads to Buck going down a research spiral about ADHD. He's kinda in denial. He sees the traits in Theo, which to him is fine - makes sense even, but he also sees them in himself. So, he talks to Maddie about what she remembers from his childhood. To Chimney about his observations as his co-worker and captain. To Athena asking if Bobby ever talked to her about things he'd noticed about Buck. Eddie finally points out examples of his behaviour relating to the ADHD traits. That final conversation makes Buck concede that maybe he does have ADHD.
He makes a doctors appointment three days later.
As a result of the extensive research Buck and Eddie begin to look at their world differently. They see how easy they've adapted already. How well life works when they meet each other where they are at rather than forcing them into a specific way.
Months Later, Theo gets officially diagnosed. The teacher guides them through how they can work together going forward to accommodate the school system so Theo thrives.
She warns them it will be a fight at times, it'll be important to teach Theo to advocate for himself as well as for him. Buck and Eddie, used to fighting for Chris's accommodations' and backing him up when he advocates for himself, understand fully.
A few months after that, Buck also gets diagnosed. Which Theo delights in. He already knew that his family understands him but is ecstatic to find his Dad is like him.
Buck also cries that night to Eddie, because looking back it was obvious yet no-one did anything about it. Eddie holds him, reminds him how much he is loved and secretly curses the damn Buckley parents for the 1200th time.
