Hello 👋🏾

[Taneisha_]

My name is Taneisha i have a daughter diagnosed with ADHD as of March 2017 I’m just looking to connect for some coping skills for parents as all here knows it is a struggle being a mom first i Work in mental health an most times feel like i can’t even connect to my own child i am a full time student in a masters in human services.

[anirush]

My daughter is bipolar and her children who live with me are ADHD and possibly bipolar, too. I'm still learning to cope with all the different behaviors. You just keep hoping for a miracle medication that will make everything wonderful

[Jmnt80]

One of the things that helps me to connect with one of my adhder’s is touch and eye contact. I gently place fingers on her cheeks, calmly look into her eyes and help her calm and work through whatever the difficulty is. It works every time. The other, loves hugs or just siting and snuggling. This often helps.

Their teachers find that rubbing their backs really helps to calm them.

[TaraCrowl]

Taneisha I felt the same way!! I am a counselor and was struggling with my own kiddo. I have learned SO much. If you can make the time to read even the first half this book, I would start with The Whole Brain Child by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. SOOO helpful. The other book that was helpful to me was Coping Skills for Kids Workbook: Over 75 Coping Strategies to Help Kids Deal with Stress, Anxiety and Anger by Janine Halloran. She also has a website called copingskillsforkids.com. I hope this helps. It is definitely a journey. How old is your daughter?

[Taneisha_ in reply to TaraCrowl]

Ok thanks will do i always follow up with recommend reading my daughter is well an since the right medicine An the new school per parent conference she is doing very well all A,s and B,s she has never seen an A I’m in tears

[TaraCrowl in reply to Taneisha_]

Medication was a godsend for us too. Glad to hear about As and Bs!!!!

[Taneisha_ in reply to TaraCrowl]

Yes at times i feel bad but it helps question have u discuss what ADHD really is to your child i haven’t really told mine i just tell her she needs the meds to focus better not a lie but not the absolute truth either

[TaraCrowl in reply to Taneisha_]

Yes, I have talked about it with my son. At first he was like ok, then he was a little angry, then it was fine. I found famous people online that have ADHD and told him about them...famous gymnast, lead singer of a band, etc. And, we have come across other kids who have ADHD as well so now it is no big deal. For medication, he was fine for a long time and then resisted. We discussed that it is like needing glasses. Why struggle to see when you can just put glasses on.

[Janemariekathryn in reply to TaraCrowl]

Every word you have written was as if I had written and experienced too! It’s amazing all the similar struggles our children and our selves have. I think helping the children to understand what they are dealing with which is part of who they are and educating the child’s family and teachers on the issue is key! My son now at 13 is starting to advocate for himself in school matters . I feel like we’re finally moving slowly forward. From the time he started school until 6th grade life was a constant circle of confusion and negativity . We are now positive and going forward ! Thank God! Truly!

[Janemariekathryn in reply to Taneisha_]

Other books I found helpful were Scattered but Smart and ADHD is not a Four Letter Word. My son is 13 and was diagnosed at age 11. Talking to his Pediatric Psychiatrist has really helped him. He knows what he is dealing with. He seems to understand ADHD. Once my son and our family knew what we were dealing with the struggle became a bit easier. I think if your daughter knew what she has it might help her put things in perspective . Good luck!