ADDitude Asked: If You Could Change One Thing in Your Child’s Life, What Would It Be?
We asked our reader panel: If you could change one thing in your child’s life, what would it be?
To take away my son’s feeling of failure in the classroom. Teachers draw a lot of attention to him because he needs extra help.
–An ADDitude Reader
To stop being an introvert and be more outgoing and social.
–Ann Yarbrough, Leesburg, Virginia
To have teachers who understand that ADHD is biological, and who know how to accommodate students with executive function challenges.
–Belinda, California
To help him manage time better. At 20 years old, he can’t tell how long it will take to get somewhere or to complete a task.
–Elizabeth, Virginia
I wish she would overcome her low self-esteem. She’s bright, fun, and creative, but she’s her own worst critic. I wish I could take away her negative self-talk and her quickness to downplay her abilities.
–Leslie, Chicago
[Self-Test: Could Your Child Have an Executive Function Deficit?]
I am older now, but as a child, I wish I had been more up front about why it was difficult for me to grasp what others found so easy.
–T. Cioffi, Medford, Oregon
I would make school easier for him. He’s managed to adjust to a lot, but school, especially math, remains hard. I wish I could find a public school near to us that would teach him the way he learns.
–Dee Boling, New Orleans, Louisiana
To have a more supportive spouse in helping me raise our child.
–Ann, New York
To give him the ability to complete a task that he’s not interested in.
–Hannah, Illinois
[Standing Up for Your Child’s Educational Rights]
To avoid having my son labeled the “bad” kid at school because of his impulsive behaviors. His self-esteem is in the basement.
–Christine M., Cleveland, Ohio
The deep-seated hurt my ADHD child feels at having been given up for adoption.
–Deb, Connecticut
I wish my daughter’s brain didn’t have to work so hard to get things done.
–Carolyn, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
That it’s OK to do things differently.
–Sydney, California
I wish he would accept that he needs help and medication.
–An ADDitude Reader
I wish I could be more available to my son.
–Kathy, Illinois
