Van Bette Robertson McBride, a Prairie View A&M University alumna, is an author who wants to help dispel the stereotypes people have about children with a mental illness. McBride, 84, currently a resident of Texas City, Texas, was a teacher for more than 50 years before retiring in 1989.She wrote the book, “Run, Run! Catch Me If You Can.” The main character is a boy with the syndrome known as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or ODD. The story, which is partially based on a youth McBride encountered in real life, stars young “C.F.”
The youth’s childhood experiences are marred by the lack of guidance from his parents. Despite his accomplishments in sports and in the classroom, C.F. throws violent fits, which get him into trouble at school. Seemingly because of a lack of guidance and support from his parents, he has to go and live with his great-grandmother. Some time after her death, C.F. comes to be thankful for his great-grandmother’s lessons.
Although it’s an unusual topic for a children’s book, McBride said she thought the book was needed. “My inspiration was precipitated by the genetic condition that exists in my family,” she said. “My great-grandson has ODD; he had problems in school with behavioral problems.”
“I also recall a situation not too long ago where a 5-year-old girl was arrested for misbehaving in class. From my perspective, I could infer that she was an attention-getter, and the teacher did not know of the intervention measures that could have been employed.”
McBride asserts that mental illness is misunderstood in society, specifically in the African-American community.
“Many children have been misdiagnosed,” she said. “Many children who have a mental illness have (through the years) been diagnosed as mentally retarded, which is not always true. There’s ongoing research that can help us reach the untapped level of intellect that kids with illnesses such as autism have.”
One theme highlighted in McBride’s story is the lack of parental guidance.
“One of the problems in society is habitual absenteeism, as well as lack of quality time some parents spend with their children,” McBride said.
“That leads to a lack of exposure to moral training and often leads to the grandparents stepping up and taking on the burden of providing it”, she stated. This is why she wanted the book to come through as a tribute to grandparents who have had to assume the responsibility of raising children.