Importance of Structure

As a child it wasn't known that there was anything abnormal about the way my brain works. I was just labeled "lazy" or "Procrastinator". It's a wonder I even graduated high school. I was placed into a private school with very little structure. We were given a goal chart stating how many pages in each subject we were supposed to complete by the end of the day...usually 5 pages in each subject. There were scheduled recesses and lunch but that was the basically the amount of structure given. Not surprisingly, I rarely got any work done at school. Coming home was the same. I was told to sit and do my homework until I was finished. There were many nights that I sat until midnight with my homework still not completed. I was often forgotten about as I sat there quietly playing with my pencil and eraser daydreaming about anything I wished. Completing chores was difficult for me as well. It wasn't unless my siblings and I made a game of it that I was able to complete them in a timely manner. When I was in Junior High my new principal gave us an incentive. As soon as we got our goals for the day done we could be on recess for the rest of the day. My friends and I began to get our work done the night before. We even began to do the entire week's goals done that weekend. The incentive worked...a little too well. Our Principal soon made the rule that we could only do the next day's work and any others would not count.

It wasn't that I could not do my work. It wasn't that I was stupid or lazy or any of the things that perhaps my teachers and parents thought I was. I just needed more structure and the right motivation. A good friend of mine also has ADHD. Her parents and teachers caught it early on. They would set an egg timer to motivate her to get her work done before the buzzer went off. They broke her tasks down into smaller portions so she wouldn't be overwhelmed. It's what I do for my daughter as well. Instead of saying "clean up the room" and expecting it to be done in the half hour it should take, I set the timer and give her 15 minutes and say "pick up all the toys and put them in the toy room before this timer goes off or they go into this bag and stay in the garage." I still have to motivate her, I can't leave her to it on her own or she'll fail. She's only four. Eventually I'll be able to leave her to it and expect it to be done. Once the timer goes off she's either finished or there are still toys. I follow through with what I said I'd do if the task is not complete. Then I set the timer again, "Pick the cushions off the floor and put them on the couch" I give her 5 minutes. I set the timer again with each task that needs to be completed in order for the room to be picked up. No more nagging, a lot less frustration, and I'm setting her up for success. If she fails then she is properly disciplined.

Structure is very important for kids, especially those with ADHD. They need to know what is expected of them and when it is expected of them. They need to know when to do this and when to do that. One of the best things you can do for your child is set up a schedule and post it in the house. Let them know when they are expected to do chores, homework, bathe, get ready for bed, have lunch, free time, ect. Stick to the schedule so that they have a sense of added security knowing when things will happen. Kids thrive on that kind of structure. It certainly doesn't have to be rigid and there is room for flexibility but as long as they know what is expected and when things will happen the more your home will feel stable and secure. My school had little structure, my home had little structure and I made it out alive. However, I can't help but wonder how much I could have accomplished, how less often I would have been punished and scolded had I been given the tools to succeed. ADHD wasn't well known back then. And when it became known it was more a bad word to be avoided than a lifeline diagnosis.

Provide structure for your kids. If you have ADHD, provide structure for yourself. My husband has PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury and he needs structure as well. I've made a schedule which every hour (sometimes half hour and even 15 minutes) accounted for. When we wake up and eat breakfast, when we clean the house, when we do homeschool, when we have free time and lunch and dinner and bedtime and everything in between. I scheduled outdoor play and family time every day. I scheduled time for my husband and I every night. Time for us to do projects while the kids are napping. Your kids will thank you even if they resist. The best way to get them to embrace the schedule, as my good friend pointed out, is to have them help you make it. If they feel they have some control they are more likely to follow it through. Good luck!

The Battle of Wills

My children are difficult. I love them. I adore them. I thank God for them every day. But they are not the easiest children to raise. Don't get me wrong. I'd never trade them in. In fact, I believe they are the most perfect children for me to raise. They never bore me, they keep me on my toes, and never does a day go by where we are not falling into a heap laughing together at least once. My house is filled with laughter and mischief and though sometimes I want to pull my hair out, I absolutely love it. Both children are strong-willed, stubborn and mischevious. My daughter is creative beyond belief and she is always thinking of ways to get one by me. My son is more overt in our battle of wills. He will take me on like a raging bull--screaming, spitting, hitting, biting, and throwing himself to the floor.

It's so easy to become frustrated with my children and feel overwhelmed and at the end of my rope. It's easy to raise my voice and sound harsher than I intended in the heat of the moment. It's hard to see the crushed looks on my kids' faces or to hear Daughter say "Why are you so mad at me, Mommy?" I am not perfect. I am not a "together" type of mother. Sometimes my house is chaotic. My son bites other children. My son is "that kid", you know, the kid no one wants for a play date? He's a sweet boy and I don't know what else to do for him. I'm sure people think, "If she disciplined more, if she was more consistent, if she was more structured, if..." But you know what? I'm doing the best I can. I can't worry about how other people perceive me as a mother. I have to do what I know to do and try everything to help my kids grow up to be well rounded and contributing members of society. I pray for them a lot. I pray that I am the mother they need me to be. Every child is different. Every child needs something different from their parents. You can't treat each child the same--equally fair and loved, yes. You have to show them love and discipline in a language that is unique to them.

Sometimes I cringe at what the years ahead hold for me as my children's mother, especially adolesence. Even then, however, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to raise such wonderful children who I know will grow up to change their world. I might be biased, but I know they have the potential to do whatever they put their minds to. Their creativity and stubborness will take them to amazing heights...if I raise them right. And I constantly pray that God gives me the wisdom, the understanding, and the patience to do so.

ARTICLE: Facts About ADHD

I came across this article and thought I'd share it.  I realized I haven't put up a post about how to tell your child is ADHD or the "basics" of what ADHD really is.  This article is from Focus On The Family and you can view the original source here.

Facts About ADHD

Unlocking the potential in your ADHD child will require some work on your part, but it will be well worth it.

by Dr. Walt Larimore

How Common Is ADHD?

Some studies estimate that 1.7 percent of children have ADHD; others claim the number is closer to 26 percent, depending upon where, when and how the studies were conducted.

The Journal of the American Medical Association states that ADHD "… is among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children." The British Medical Journal estimates that some 7 percent of school-aged children have ADHD — and that boys are affected three times as often as girls. A 1995 Virginia study showed that 8 to 10 percent of young schoolchildren were taking medication for ADHD.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2002, 7 percent of children in the U.S. ages 6 to 11 had ADHD. They also reported that half of children in whom a diagnosis of ADHD was made also have a learning disability. They calculated that at least one million children have a learning disability without ADHD. The total number of children with at least one of these disorders was 2.6 million.

Again, boys were three times as likely as girls to have a diagnosis of ADHD alone, and twice as likely to have ADHD with a learning disability. Rates of diagnosis of ADHD are twice as high in Caucasian children as in Latinos and African Americans. Interestingly, children with a diagnosis of a learning disability alone were more likely to live in a low-income or single-mother household. Children from families with health insurance were more likely to have a diagnosis of ADHD without a learning disability.

It may be that Caucasian children, especially boys, are overdiagnosed. Another example is found in a study of fifth graders. Eighteen to 20 percent of Caucasian boys were being treated for ADHD with medication. African American children with ADHD are less than half as likely to receive treatment.

Whether or not you believe ADHD is real, it is not at all uncommon. Those looking for help in dealing with ADHD are not alone. Many parents are trying to discover the attention deficit dividends of their child. There is hope. To unlock the potential in your child will require some work on your part, but it will be well worth it.

Undoubtedly, ADHD treatment is a controversial topic — but in my opinion it should not be. In fact, more and more the medical studies are confirming that treatments work and they help — and they should not be kept from children who need them.

I would be the first to admit that ADHD is occasionally overdiagnosed. Obviously, not everybody who is called ADHD really is. But overall, it appears that physicians and mental-health professionals are doing a fair job.

In fact, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concludes: "Although some children are being diagnosed as having ADHD with insufficient evaluation and in some cases stimulant medication is prescribed when treatment alternatives exist, there is little evidence of widespread overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of ADHD or of widespread over-prescription of methylphenidate (Ritalin and others) by physicians."

What Are Some Traits Seen With ADHD?

Hallowell and Ratey, authors of Driven to Distraction, list 20 symptoms that are often evident in a person with ADHD:

1. A sense of underachievement, of not meeting one's goals (regardless of how much one has accomplished)
2. Difficulty getting organized
3. Chronic procrastination or trouble getting started
4. Many projects going simultaneously; trouble with follow-through
5. Tendency to say what comes to mind without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark
6. An ongoing search for high stimulation
7. A tendency to be easily bored
8. Easy distractibility, trouble focusing attention, tendency to tune out or drift away in the middle of a page or a conversation, often coupled with an ability to focus at times
9. Often creative, intuitive, highly intelligent
10. Trouble going through established channels, following proper procedure
11. Impatient; low tolerance for frustration
12. Impulsive, either verbally or in action, as in impulsive spending, changing plans, enacting new schemes or career plans
13. Tendency to worry needlessly, endlessly; tendency to scan the horizon looking for something to worry about alternating with inattention to or disregard for actual dangers
14. Sense of impending doom, insecurity, alternating with high risk-taking
15. Depression, especially when disengaged from a project
16. Restlessness
17. Tendency toward active behavior
18. Chronic problems with self-esteem
19. Inaccurate self-observation
20. Family history of manic-depressive illness, depression, substance abuse or other disorders of impulse control or mood

Are the Brains of People With ADHD Different?

Although the cause of ADHD is unknown, the theories abound. Some believe it is associated with subtle differences in brain structure. Brain scans reveal a number of subtle changes in the brains of those diagnosed with ADHD. In fact, one of the former names used for ADHD was "minimal brain disorder."

Others say it's related to neural pathways, neurotransmitters or brain chemistry — particularly abnormalities in the brain chemical dopamine. Still other researchers believe ADHD is related to the brain's blood supply or electrical system. Recent research has raised the question of whether frequent exposure in early childhood to rapid electronic stimuli (such as television and computers) might contribute to this problem.

Richard Degrandpre, in his book Ritalin Nation: Rapid-Fire Culture and The Transformation of Human Consciousness, theorizes about what he calls a "sensory addiction phenomenon." He feels that many of the behaviors seen in ADHD people stem from a sensory bombardment from TV programs, movies, computers and so on. He feels that early exposure to this sensory bombardment, especially at a time when the brain is just forming connections and synapses, may result in biological or neurological effects, including, but not limited to, ADHD.

Degrandpre believes that these effects can be exaggerated in the absence of parental structure. We live in a world that is incredibly stimulating; there are constant stimuli in the life of even a young child. I don't know that we can get rid of all that, but I know that I can encourage parents to provide a loving, warm, structured environment so children can learn to deal with all the stimuli.

One piece of data that may support Degrandpre's theory is the experience of the Amish, who are known to forego computers and television. This keeps their children from this type of stimulation; ADHD appears to be uncommon among the Amish. Researchers have reported that among 200 Amish children followed prospectively and compared with the non-Amish population, symptoms of ADHD were unusual.

Adapted from Why ADHD Doesn't Mean Disaster by Dennis Swanberg, Diane Passno and Walter L. Larimore, M.D. A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers.

Homeschooling

I have decided to home school my kids, as I'm sure I have mentioned.  My daughter is 4 and we're working on K4 curriculum.  Basically I search online for different lessons and worksheets  to use for the week and we work together on lessons.  With Daughter having a high probability of ADHD I realize she doesn't learn the same way other kids do.  In fact, kids learn in many ways.  The best way to teach your child is to find out what vehicle they use to learn.  Right now my daughter learns best by combining all the styles into a lesson.  Today's lesson was on senses.  She learned about the 5 senses.  We read a book, Flip Flap Body Book, which was rich with bright pictures.  So she was able to hear and see the lesson.  Then we moved to the kinetic part of the lesson.  We felt things, we smelled things, we tasted things.  She used all her senses to learn about her senses.  How perfect is that?  I even incorporated lunch into her lesson.  I put grapes, a piece of lime, some cilantro, and pretzels on her plate.  She was able to discover the 4 different kinds of taste.  She flew through this lesson and came out with complete understanding and comprehension.  I'm sure there are things that are still over her head like nerves and receptors.  But she knows that they're there and what they basic function is.


ADHD children can learn.  They are incredibly bright and creative children.  The key is to find out how best they learn and incorporate those methods into the lessons making them fun and interesting to the children.  Even if a parent doesn't home school their kids this is a lesson they can still learn from.  What parent with school age children hasn't sat in frustration while helping their child with homework?  Even if a child is sent to school it isn't the school's sole responsibility to teach that child.  Parents should be teaching their children every chance they get.  Understanding that each child is different and learns differently will help you find the vehicle that takes your child to that next level of learning.

When ADHD Sucks

I often praise the awesomeness of ADHD.  I love the ability to think on my feet and outside the box.  I love that I can hyper-focus on something and get it done in much less the amount of time it would take many of my peers.  In college I could pump out a 10 page research paper in 3-4 hours and get an A.  Of course it was the 3-4 hours immediately prior to the hour it was due.  My brain is wired differently than my peers.  This comes with many advantages that I am quite fond of and proud of.  However, there are times when I think that ADHD totally sucks.  The following is a non-comprehensive list of those times.

1. When I have to throw out the third pan of white sauce, gravy, melting butter, sauteed veggies (fill in the blank) because I got distracted and forgot to keep an eye on it.
2. When I forget that my child is in trouble and leave them in time out for half an hour when it was supposed to be 5 minutes. 
3. When I forget that my child is in trouble and I play with them only to be told, "I'm so glad I'm not in trouble anymore, Mommy!"  
4. When I am focusing so much on what I am doing/watching/reading that I don't realize my daughter has put her fingers in my mouth again...a habit she's had since infancy that I have desperately tried to break.
5. Or like the time when I interrupted myself during a serious conversation...in mid sentence...to point to the side of the road and exclaim "Oh look, a squirrel!"  Yes, I did it.
6. When I think I have 30 minutes to get ready only to realize I now only have 5 minutes to get someplace 10 minutes away.
7. When I go into a sports bar type restaurant with 7 televisions all with different channels and cannot keep a decent conversation with my husband.
8. When I look around my house and see the utter disorganization and an overwhelming sense of dread comes over me when I try to decide to organize keeping me from even knowing where in the world to start.
9. When I tell myself I have to remember what I'm going downstairs to get only to forget what it was as soon as my foot hits that last stair.
10. When I'm talking to a friend and suddenly my mind goes blank (usually mid sentence) and I get a glossed over type a look on my face trying to retrieve my train of thought.
11. When I tell a story that relates to something I am discussing only to follow several rabbit trails and ending at a total loss of what I was trying to say in the first place.
12. When I go into the store determined to spend only 15 minutes there and I emerge 2 hours later.  
13. Or when I can't find the glasses I just had anywhere only to have my husband look at me like I'm insane and tell me I'm holding them in my hand.  
14. When I get so short with my kids because the day has been so chaotic and I'm on my last raw nerve.  
15. When my husband and I are arguing and I overreact because I let my impulsiveness get the better of me.
16. When I let people down because things slip my mind or I bite off more than I can chew or I just procrastinate. 
17. When I feel like I am juggling so many things and I feel like I'm on the verge of dropping everything and failing myself and those I love.
18. When I feel like an outsider wishing the stupidest things didn't pop out of my mouth.  
19. When people don't understand me because they don't understand how my mind works and how differently it works from their own.
20. When people assume I'm lazy or irresponsible because I show up late or have a hard time getting something done on time.  
21. When I can't seem to focus on what a friend or family member is telling me, especially when I know it's something important to them.
22. When I realize I've been on the phone for 15 minutes with someone and haven't heard a word they've said.  
23. When I'm trying to write a blog post and all I can hear is the loud ticking of the clock.

I'm sure there is much more.  But those are some of my least favorite things.  Some are humorous and make me laugh even though they annoy me.  Some have reduced me to tears.  However, knowing I am not the only one who struggles with these things makes me feel better about myself.  It makes me feel like I'm not a failure and that I am doing my best.  I never stop trying to better myself, however, I'm not a bad wife, a bad mother, a bad friend, or a bad family member....  I am trying my best and that's good enough.

Parenting Your Way

Whether you are a parent with ADHD or a parent raising children with ADHD you'll learn that the parenting styles of others just might not work for you.  You'll get a lot of advice from well meaning parents that might not work for you.  I hear advice all the time.  I listen, I mull it over, and I decide if it will work for our family or not.  Somethings I try, other things I know automatically won't work because I know my kids and I know myself.  Such as, my son has a biting problem.  I received much advice on this topic, many of which I tried.  All have so far failed.  But one bit of advice was given to me that I knew immediately would not work--hot sauce on his tongue.  Why wouldn't it work?  Because my son adored spicy foods then.  Even if something spicy made him cry he'd continue to eat it.  The person giving me the advice of course didn't know this and once I informed her agreed it would not work on my son.  Perhaps it will now, since his tolerance for spicy foods has dwindled slightly and perhaps I will try it. 

Parents love to give advice to other parents.  Veteran parents and new parents alike love to pass on their knowledge and expertise--sometimes whether we want their advice or not.  No matter who it is (usually) I listen and ponder if it will work.  I'm not above receiving advice from anyone--well almost anyone, sometimes my pride gets in the way even if it is sound advice.  My mother is a well spring of knowledge on raising children and home remedies for ailments.  There are some I try and some I don't try but I always keep an open ear. 

Not every parenting style will work for your family.  With ADHD structure is very important.  However, your family should find a routine and reward/discipline system that works for you.  Every child is different, ADHD or not.  Some respond well with time outs, others don't at all.  Some respond to hearing disappointment in their parent's voice, others would not be fazed.  Some need spankings, and others never need a spanking in their life.  Be open to new ideas, especially if your methods aren't working well.  But also know that just because you do things differently than your mom or your best friend doesn't mean you are any less of a good parent than they were.

Small Victories

I love to cook.  I love making delicious food and hearing people rave about it.  It's something I'm passionate about.  Husband says I'm crazy because I have these rules about cooking.  One such rule is that if I make a dish for a potluck and it is not completely gone by the end of the event I will not make the dish again for whatever organization or family event or group of friends.  If one person raves about it, I'll make it again for them.  But I refuse to serve a dish twice at a potluck function if it wasn't absolutely loved.  An empty dish at the end of a potluck signifies a victory for me.  Sometimes I need to gain a victory in whatever manner I can because I feel like I've failed in everything else. 

A common feeling in those with ADHD is the feeling of failure.  Failure to keep the house clean.  Failure to organize.  Failure to keep your patience with your rowdy kids.  Failure to pay the bills on time.  Even the non ADHD parent of an ADHD child will feel like a failure at times.  I know I do.  I feel like I've failed my kids this week.  I've  not lost my patience much this week.  I've actually gotten better at that, but it still doesn't seem like much of a victory to me.  Perhaps I feel like I need an all-or-nothing type of win.  Such as my potluck rule...most everyone can love my dish, but if it's not completely gone it's not a victory, I've still lost that one.  I can have oodles of patience with my kids but if I lose my cool once, I've lost that battle.  My house can be spotless, but if my kitchen is a wreck I've lost that battle too.  I organized our finances this month and completed our budget, but I forgot to send the water bill out on time--failed.  Failed.  Failed.  Failed. 

This entire past week has felt like a continual string of failures.  My kids are sick.  They are getting sicker.  I'm a single parent for the next 6 weeks and I feel like I'm failing that.  I was scheduled to teach 3 times at the church this week and had to cancel each time because my kids were sick...I failed the church.  But I can spend all my time focusing on all my perceived failures or I can remember my definite victories.  I did manage our finances in a seemingly hopeless situation.  I've been a single parent for a week now and the kids and I are still alive.  I did have my house clean at one point.  I made 2 delicious meals that were raved over by 2 different groups.  In the midst of sickness, I've made my kids laugh several times each day.  I've helped my kids recognize their victories as well.  Even though they've been in much trouble this week, I celebrate the good things they do recognizing each victory they achieve.  It's a victory win my son spills his food and immediately cleans it up instead of flinging it around and I'll celebrate that with as much flair as if made the winning touchdown.  And now, it's a new week.  I'll start off this week with a new victory.  I'm going to make something I've been dying to try--Mochi Cake.  It's a recipe I found at Week of Menus.  I love her blog because I can find so many recipes that are based off the food I love, and she has the same passion of making food that people rave about.  So today I will gain my victory and the kids and I will revel in that victory together.

Reaching for The Stars

When the movie How To Train Your Dragon came out in theatres I was excited to take my then 3 year old daughter.  Daughter is a very princessy and girlie type of girl.  However, she loves action as well.  You just can't put her in a box because you never know what will spark her interest.  We both fell in love with the movie.  And I was stoked that she wanted a How To Train Your Dragon birthday party.  The movie was an awesome, and it touched my heart.  I'm not sure if I made the connection when I watched it at the theatre.  I was distracted by my not-so-willing-to-sit-still toddler.  Son just turned 2 last weekend. 

This time around both children were glued to the television as we watched How To Train Your Dragon for the first time since the theatre.  It had just come out and an angel of a friend brought it to us that morning.  During the first 15 minutes I was struck with the realization of how much Daughter and I could relate to Hiccup, the main character.  He was a teenage boy who was always messing things up and frustrating others.  He was always accused of not focusing or being where he should be.  He was an outcast and he was very aware of it.  His own father didn't understand him and vocalized his wish that Hiccup would just be normal like everyone else.  You see, Hiccup's people were all vikings.  Strong vikings who killed dragons.  He tried so hard to conform, his mind was always turning, he had huge plans, but they always blew up in his face. 

Now, Daughter is only 4.  She has plenty of friends.  Everyone loves her.  She is known as "the coolest kid ever" by teenagers and adults alike.  She's hilarious, she's silly, she's loving, compassionate, and extremely creative.  She is also very strong-willed and impulsive.  I struggle to teach her vital social skills so she doesn't grow up feeling like an outcast like I did--like Hiccup begins his journey feeling.  I have a member of my family who is ADHD.  He's very successful in what he does.  He's always been incredibly popular and well loved.  His charisma helped him overcome the social obstacles many youngsters with ADHD face.  I believe this is the case for my daughter.  So it's not so much the social outcast that she can relate to, it's the dreaming big, difficulty focusing, and not doing what she needs to be doing at the time.  I can identify with pretty much all of Hiccup.  Several times someone gestures toward Hiccup and says, "Stop being...this" and he replies, "But you just gestured toward all of me."  Hiccup was one very misunderstood lad.

You see, with ADHD (and if you have it you understand) one just can't fit in and conform.  Hiccup was ADHD and very strong-willed.  He might not be physically strong and burly like the other Vikings, but his will (and stubbornness) were difficult to conquer.  He couldn't be kept from his plans and schemes.  And he was a very creative boy.  He constantly thought up new plans, thought outside the box.  But because he tried so hard to be who everyone else wanted him to be (a dragon killer) he failed miserably.  It wasn't until he stopped trying to fit in the typical Viking mold that he blossomed.  His father was disappointed in Hiccup for not fitting in.  He wanted Hiccup to be a Viking.  It touched my heart because so many parents out there don't understand the way their kids are built.  They don't understand that their kids don't fit the mold and that that's ok.  It's better than ok.  In the end Hiccup is a hero and he's embraced for who he truly is.  Only Hiccup could have changed his world, because only Hiccup could dream so big and question what was always accepted as truth. 

People often tell me not to say that Daughter has ADHD.  I've had several people tell me "don't speak that into her life" or "you better pray she doesn't".  Why would I do that?  To make MY life easier?  Yes, it's a struggle to live with ADHD, but I also was never taught how to manage my weaknesses.  Instead I was told I was lazy or that I didn't care enough.  I was always in trouble because I had a deep sense of justice and right and wrong and would question authority if I felt they were being unjust.  I was also very creative in my ability to bend the rules without quite breaking them.  My daughter seems to have inherited that ability.  But why would I want to squelch who she is?  Why would I want her to "fit in" when she is destined to greatness?  Everyone has their weaknesses, but I truly feel that way my brain is wired puts me ahead of my peers.  What keeps me back is my failure to totally conquer my weaknesses.  Then again, it's only been a few years since I've realized I was ADHD. 

My advice to parents?  Support your kids in whatever they want to do.  Don't squelch their dreams no matter how big they are.  And they'll probably change their minds several times and each idea is just as big or bigger then the previous one.  Encourage them to find what they're passionate about.  Teach them to focus on one thing at a time.  As preschoolers you can teach them this by clearing away all their toys and setting one toy, game, or task at at time for them to focus on.  Limit television.  Don't limit their creativity but encourage it, though try to encourage healthy avenues for creativity.  Teach them that they can accomplish anything they want to and let no one (including themselves) tell them they can't do it.  ADHD children won't always do well in school (though some will excel given the right teachers and circumstances), they might not be widely accepted among their peers, they might never be teacher's pets.  But ADHD children have the potential to change the world.  Everything that makes them so "difficult" to deal with as children are what make them perfect candidates to become history makers.  Take some of the following as examples of people who either have been diagnosed with ADHD or who exhibited enough qualities to safely say they were likely ADHD.

Albert Einstein:  Struggled with school as a child.  Yet he changed the scientific world!  No one would doubt that Einstein was a genius. 

Ty Pennington:  Ty, the front man for Extreme Makeover Home Edition, was diagnosed with ADHD.  He was a spokesperson for ADHD Experts on Call in 2004, which seems to have since disbanded.  He was on Adderal to control his symptoms. 

Walt Disney:  His dreams could have been laughed at.  Yet look at the empire he built from those same lofty dreams.  Every child knows the name, Disney.

Hans Christian Anderson:  He wrote many classic books and tales that children and adults have loved for generations.  His creativity and imagination sparked from a mind that was wired differently than those around him.

Ansel Adams:  Captured many beautiful photographs that are worth thousands because he could see things through the lens that others could not. 

Where would we be without the inventions of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, also thought to have ADHD? 

Could your ADHD child really become president?  John F Kennedy, Dwight D Eisenhower, and Abraham Lincoln all became president "despite" their ADHD.  I put quotations on despite because I believe it was what set them apart, what made them GREAT presidents.  No one forgets their names because of the greatness they achieved. 

Walt Disney wasn't the only movie maker with ADHD.  Do you think Jaws, or E.T. would have sparked from a lesser mind than Spielberg?  He was the first director to think  outside the box of the visual dynamics of the theatres. 

Great athletes like "Magic" Johnson and quarterback Terry Bradshaw were ADHD.  Their ADHD brains gave them the ability to take in more information at one time keeping them a step ahead of their competitors. 

The list goes on and on.  Check out more individuals who have rocked the world at http://www.adhdrelief.com/famous.html.  I'd like to end this entry with something quoted from that very site.  use it as a reminder not to put yourself or your children in a box hoping they will one day conform to "normalcy".  But instead to celebrate the gifts God has given each of us. 

Be aware that we are NOT "stupid or lazy" as some claim, but actually may be among the outstanding individuals of each passing generation.

Grace Goes A Long Way

A few weeks ago I was rushing around the house getting ready to leave for our two week vacation.  We would be flying out and the kids and I would be driving back in a new-to-us van.  I tried hard that week to not procrastinate, to get everything done, to not stress myself out at the last minute--you know, my usual MO.  I did have most everything packed a couple days in advance, but my house was a complete disaster.  I had neglected laundry for far too long.  To make it worse I had decided to go through all the kids' and my clothes that didn't fit and organize them.  Which meant adding them to the pile of laundry.  It was boxes and boxes of clothes.  The carpet in the kids' room was hidden beneath a layer of clothes.  The kids had so many toys in the toy room that I was trying to organize the toy room and get rid of half of the toys.  The kids rarely played in there because of the disorganization and lack of room to move and it's a big room.  Even at my house's cleanest it looked cluttered.  I just do not have the gift of organization and housekeeping.  I was upset and embarrassed and stressed out and felt like a total and complete failure.

It was so important to me to have the house in presentable shape because a friend had insisted on getting the keys to the house to help me organize while I was gone.  I was embarrassed that I couldn't do it on my own.  But, at the advice of another friend, I took the help.  My angel of a friend drove us to the airport that day.  I commissioned to my husband (who himself has memory problems) to remember the baby's birth certificate to proof his age to the airline.  There were too many things for me to remember and I knew I would not remember that.  Everyone was waiting on me at the end because I had forgotten to load movies onto the iPad in advance and was waiting on that.  Finally I rushed out the door and jumped into the car and off we went.  Half way to the airport I asked my husband about the birth certificate.  He had forgotten. We had to turn around and go back.  When we did we saw the door to the house was wide open.  I hadn't shut it.  I was leaving for a two week vacation and didn't shut the door.  My husband was not very happy with me, I wasn't very happy with myself.  I nearly broke down in tears.

My vacation was hectic.  It was great to see my family, to have all our kids together at the same time.  To see the grandparents so happy with the kids.  However, it was so hard for me.  I was stressed out trying to pick up after myself and the kids and to watch what I said to my parents and sister.  They tend to be very sensitive and of course I tend to say things without thinking or things that are taken the wrong way.  I was very glad to be on my way home, to say the least.  Because of unfortunate circumstances and background some in my family have issues they haven't faced.  Everyone is expected to accept it with grace and patience, and I do so willingly and not begrudgingly.  However, very rarely do I meet with grace when something I say or do is taken the wrong way with my family.  I'm not sure why this is.  Perhaps it's because they don't buy into the whole ADD thing.  Perhaps they refuse to believe anyone would have bigger issues than they do.  Perhaps it is because my husband suffers from PTSD and they don't understand it.  Whatever it is, both my husband and I see very little grace and understanding from my family.  This is a major stressor in my life.  Unfortunately, I have enough stressors in my life.  It can very well be the cause of the problems that just had me hooked up to a 30 day 24/7 heart monitor.

It's hard enough for me to keep from taking my own frustrations out on the kids, keeping from being patient and understanding with them.  I don't want my children to think that I'm not there for them, that they have to walk on eggshells around me as I had to growing up.  I want to pour grace and patience and understanding into their lives and let them know I will always believe in them.  So I had to make a decision.  It's not because I don't love my family.  I do.  I don't think they'll realize how much and how much I appreciate each one of them.  However, now I have my own little family to worry about and to protect.  My husband is my husband for life.  He and our kids depend on me.  I cannot allow extra stress to affect that.  I can't allow extra stress into their lives.  So I have decided to stop bending over backwards to accommodate anyone, family or not.  I mean the best but yet still end up offending.  I tread carefully and think about the impact of each word I say, and I am still the bad guy.  My husband works hard to help and show he cares and he is met with no benefit of the doubt.  And yet we are expected to go out of our way to show grace and forgiveness and no hard feelings.  I don't mind doing that...however, I expect the same grace and forgiveness and no hard feelings.  And until I start seeing that I will no longer put myself in a situation where I have to go out of my way to smooth feathers and unfortunately, egos.

The best part of my vacation was that I came home to a wonderfully clean and organized house.  I can't say that I haven't slacked and my dining room table/computer desk isn't covered in papers and toys right now or that I don't have a sink full of dishes, or the toy room is immaculate.  However, I can say that by the end of the day the kitchen will be cleaned, the dining room table pretty much cleared off, and the toys in the toy room picked off the floor.  What I learned this past month is that you can't do everything.  You have to know your weaknesses and try your hardest, make a game plan, work hard to overcome them and not give in to them.  However, you also have to know when to accept help when you need it, when to stand up for yourself and your family, and when you need to say "enough".

If you're reading this because you know someone with ADHD, just remember this: Grace goes a long way.  Trust me, I understand how hard it is sometimes to deal with someone with ADHD.  My husband has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury due to his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  TBI can have a lot of the symptoms of ADD.  I'm pretty sure my 4 year old daughter has ADHD (I recognize so much of myself in her).  I'm homeschooling her because of it.  It is one of the most frustrating and yet rewarding tasks I have ever taken up.  I want to lose my patience with her at times.  I want to ask her "why can't you just focus for a minute??"  And I KNOW why she can't.  Of all people I understand her.  And I still get frustrated.  I have learned to just take a step back, remember what my husband is going through or remember how frustrating learning was for me at my daughter's age.  When I take time to try and understand it is much easier for me to show grace and patience.  What is grace?  In short, realizing that we all make mistakes and harboring no hard feelings toward someone when they do make a mistake or do something that offends you.  Too often we jump to conclusions thinking that that person is doing what they are doing to offend you, oftentimes they have no clue they offended you.  And in my case, I feel badly to know I have offended someone.  Try to be more understanding.

Fortunately for me, I have an advantage when it comes to my ability to show grace to others.  I am so grateful for the grace God has shown to me that it's not hard for me to show grace to others.  I have been freely given the love and favor of God.  He knows my mind, my heart.  I am so insignificant in this world and yet He has taken the time to forgive my shortcomings and blessing me in ways I can't deny was divine.  Because I relate with such a grace I can more freely give grace.  Not to say I'm a deep well of patience, because I'm not.  Fortunately, because of the grace I always try to show my children and husband, they turn around and show me grace when I need it.  I thank God for that too, because I am far from perfect.

Some Days Are Harder Than Others...

The reason I started this blog is because I have ADD.  There aren't many people who truly understand what makes me tick and why I'm so quirky at times.  You might get your feelings hurt if you don't really understand how my mind works.  I seem like I don't care enough to remember what you told me yesterday, or that I don't find you interesting when I zone out and haven't heard you talking and I have to ask you to repeat yourself.  It's not that I don't care, it's that it takes much more effort for me to remember things people tell me or even to pay attention than those without ADD.  Some write it off as an excuse and we really don't become close friends.  Others, however, realize I'm trying my best and we become great friends.  They realize that I truly do care, perhaps more than the average person.  I'd do anything for my friends and family.

Growing up my parents didn't realize what was going on with me.  It wasn't their fault.  My mom has ADD too, so she just thought that everyone dealt with those things and other people rose above them so I should too.  My father probably just thought I was lazy.  Actually, I was told I was lazy quite a bit as a child by many different people.  It was something that festered as I grew up.  Was I really lazy?  The Bible warns against laziness and yet I was lazy.  What kind of Christian was I?  Then I would think about my performance on the job.  I had always been one of the top workers, almost a workaholic staying late to make sure I got everything done.  So I couldn't be lazy right?  I mean, you can't be both lazy and a good worker could you?  This was all before I learned that I was ADD.  I thought ADD was a joke.  Everyone dealt with that.  Everyone was flooded with several thoughts, everyone had a hard time  getting things done, everyone had trouble remembering things and paying attention.  ADD was an excuse for children to behave badly and parents to be off the hook.  After all, I was pretty well behaved as a child.  Actually, I got in trouble a lot.  Much more than my younger sister.  I was always talking back to my mom, I never got my chores done, I never got my work done at school, and I was always losing my temper.  Looking back, I got in trouble a lot because I was ADD and no one knew it.

My almost 4 year old daughter gets in trouble a lot for the same things.  It's very frustrating.  I now see the world through my mother's eyes.  I now realize why she lost her temper and yelled, because I do the same. And now that I see that, I try so hard to remember how hard it is for my daughter.  Some days are harder than others.  As a child I used to lose my temper quite often and beat up my little sister for making little annoying sounds that resonated in my head.  Looking back I see now why I burst into such fits of anger.  When everyone else could tune out the noise, I couldn't.  I couldn't tune it out because it was all I heard.  I would ask nicely, I would ask again, I would tell my parents and they would act like I was the one doing something wrong.  On the surface it was ridiculous for me to be so obsessed with a single noise no one else seemed to hear, but in reality it was like torture to me.  I've learned to control my temper and try hard to tune these things out.  Some days are harder than others.

I try to be patient with other people.  I realize that they don't really understand the amount of effort I put into so much that is so easy for them to do.  I realize how easy it is to write it off as an excuse.  I understand all that.  And so I try so hard to be patient and to endure the ribs and the subtle or not so subtle remarks.  And I try so hard not to let it get to me.  Some days are harder than others.  I try to stay positive and to not allow my aggravation and frustration get the better of me.  I try hard not to yell at my kids or let my house become a wreck.  Some days are harder than others.  Today is one of those days.  All I can do is turn to God and ask for the strength to get through yet another day.  I know in my own strength I'll yell at my children and allow my frustrations to overwhelm me.  I know I'll want to scream and to cry.  I know I will get nothing done and my house will stay in disarray.  But with God's help I can remain my composure, I can get things done, I can show patience to my children.  "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

So yes, some days are harder than others.  But when I fail, I failed because I relied on my own strength.  It looks like medication is simply not an option for me.  I'm currently wearing a heart monitor because of the craziness my body went through on Straterra.  It's not likely a stimulant would be any better.  So God is forcing me to rely more on Him.  And I don't mind.  It reminds me to grow closer to Him daily so that I can succeed daily.

Article: Parenting a Child with ADHD

I found this article interesting and hope it can help others!  You can find the original article at http://www.everydayhealth.com/adhd/parenting-a-child-with-adhd.aspx.

Parenting a Child With ADHD

Living with ADHD can be a challenge, especially if your child is the one dealing with the condition. Read this story of one mother's experience in parenting a child with ADHD.

By Diana Rodriguez

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD

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Ah, the joys and trials of parenting — every parent knows them. Children are full of love and laughter, but raising kids also brings lots of challenges and frustrations. Every parent learns through time and experience how to handle them. But what if your child has ADHD? Then the whole parenting game, and all the rules, quickly change.

Parenting a Child With ADHD: One Mom's Story

Being a teacher, Christine Slawson, 48, of Fontana, Wis., was already aware of the warning signs of ADHD, and she was able to see them clearly in her own son. "I noticed the signs from early on," says Slawson. "By second grade, he was having trouble coping at school." There were complaints that he was having trouble focusing and paying attention in class, and that he was unable to settle down enough to get his work done. Even when he was younger, she’d noticed symptoms outside of school. "He was so impulsive and such a risk-taker," says Slawson.

Parenting a Child With ADHD: Understanding His Needs

Children with this disorder are just as smart and capable of learning as other children, but they may need to tackle projects, chores, and schoolwork differently than other kids.

You have to figure out what works for your child, says Slawson. That means finding out what motivates him, what helps him get and stay organized, and what help he needs from you. It's also very important to always remember that your child has different needs and a different way of approaching things than other children. These behaviors aren't intentional, and they aren't just "acting out" — and punishment isn't the answer. "If you keep giving a child punishment and he keeps doing it, it's not working," she says. "Punishment isn't a teaching tool."

Parenting a Child With ADHD: Daily Challenges

Simple activities like getting dressed, brushing teeth and hair, eating breakfast, and getting out the door with backpack, books, assignments, and lunch are all bigger challenges when your child has ADHD. It's normal for a child with ADHD to lose items, forget things, and just generally seem very disorganized.

Helping a child with ADHD get organized is key. Even a simple request like "go do your homework" may be a bit of a challenge for a child with ADHD because he doesn't really know what it takes to get the job done. Slawson said what worked for her family was to help set her son up at a study station, show him that he needed his books and papers and pencils, and take a picture of it.

They used that picture as a constant reminder and reference to help their son visualize what it looks like to be organized and prepared to do homework. What also worked for Slawson's son was a good reward system, with lots of praise and positive reinforcement when he did well.

Parenting a Child With ADHD: Getting Help

It's normal to feel stressed and frustrated — but know that you're certainly not the first parent of a child with ADHD to feel that way, and you won't be the last.

When you’re frustrated, try putting yourself in your child's shoes. As difficult as it is for you to deal with, it's much more difficult for the child living with ADHD.

"It's just really important to focus on the positives — accentuate the strengths and nurture the gifts and talents," says Slawson, who recommends joining a support group for parents of children with ADHD. There, you can talk about your experiences, learn from others, and just vent your frustrations.

Slawson's son is now 20 years old and a college graduate. He succeeded with lots of help and structure from his parents. He also had the benefit of a school system that was extremely supportive and accommodating of his learning disability, in part because of Slawson's constant involvement and proactivity when it came to schoolwork. Her son also found ways to manage his ADHD through medication and psychotherapy.

Your child can succeed, too — your job is to help figure out the best strategies and methods to help him get there.

Last Updated: 01/28/2010

This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of EverydayHealth.com. © 2010 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.

New Study Shows Fidgeting Helps

Why does it seem you or your child can sit in front of a television in a seeming trance and yet can't sit still while taking a test, doing work, or listening to instructions?  It seems that fidgeting might actually help the ADHD brain's ability to adequately stimulate the working memory, according to this Time article.  ADHD inhibits sufficient cortical arousal.  This means that it is difficult for the ADHD brain to process unexpected tasks.  For instance, an adult with ADHD might stop for directions and if those directions are more than 3 steps they are forgotten by the time they get back to the car.  I can't count the amount of times my husband has sent me in for directions and I came back with "Take a left at the light and a right at the...um...sorry."  This is also true for the child who is told to do a task in multiple steps or multiple tasks at one time.  The ADHD child simply cannot process that many steps.  Television, simple computer or video games, etc does not overtax the working memory.  The brain has no real need to store and retrieve information.

So why all the fidgeting?  A study by Mark Rapport reveals that children and adults with ADHD might just be using fidgeting to help stimulate short-term memory.  In the same way that sleep deprived adults will use caffeine to stimulate their brain enough to stay focused, those with ADHD are using fidgeting to stay focused.  What does this mean for you as a parent of an ADHD child?  The best thing to do is to let your child wriggle and move around as you give them instructions.  If letting them stimulate their minds to stay focused means letting them fidget, why not?  Our instincts as parents and teachers is to force the child to sit still and pay attention.  After all, a child sitting still is one paying attention, right?  Not necessarily, according to this new study.  It's hard to understand a child or even adult who has ADHD.  They don't behave in a typical manner.  That's because their brains don't operate in the typical manner.  And that's ok.  Wouldn't we rather  learn to regulate our working memories on our own and teach our children to do the same rather than relying on medication?

I know what you're thinking.  I'm thinking it too.  It's all well and good to let your child wriggle and run around while you're talking to them, but that's not likely to fly in the classroom.  It's true that many teachers just don't understand how the ADHD mind works.  Sadly, some are more concerned the children are put on medication to regulate their behavior instead of trying to understand and find new ways to help the child learn.  Now, there are great teachers out there who work hard to understand each student.  If you have such a teacher that is great!  Even so, it's not likely they'll allow your child to run around the classroom as it's distracting to other students.

However, The idea of using movement to improve focus is starting to catch on in classrooms.  Many teachers are now using exercise balls in place of chairs to help children stay focused by stimulating the brain's cortex.  Charged with the task of stabilizing on the ball awakens the brain's working memory allowing the child to stay focused and remember tasks more readily.  Other teachers are beginning to provide fidget items such as beads, stones, cool pencils, etc.  This can also work for the ADHD adult who feels the need to fidget during company meetings.

We'll have to keep an eye on this study and see if anything new and helpful comes out of it.  In the meantime, the best thing is to teach your child acceptable ways to fidget.  They can quietly tap their foot, move their fingers, move their heads, or with the teacher's approval use a stress ball.  Embracing your or your child's needs for fidgeting rather than squashing them will help foster a growing ability to self-regulate your behavior and attention span.  The better you or your child gets at understanding and regulating your behavior the less likely you'll be reliant on medication.

The idea that movement stimulates

Source:  Cloud, John.  http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1887486,00.html.  Written 3/25/2009.  

You are not alone...

It's amazing to me how many people flash me a familiar smile or nod when I mention I'm ADD.  There are some people who laugh and say it's an excuse (usually in nicer words), or those who try to convince me that everyone struggles with the same issues.  Some of these I'm convinced are ADD as well.  Others nod in agreement as if to say, "Yeah, you are!"  Then there are those who I know know all about it because they're ADD too.  I don't think people truly know the affects of ADD unless they or someone they're close to has ADD.

Occasionally, I'll run into a parent or family member who has a child with ADD or ADHD and they're not quite sure how to take the news or what it all entails.  I'm more than happy to explain that having ADD is not a bad thing.  That children with ADD are very bright and creative individuals.  They are usually several steps ahead of their peers and therefore bore easily.  It's hard to keep their attention not because something is wrong with them or that they're defiant but because there are so many things going on in their minds at any given time.  While they're peers process one thought at a time an ADD child processes several thoughts at a time.  They take in so much information that it is hard to tune out noises or other conversations in order to focus on what their parents or teachers are telling them.  Then there is the opposite end of the pendulum--the ability to hyperfocus.  I say ability in order to try and alleviate negative connotations that are associated with ADD/ADHD, but hyperfocusing can also be a weakness.  Ever notice you or your child or someone you know seems to "zone out" and it's hard to "bring them back"?  Or they seem so focused on a TV show or project that they can't seem to stop without a lot of prodding?  That is called hyperfocusing.  All that person sees at the moment is the project they are trying to finish, the TV show that has captured their interest, the video game they just have to get to the next level before quitting, even getting lost in their own thoughts or daydreams.

One problem I had in school was that I would develop these "fantasy worlds".  My creativity was off the charts and I was bored very easily.  It was an extremely bad environment for me to learn in because I was in a private school that placed us in desks away from our peers and told to work in our workbooks on our own.  We were self taught through workbooks.  I started this school at about age 8.  I never could get my work done at school except for the subjects that could hold my interest.  Everything around my little cubicle of a desk was too much of a temptation to play with.  My school supplies became a kingdom full of kings and queens and horsemen and fairies.  That was much more entertaining then multiplication and division.

If you or a family member, especially a spouse or child, has ADD just remember, it's not a bad thing.  I hate that it is even considered a disorder.  I believe ADD is a gift from God just as our personalities are God given.  It gives us the tools we need for the jobs God specifically has for us.  I learned recently that a large number of ministers are ADD.  It's not just God who recruits those with ADD either!  The CIA, the technical industry, the military, all embrace the strengths that ADD gives to a person.  I'm hoping soon we can all embrace the strengths, learn to conquer the weaknesses (who doesn't have weaknesses?) and stop labeling our children.  They don't need labels, they need tools.  I'm working on posting a few tools to help those with ADD or with loved ones with ADD as well as some topics I've been researching that relate to ADD/ADHD.  Keep an eye out!

On Medication...

I found out I had Attention Deficit Disorder about five years ago.  By the time I decided to get officially diagnosed and put on medication I realized I was pregnant.  It wasn't until three and a half years later when I wasn't pregnant or nursing and I was finally able to take medication.  They started me on Strattera at a low dosage and bumped me up gradually until I was taking 80mg a day.  After 30 days I began to feel a slight difference but not much.  The Dr bumped me up to 100mg.  After 2 weeks I felt a good difference in my focus and productivity.  I didn't stand in front of the dishwasher trying to convince myself to just unload the thing.  Nope, I had the entire kitchen clean and the dishes put away with minimal distractions.  When I saw the book on the counter I took it to the bookshelf, saw the shelves were dusty and instead of immediately dusting and forgetting about the kitchen I finished the kitchen then dusted!  That's a big deal for me if you live with me, you know.  It was a small victory but I knew it could be better.  I was excited to see that medication could help me in so many ways.

It didn't last long though.  I was feeling dizzy a lot and my heart would begin to flutter.  I began to black out and would have to fight to keep from passing out.    The black outs caused me to be a bit confused while I was trying to keep myself steady.  My friends began to worry.  I passed out in front of my daughter and scared her pretty badly.  So finally after much persuasion from my friends I went back to the Dr.  He chided me for not coming in earlier.  I figured it would go away soon...or eventually.  He sent me to a cardiologist to see if there is something wrong with my heart before trying a different medication.  I currently have to wear a 24/7 heart monitor, it's been a week so far.  It's quite a pain.  But I get to tell the children I'm turning into a robot.  Daughter's BFF, came up to me and tried to lift up my shirt in church to see if I was still a robot, so maybe I shouldn't have told her that.

Doc said if my heart comes out healthy then we can try a different medication.  However, the only other medication out there is stimulants.  I did want to try stimulants in the first place, but if the Strattera sent my body in such an uproar then I don't have much hopes for the stimulants.  I've already accepted the fact that I might have to do this without medication.  I'm not on my own though.  I know God will help me learn what I need to to become a more efficient person.  I'm hoping He's planning on sending me a maid.  That would rock.

All About Me

I've done a few blogs here and there before.  I haven't had much luck in staying on track with them.  It's a weakness of mine...I start projects and never finish them.  This is my latest project and I hope to stay with it.  However, first let me introduce myself.

I am a wife, a mother of two very active children, a friend, a helper, a teacher, a photographer, a cook, to name a few of the hats I wear.  I recently found that I am a Sanguine which means I am driven by the need to have fun, be well liked, make people laugh and have fun, and just a basic social type person.  It also means I'm very disorganized, usually late, and I don't always follow through.  Add to the mix that I am pretty high on the Attention Deficit Disorder scale and a mother of two small children and my life can be hectic and hard for me to keep from slipping into complete chaos.  I have many passions in life.  I love to work in the church, I love to write, I love to cook (and I LOVE good food), I love hanging out with friends, and trying new things, I love photography and I love to travel.

It wasn't until a few years ago that I realized I had ADD.  Though it was pretty apparent early on in life.  Back then it wasn't something many people knew much about.  And like it still is today, it's considered a bad thing to have ADD.  However, I have come to realize that having ADD has given me some of my best attributes, the things I love the most about myself, such as my creativity, the ability to think on my feet, thinking outside the box, the ability to hyperfocus, etc.  It also comes with a few negatives I can certainly live without, and taking into consideration that I am a Sanguine personality on top of the ADD (or is it the ADD that makes me a Sanguine or being a Sanguine that makes me ADD??).  Some examples are that I just cannot keep track of time.  I get focused on something else (usually trivial) and I cannot break my concentration.  I go into a store to grab two items leaving my poor DH waiting for me in the car an hour later.  My friends usually know to add 5-10 minutes to my time of arrival because I am always running behind.  It's not that I don't have respect for their time, it's that I have no concept of my own.  I zone out without realizing it, lost in my own thoughts.  I can never stay focused on a task for very long without hyperfocusing.  It makes it hard because my house is usually partially clean in every room because I get distracted before finishing.  I try to keep my life on track with schedules, organizers, day planners (or recently an iPad), meal plans, etc.  If I'd keep up with them then it'd do me a lot of good.  So I try to.

This blog is meant to help me stay on track, keeping me accountable.  I want to get more organized and scheduled for the sake of my sanity and for benefit of my children.  Since ADD is hereditary I want to make sure my kids learn all the tools they need to excel in life if they inherit their mother's genius.  I also want to share with others who might be experiencing the same frustrations I do and let them know it's ok.  It's not a bad thing if you have ADD.  I want people to celebrate the benefits of ADD and learn ways to control the negatives (with or without medication).  I also want to have an excuse to share the things I'm passionate about!  So get ready for my eclectic collection of craziness.