A Happy ADHD Family

I was “feeling the love” this morning. Looking at Natalie and seeing her beauty. Kissing her fingers, her soft little cheeks. Talking nice, not crabbing at her. Complimenting her. Enjoying her. Loving her.

What’s up with this?

Small changes make a big difference.

We’ve gotten on a regular, reliable schedule with Nat’s services, and knowing that I’ll have help on a regular basis makes a huge difference. Huge! Did I mention…the difference is HUGE?

Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, from 5:30-7:30 pm, I can count on Hannah. It’s not so much what Hannah does (although that’s huge too!) but the fact that she’s there.

Her presence in our home means I can be in the same room with Natalie, and instead of expending the last of my daily allotment of energy on keeping Natalie's energy contained. I can load the dishwasher. Instead of coaxing and prodding Natalie to abandon her markers and paper, put on her shoes and jacket, and climb in the backseat of the car so we can pick Aaron up from basketball practice, I can jump in the car and go alone. Instead of begging Don to come straight home from work to help me survive the evening, I can happily accept his offer to stop for groceries on the way home.

Nat’s services are provided by Gayle and her agency, Village Enterprises, named for the famous quote, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The village concept is true for all children, but is especially poignant when the child in question has special needs.

For today, at least, I’m one happy villager. Thanks, Gayle. Thanks, Hannah.

Don called just now. “I’m blogging about how nice it is to have Hannah come every Tuesday and Thursday night,” I said.

“Oh, it’s huge!” he said.

Make that two happy villagers.

No, make that one happy family.