Personal Narrative: A Time That Changed My Life

If you've made it to this post, you are probably ready for some solutions. The internet is brimming with advice on what to do and not do. I know when my daughter was first diagnosed with ADHD, I was completely overwhelmed. Here I was with this diagnosis but no one bothered to give me an instruction manual. All I was told is that she would do better if I medicated her and sent on my way. I wasn't given a list of things to try, people to contact for advice, or even much moral support. It was all up to me to figure it out. That's a scary place to be. I think that is one reason why I have been so open to helping others over the years with this struggle. Sometimes it's just nice to hear, "I've been there and here are a few things to try."
We have morning routines, weekend routines, homework routines, etc. I've found that the more my children know what to expect, the better. A strong evening routine ensures a good night sleep. Conversely, a strong morning routine ensures a smooth low stress morning. We lay clothes out the night before and I use a whiteboard to put reminders up for the week ahead. I also use a planner and make sure we know what our upcoming week looks like. The more planned we are, the more my children have the ability to feel in control. We aren't rushing out the door looking for shoes or getting the field trip form signed. Does that still happen? Or course! But I have made conscious effort to try and deviate from my own right brain tendencies to offer up more routine and stability in my children's lives. If you tend to be more Type B than Type A, then you might have to put quite a bit of effort into this. I promise it is worth it! This is coming from someone that is not Type A at all, so it takes work on my part to keep my kids structured. It's amazing the difference I see in behavior when I am able to do