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Laugh It Off
"Maintaining your sense of humor is important when raising kids with ADD," says Robin Singer, a special educator in Englewood, Colorado, and mom of two sons, including 14-year-old Avery, who has ADD. She and her husband, Troy, have been married for 17 years. "When one of our kids does something crazy, Troy and I laugh first and get angry second. We love our sons, and we would rather celebrate their strengths than punish them for behavior they can't help."
Family fun can counteract many of the negative interactions that kids with ADHD have as they try to fit in at school or please the adults in their lives. "Doing fun things together can bring a family closer, and planning ahead can create a stress-free incentive for getting things done," says Orr. For example, if your kids whine every time you ask them to clean the house on Saturday morning, you can say, "The movie we want to see starts at one. It's 10 a.m. now. Here are the things we need to do—hang up clothes in the closet, clean the bathrooms, and do a load of laundry. If we do them by noon, we'll get to the movies today."
Next: Present a United Front...
This article comes from the Summer 2009 issue of ADDitude.
To read this issue of ADDitude in full, SUBSCRIBE NOW!
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