ADD
Moms with an ADHD Child: A Common Combination
 The
ADHD child prospers in an
organized, structured environment. Thank goodness for mothers
who set up dependable routines, keep everything in its place,
and ensure that schedules run according to plan. The mothers
of ADHD children are truly the supermoms of today’s
society. What would we do without them?
But what
if a child with ADHD also has a mother with ADHD? Since ADHD
is likely a genetic disorder, there’s a good chance
that both mothers and children may suffer from attention difficulties.
If you thought it was tough for the average mother to keep
everything organized, can you imagine how hard it is for a
mom with ADHD?
It’s
natural for mothers to be critical of themselves, constantly
questioning whether they’re doing enough for their kids.
Moms with ADHD have double the self-doubt and at least double
the challenges. To top it off, many moms struggle with ADHD
in the workplace as well as housework
and ADD/ADHD. If you are a mother with ADHD who is also
trying to raise children with ADHD, the following suggestions
have been put forth by mothers who are in the same situation
and have found creative ways to cope:
- Talk to your children
and their father about your ADHD. Explain how ADHD affects
your thinking patters and way of doing things. Let them
know what to expect from you.
- Write things down as
much as possible. Post a big calendar for the entire family
showing appointments, birthdays, and other events. Have
plenty of paper and pens on hand for keeping notes. Have
a special pad of paper for the family grocery list, one
place where everyone can write down what they need from
the grocery store. Post a white board in the kitchen and
in every bedroom to leave messages and reminders.
- Have visible clocks
with timers in every room, even in the shower, so that
no one loses track of time. You can use cell phones as
timers and for text reminders, too.
- Keep your life very
simple. Don’t amass so many possessions that your
home becomes cluttered. Reduce clutter as much as possible
and designate a place for important items like shoes,
keys, coats, backpacks, etc.
Perhaps most
importantly, do not over-commit. As a mom, you’ll be
asked to help with many things at school, church, and other
areas. Set your priorities—kids and family first!—and
stick to them. As a mom with ADHD, there may be times when
you can’t help anyone else because you have too many
responsibilities at home, and that’s okay. No one can
take care of your family the way you can. |
