Diary of an ADHD Mom

My friend told me the other day that I could write a book. Well I have written a book but that was not what she meant. She meant I should write a book about my kids. Maybe one day I will. Sometimes it is hard to know what things my kids do that are just regular, everyday kid stuff and what is just downright ADHD/ADD behavior. Sometimes it is just a mixed bag.

Living with two kids with ADHD and one with ADD is an adventure to be sure. So many rules, so many restrictions and accommodations you have to make when you have a child with ADHD, let alone two, then add one more. Then mix them together.

Yikers!

Take our trip to the pool on Monday night as an example. Earlier in the day I had warned Giggles about his disrespectful behavior (and really I have had this conversation with him many times before). He had been talking disrespectfully throughout the day and I had said to him that he was really lucky that his family was soooooo patient with him because at some point he was going to come across someone who would not be so patient with him and if he didn't change how he acted he might get a punch in the nose or something worse.

So we got to the pool and as I was sitting and talking with my friend I looked over and saw him across the room at the side of the pool. A couple of teenagers were in the water throwing a ball in the basketball hoop. Occasionally Giggles got the ball and threw it in the hoop. I thought they were sharing.

I thought wrong.

I looked over a few minutes later and saw Giggles kick his leg out at one of the boys' heads.

That got my attention.

I wondered how the teenager would respond. He didn't like it. He grabbed Giggles by the arm and pulled him into the pool. I figured Giggles deserved it for taking a swipe at the kid's head. I wondered what Giggles would do next... would he leave or pursue the situation. I watched (but was ready to respond). Sure enough he got out of the pool and tried to jump on the teenager with his foot stuck out in karate kick fashion. I'm not sure if his body actually made contact with the boy.

Perhaps he did for the teenager responded by bouncing the ball off of Giggles head. Well I was already in motion because it isn't okay to jump on someone even if they are 3 times your size.

So I took Giggles out of the pool.

But that is the nature of ADHD. All he could think of was the fact that he wanted the ball - not... gee this guy is bigger and tougher than me and could crush me, beat me up, kill me.

Nope. Just - I want the ball. ADHD brain.

Of course, like the mean mom that I am I made him apologize to the boys at the end of the night. Terrible aren't I?

Yet my sister brought up a good point. Harness that fearless for the good and this kid will be unstoppable. He might have a busted nose by the time he is an adult but if I can direct him towards good things then she is right... he will have no fear of failure.