#85
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Wooden
I spent too many years tying to be the person everyone else wanted me to be, a person who didn’t have ADHD. I cared so much about what others thought of me and fitting in that I spent little time discovering who I truly am. We are unique for a reason. Celebrate that!
#83
Parents! No one expects you to be superman or wonder woman, though it sure feels like the demands of daily life require just those kinds of super powers. Remember what I said earlier this week about putting yourself in “timeout” to catch your breath? I hope this weekend you do just that! Have a great one!
#82
The fine folks at Time Timer sent me a couple of their timers to test & evaluate and you know what? I love those things!! It’s basically an alarm for people who lose track of time easily. But, it’s not just any alarm, it’s also VISUAL alarm! I use it while working in the office, and it works with kids too. Whether keeping track of how much time they have left in the pool or in time out, it’s a great tool. 😀 And they have an Iphone app as well! Bonus!
www.timetimer.com
#81
A degree of structure & discipline should be maintained thru the summer. I like posting a list of rules where the kids can see them. I also believe in a reward/punishment system – nothing too complicated or military-like, but something that helps them grasp the concept of choices & consequences.
I think they key to this having any kind of benefit is two-fold: 1. You have to be consistent & stick with it and 2. You have to keep changing things up in the rewards department to keep it interesting for the kids and to keep them motivated to keep trying to do the right thing. I know that this is not a sure-fire way to get your kids to behave, and certainly the pay-off is not immediate, but without creating some kind of a well-defined reward/punishment system for kids to learn good behavior from bad, I really can’t imagine how they can become more manageable. Anyone else have any suggestions about teaching kids the concept of choices & consequences?
#80
If you’re at the end of your rope with a child that is in constant need of your attention, you might be the one needing the “time out”. Consider summer camp! Some cater to kids with ADHD, others to a special interest that your child may have. Local public schools often offer day camps. Also check with your local church which may offer Vacation Bible School. A few days “off” can help get u feeling a bit more sane & hopeful.
#79
As much as I talk about the joy of ADHD, I don’t want to negate the challenges that come with it especially for parents of young kids who have it. Most of my experiences come from being an ADHDer & where I am with it now as an adult, but now that I have kids, & both of them are displaying various ADHD traits I am being forced to look at ADHD through different eyes.
This week is dedicated to all those parents who have to endure the “insanity” that is a young child with ADHD. You guys are amazing! Hang in there, it will get easier as your child gets older and takes more responsibility for their actions.
#76
This week, I am all about laughter & finding joy & hope in tough times. How else do we put one foot in front of the other, when the going gets tough if not to have an occasional light-hearted moment? If life is bumpy right now, find a way to relieve the pressure by participating in something that you know will put a smile on your face.
And I have to share this. Every time I watch I can’t help but start cracking up. Laughter is contagious, so if your life is good, go infect someone!!
#75
At one of my events, someone asked me if my story of being ADHD was true. They said I was having fun & laughing too much for someone w/a “disorder.” 😀 Believe me, it took me a long time, but I did finally find the humor in living with ADHD & it as been a great blessing to be able to joke & laugh about it.
I like how Bill Cosby puts it: “Through humor you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.”
To get you smiling this morning here is a bit from one of my favorite comics, Jim Gaffigan:
#74
One of the best things we can do is to make some time to laugh! People with ADHD have a gift for finding the funny in life and we should never forget to celebrate that. Sure we sometimes get a little inappropriate but a little correction from a friend doesn’t have to put out the flame of being funny.
To get the funny ball rolling, here is one of my wife’s favorite Brian Regan’s comedy bits:
#73
I’ve found that even if I have the latest gadgets at my disposal to feed my creativity, nothing beats having a notebook or two where i can write down all my many ideas and thoughts, as well as brainstorm & come up with new drawings. if you’re looking for a low-tech way to stretch your imagination – get a notebook!
#72
So this week, I’m talking about creativity again (pet subject!)! Creativity is one of many positive qualities of an ADHDer and I think it’s a good idea to spend time developing it. What we lack in organization, we’ll more than make up for with creative, out-of-box thinking! Today’s creative exercise was inspired by the Hutson School here in Indy – their students got me hooked on a piece of software called istopmotion. Check it out!
#70
Great news for all you ADHD students and maybe not so great news for all you parents of ADHD students – SUMMER IS HERE! With school letting out for summer vacation, what big summer plans do u have? Are you taking a break from your meds? Either way, plan to use the power of your ADHD brain & get creative! Make a movie, write a book, paint a masterpiece, invent something! Let’s hear all the wild and creative ideas u want to put into action this summer!
#69
If you or someone you know suffers from any kind of “uncontrolled” brain dysfunction (including ADHD), there are simple steps that can be taken to help improve the situation. 1. Diagnosis 2. Self-education/education of family & friends, 3. Exploration of treatment options, 4. Counseling/Support group, 5. Ongoing evaluation.
Of the five, i believe education to be the most important. Knowledge is power. Understanding what’s happening to you gives you back some measure of control & allows you to make the right choices when there’s a fork in the road. Whether, you’re depressed, bi-polar or ADHD, learn to move past the stigma of “mental disease” and be open with others about your condition, educating them in the process and hopefully helping them, help you. (what movie??) Sorry got distracted. 😀
#68
ADHD is a bit of a mystery. There are no tests to prove one has it & some people even think that it’s a fake disease created by drug companies to make more money. Baloney!! ADHD is as real as diabetes or depression. If your spouse is questioning your symptoms & thinking that you’re just lazy or crazy, they need to be educated!
And! If you haven’t been officially diagnosed you need to go and be tested by a licensed psychologist who ideally specializes in ADHD. Bring your spouse with you! If you have been diagnosed, then offer to go to the doctor together so that your spouse can talk to a professional and have their questions answered. I’m thinking about doing a tele-seminar w/my wife on the subject of marriage & adhd – would that be useful to anyone?