Young adults with ADHD

[Lilpumpkins6]

I have a few kids with ADHD and ADD. my oldest has graduated high school and didn't do well in college. What are some tips to help your young adult child succeed in life? I would like him to go to college, hold a job and be happy.

[seller]

This is what we all want for our kids, but for some ADHD boys, the journey to adulthood is much longer and much harder. If he didn't do well in college, then he needs to either take medication, try one or 2 classes at the junior college, or simply get a job and work for awhile. My son is 23 now and finally taking a full load after many many attempts at college. He just wasn't ready for school, even though we pushed, encouraged, threatened, etc. Now he has to pay for part of his tuition himself and I think he may actually graduate this time. If your son is living at home and working full-time, be sure he pays you some money towards room and board and car insurance. It doesn't have to be a lot, but something. And try and lower your expectations. This was very hard for me - my husband and I have graduate degrees, professional jobs, and most of our friends' children zoomed through college and got great jobs. And here was my son - working at Arby's and continually dropping out of college! Needless to say, we did not have a great relationship with our kid! If your son will take ADHD meds, that will help a lot with being about to either study or hold a job. They don't always want to do this after years of being told to take their meds. The hardest thing to learn is that you can't make your son go to college....but you can set up some guidelines for what needs to happen if he's living at home. And what he needs to pay for. Remember ADHD kids lag behind their peers developmentally. It's very hard for parents because we want them to grow up, move out, move on, etc. And these kids are not speedy with their maturation! And they can also be very difficult to live with, if they are defiant, messy, etc. Keep your sense of humor, be flexible, but have a few strict rules and stick to them.

[Pennywink]

Maybe try a vocational school? Though my son is still pretty young, it's something in the back of my mind. He likes to build and make things that do things and gives feedback - which lecture notes, big textbooks and written homework do not do. So maybe industries which involve more hands on learning / training would be beneficial? To my understanding, with all the push for 4 year degrees, vocational positions are actually in decent demand right now as well.