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The Distracted PrincessKindergarten. Playdates. Dress-Up. And ADHD Inattentive Type.Sarah is a working mother, appreciative wife, and fierce advocate for her 6 year old, Hadley, who was local:/search/keyword/Diagnosing%20Children%20with%20ADHD.html:"recently diagnosed with ADHD". She not a doctor, a psychiatrist, or an expert in ADHD -- just an honest and realistic mother who will admit that some days are harder than others, but the successes make it all worthwhile. Recent Blog Posts
My advice to moms and dads of ADHD children: Stick to your parental instincts, even when others question you. Trust your instincts. That has always been my advice to new moms. Some might call me a helicopter parent, while others call me a great mom who advocates for their child diagnosed with ADHD. I see myself as doing everything in my power to give Hadley the best tools for a successful life. I've felt like much of Hadley's frustrations and outbursts are in large part...Continue Reading »
The frustrations and aggravations of daily life with ADHD well up inside Hadley until she explodes. In kindergarten, this is not OK, so we're working on self-calming techniques that mom should adopt, too. "Kids don't explode for no reason." I've heard this more than once in the last two weeks, and I have to agree. I'm not condoning acting out. But since Hadley's behavior began deteriorating last month, I have suspected something bigger is going on here. This isn't my girl. I've seen devastation on my daughter's face and heard painful cries that I feared would emerge in high school --...Continue Reading »
"Maybe I should cut off Hadley from dance, Girl Scouts, and playdates. That will limit the number of people who can become mad or frustrated with her. But what of those who might bring out the best in her?" Last week, we took one step forward. Then ten steps back. Followed by a shuffle in the right direction. I hope. Just as Hadley's updated sticker chart began gaining traction, and she was earning 50 - 75% of her daily sticker, Wham-o! I'm blindsided by Hadley's suspension from daycare. A kindergartener suspended? It turns out she was upset and inconsolable to the point of turning aggressive...Continue Reading »
My daughter's sticker chart was designed to motivate and reward good behavior throughout the school day. Instead, it's become a complicated, inconsistent lesson for teachers and parents alike. Though too often packed with errands and cleaning, weekends are the light at the end of the tunnel when I get to see my family and not think about work (as much anyways). This past weekend, the snow was a blessing in disguise. I don’t like snow. I grew up with it, and we've finally reached a mutual understanding: I won't shovel it (unless under duress) if...Continue Reading »
Managing meltdowns with my ADHD child is already hard enough. Judging my parenting skills during an outburst only makes me feel worse. It may seem obvious to everyone else (especially those rolling their eyes at me behind my back), but it only recently occurred to me that people judge me. It's often said that we are our own worst enemies, but when it comes to parenting my ADHD inattentive type child, I’m finding my nemesis is often sitting across the playground sipping a Starbucks latte. Believe me, it’s not...Continue Reading »
Her psychologist insists that diet won't eliminate my daughter's ADHD symptoms. But I wonder: How could good food NOT help her feel better? Following Hadley's ADHD diagnosis in October, I began researching the ways that diet might impact her ADHD inattentive-type symptoms. I broached the subject with Hadley’s child psychologist, who said that she has not observed any significant improvement in symptoms due to dietary changes during her years of practice. She told me of parents who tried diets and supplements, but ultimately ended up using ADHD medication. We’ve...Continue Reading »
I do believe in fairies, I do, I do! Are the most effective solutions sometimes the simplest? For ADHD kids and their parents alike, the answer is Yes. Here we are, more than a week after Christmas, and my front room looks as though I run a full-fledged daycare center. I’ve resolved myself to the fact that my furniture will remain piled elsewhere until my girls finish playing with toys. I’ve resolved myself to the fact that we’ll need to find homes for the many (MANY) new gifts they received. And I’ve shirked off some...Continue Reading »
Her holiday dress is perfect. Her smile lights up the stage. She curtsies after every song. But can my daughter keep her ADHD in check through the entire holiday show? I'm a wreck waiting to find out... I should be able to enjoy her Christmas program. I should be able to snap photos and applaud wildly without worry. I should, but I can't. Because my daughter has ADHD. Hadley looks adorable in her craft-fair-purchased Christmas dress. She curtsies after each song. Everyone laughs when she belts out the songs and waves at the audience. She shines on stage and makes me laugh...Continue Reading » « All Blogs |
    
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