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Adjust Expectations
First, acknowledge that your family’s needs are different from those of a family that doesn’t have ADD/ADHD in the household. We need to devise systems that work for us, not adopt those that work for friends who aren’t raising an ADD/ADHD child.
In my case, as much as I hated doing it, I served quick breakfasts that were easy to put together during my morning fog. (I have ADD/ADHD, too.) I also gave up my dream of sending my girls to school in perfect pigtails and adorable outfits. Getting a brush through their hair and getting them on the bus were enough.
Think about the way you wake up your child. Many children with ADD/ADHD get up in a grumpy mood, because their brains are still “on mute.” They need to be eased into their day.
Open the shades a little, to allow a touch of sunlight in the bedroom. Special “sun” lamps, which slowly brighten the room, do the same thing. Instead of shouting, “Time to get up,” pull down his bed covers and give him a backrub to move him toward wakefulness. Humming or soft singing can also awaken a deep sleeper.
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