Oh my, I've just realized how it has been since my last blog. Which is why my topic for this blog is learning to live and cope with ADHD. My biggest struggle is maintaining a consistency, focus and overall organization. If I do not write in my daily journal of all the things that I have to accomplish then I'm totally lost and constantly going around in circles. Having a list helps me to stay on track. In writing daily lists for myself, I also have to write a list for my son to help him keep on track.
Being an adult with ADHD and a parent with a child who also has ADHD is one of the hardest challenges I've ever been faced with. Accepting the fact of having this disorder and teaching my son to do the same isn't easy. As an adult, family and friends have been accepting, understanding, and willing to help. As a parent, it's letting my son's school know of his condition, and how they should be helping him. To my surprise, I've come to learn that my son's school principal has an ADHD child himself, so he more than anyone there knows the struggles my son faces. My son accepts that he has ADHD but being 12 and in Grade 6, he's embarrassed for his peers to find out. My partner, mother and I have explained to him that the principals and teachers need to know so that they can do their job to help him with his education.
Medication while helpful in managing the symptoms has side effects. The side effect I like the least is weight loss, maintaining weight is another one of the struggles both my son and I face.
