Venting

[BercotP]

You’ll love this. My mom actually said to me this morning about my son and his ADHD “maybe Gunnar is subconsciously acting the way his is because people tell him he has ADHD “ 😳😳😳😳😳😳 Seriously!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh.....I just don’t have the words..

[Aubreyneveau]

I guess people just don’t get it unless they have ADHD or have a child with ADHD. I used to be judgemental about ADHD before my son ended up having ADHD. I tried so hard to help him using behavioral methods but eventually I realized there was something going on in his brain that I couldn’t control, such as his neurotransmitters do not work the same as a typical child. Luckily there is a lot of great credible research out there about ADHD and what truly helps these kids. Russell Barkley and Timothy Wilens have some great books that have helped me understand my son’s ADHD. Maybe your mom could gain some insight from these, but I know MY mom wouldn’t take the time to read the books so good luck!

[neacyd]

Changing my daughters diet has really helped. She still has days but they are not as bad. I try not to go over 16 grams of sugar

[BercotP in reply to neacyd]

I agree, diet can help with our kiddos symptoms. I began the Feingold Diet a couple of years ago. I found that dyes can make his symptoms worse! It definitely has been a learning process 🤪

[Jorliss]

Dear Gunnar:

I got that a lot when I was a kid. Adults don’t understand we can’t control ourselves and our actions and words are extremely impulsive and very difficult to control. I understand you.

[BercotP in reply to Jorliss]

Thank you, Jorliss. I just wish my mom (my sons grandma) would read the material I send her so she can be more understanding. My son has been going through a rough patch right now, it was the first time his grandma has seen “him” so now she is asking me these lame questions about him acting this way on purpose 🙄

[Jorliss in reply to BercotP]

My mother still does not understand my behavior and never will at this point. I can’t make her understand because she refuses to understand. Hence, the reasons why I try to avoid her.

[Aniusia]

Ask your Mom to watch Russel Barkley video on you tube. It might be easier then reason a book, and faster.

[BercotP in reply to Aniusia]

I tried to pull one of his up so I can send it to her, but when I tried the video is gone. YouTube has cartoons in place of it 😕 So, not sure if I am doing something wrong or what.

[Aniusia in reply to BercotP]

youtu.be/YSfCdBBqNXY(Not working as expected?)

[anirush]

Sorry but that was my good laugh for the morning.

[Momof4blessings]

Oh, yes....my sister in law once said, with her perfect and precious first child in her arms, that she believes "any child can have ADHD if they are allowed to have it." Then she kissed her sweet baby's cheeks and smiled smugly. I was so hot with anger, I didn't even know how to respond. I made a feeble attempt to educate her. But in the end, whatever. I too didn't understand it until my own child had it.

[slsmendez in reply to Momof4blessings]

You can tell her that there are changes seen on MRI in kids with ADHD versus not. I do think there are some kids misdiagnosed by incomplete workups and that makes those who have it seem less legitimate. But there are actual physical and neurochemical brain differences, so it’s not a made up condition!

[Adam081911]

I just wanted to share my experience with my mom.... I grew up in Japan and I live in Canada with my family. My mom is still in Japan.....

She didn't believe that my son (her first grandchild) had disability for a long time. My son was first diagnosed with global developmental delay when he was 2 yrs old, then mild intellectual disability a year and a half years ago (age 5), then ADHD in last fall (age 6).

It was hard to get her understand about his condition.... because we can not visibly tell if he has disability. Japan is very delayed in this area of child with disabled.

I kept talking to her what our daily challenges were, and spent time with her on our vacation so she sees how difficult my son is.

She feels sorry for my son for having these challenges. I left a book with her when we left her home on last vacation. But she didn't read it till later.

One day, she watched a documentary on TV, and it was about child with various disabilities. Then she acknowledged that there was a similarity of him.

She finally read the book I left with her. Now she is more compassionate, understanding and listens to my stories about him.

I don't know what will get your mom to be more open minded, but I just wanted to share my experience.