You've likely heard the phrase, “It's like herding kittens!” It is entirely possible that this phrase first came to use in describing what it's like to parent children with ADHD.
However, it is unfortunate that children with ADHD often get mischaracterized as being difficult or having behavioral issues. While these attributes can certainly be true in some circumstances, children with ADHD are very much like any other children – they are learning and evolving at all times. The intensity at which they evolve, however, can cause adults a great deal of stress and frustration.
You don’t choose to have ADHD. Did you choose your eye color? Your date of birth? Nope! ADHD is something most people identify in early childhood. But! That doesn’t mean you have to let it run your life. There are loads of things people with ADHD can do very well at school and in their friendships. We need coaches to help us and these coaches can be teachers, psychologists, tutors and even your own parents!
It takes a village to raise a child – it’s something many have heard before. However, many parents find themselves having a difficult time building their village. This is even more true for parents raising a child with diverse needs.
Many factors can contribute to this feeling of isolation. These include different perspectives on parenting, cultural understanding of disability, or having made a choice like moving away from your support system for a job opportunity. It can even be that you’re trying to make friends with the parents of typical children who just can’t relate to your experience.
Fall is upon us, school has started and for children with learning challenges, it’s time to create IPPs (Individual Program Plans). If you are working together with your child’s education team to assist them with learning challenges, there should be one of these coming home soon.
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