Housework
and ADD/ADHD:
Helpful Household
Hints for
ADHD Moms
Managing
a household is more than a full-time job. From before sunrise
to bedtime, being a mom includes preparing meals, cleaning,
organizing, creating a schedule, being a taxi driver, watching
the budget, and so on. Running an organization like this would
be challenging for a corporate staff, let alone a mom who
has attention difficulties.
At first,
all moms might not be perfectly skilled in housework, but
with a little practice and purposeful thinking, ADD
moms with an ADHD child can be just as proficient as any
other mom. Here are a few household tips for moms with attention
difficulties:
Use
all the tools available. Stores are filled with easy
mops, brooms, vacuum cleaners, dusters, pre-moistened wipes,
and so on. These are great for the mom with little time and
a lot to do. You can cut cleaning time simply by getting the
right tools for the job.
Commit
to 10 minutes of housework at a time. You don’t
have to devote an entire day to housework. In just 10 minutes
a day, you can vacuum a room, clean a bathtub, or mop a floor.
That way the housework won’t pile up and become a huge
task that everyone would rather escape from.
Don’t
let laundry pile up. For moms with attention difficulties,
laundry is the first thing to avoid once it gets out of control.
ADHD moms should go ahead and get the laundry started as soon
as there’s enough for a load. Also, instead of folding
things, it’s easier and faster to hang them.
The most
important gift an ADHD mom can give herself is a routine,
especially if there is an ADHD
child in the family. People with attention difficulties
may dislike routines, but once they get started on one, they
see how well it works. If you have trouble creating a routine
for yourself, ask a friend or family member for help.
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