136 ADHD-No School, No Structure, Parenting Through Summer

136 ADHD-No School, No Structure, Parenting Through Summer

Summer causes a lot of questions and difficulties for ADHD parents. Just when you’ve got a routine established with school, now school is ending and you have to establish a new routine. In the next few episodes I’ll explore the difficulties and explain something’s I recommend you implement based on my experience both as a psychologist and as a parent of two ADHD kids.

135 ADHD-Why Willpower Doesn’t Work

ADHDers, both parents and adults with ADHD will frequently blame lack of willpower when they have any difficulties secondary to ADHD. When they procrastinate, when they forget about doing something, when they fail to complete a task on time they blame inadequate willpower and berate themselves. This totally ignores the fact that ADHD is a neurologic difference that appears to be cause by inadequate neurotransmitter production. In short, you can’t will your nervous system to produce more dopamine. You have to figure out ways to accomplish tasks with your ADHD brain, not a neurotypical brain, but the one you were.issued at conception. In this episode I’ll discuss this issue further and discuss a few of the ways to get your ADHD brain to help you get the job done.

My Experience with ADHD Strengths

We members of the ADHDer world are used to spending most of our time and energy with the negatives of ADHD-the temper tantrums, the “lost”homework, the “I forgots”, the dreaded morning getting ready for school on time crunch and the teacher conferences and so much more. But it’s important for us parents to recognize enjoy and praise the strengths that our ADHDer displays. This allows us to develop trust and resilience.

133-ADHD-To Neurotypical Spouses

If you are a neurotypical married to a spouse with ADHD, this show is for you. Be married to an ADHDer requires a special kind of patience and acceptance. I have been married for over 50 years and only recently has my spouse come to the conclusion that she, like 2 of her siblings has ADHD. She also has a family history of multiple ADHD relatives. We got married before ADHD was a diagnosis. I was attracted to her energy and spirit and although I knew she had some problems getting up for early morning classes, I nothing that particularly worried me. I’m not going to go through my whole marriage, we’re still together. I’m going to discuss some of the adjustments the neurotypical parent has to make as well as some of the adjustment the ADHD parent has to make. There will be some days you feel like you have an extra kid and a lot more days when you’re excited an appreciative of your spouse’s energy and enthusiasm.

132 ADHD- 3 Important Skills for Parents

Parents of ADHD children need to have 3 very important skills-resilience, Intention and self awareness. Resilience makes it possible for you to come back after a bad day and learn from it. Intention so you can plan ahead and avoid many of the problem situations. Finally you have to be self-aware.both the . You have to know your strengths and weaknesses and demonstrate to your ADHDer how to handle the good and the bad.