It’s here! ADHD Awareness Week! qim8cpz92f

What can you do to spread the word, share information and resources? Here at Moms with ADD, ADD is a daily event. Please post your thoughts here in the forums.

There’s tons of helpful articles, too, in my Articles section.

Also, check out CHADD’s site for more information on how you can make a difference.

Every once in a while, I come upon a resource that I want to share with my readers.

Today, a friend and colleague, Dr. Charles Parker, sent me an update on the work he’s doing in the field of ADHD. Dr. Parker is a Neuroscientist and Psychiatric Consultant who has a unique “take” on ADHD and its treatment.

I’d like to share some of his fascinating work with you. Dr. Parker is in the process of writing a book but his generosity in sharing his ideas and information spills over through the many projects he takes on.

Please take a moment and read some of his work, download an audio program and read his checklist detailing the various ADHD medication challenges people encounter, at http://www.corepsychblog.com/adhdbook/

I think you’ll enjoy reading more about Dr. Parker’s work. And if you’d like to hear him “live”, please consider registering for the 2nd Annual Virtual ADHD Conference, where he will be one of the guest speakers. You can learn more about this incredible conference at www.ADDconference.com .

Stanley Greenspan, MD, a child psychiatrist who has written many books and who has an interest in parent/child relationships, developed a fascinating program that he calls “Floor Time.” The essence of this exercise is to improve the relationship between parent and child by having “sessions” in which the parent follows the child’s lead and joins him in child-led activities–it does not matter what the child is doing, as long as the child initiates the move. This could be anything from playing a board game to taking a walk in the backyard.

Years ago when I worked with a psychologist to help my daughter with certain behaviors, I was taught the method of Floor Time and was amazed at how well it worked. At the time, my daughter was quite young. I was instructed on how to follow her lead and what amazed me was how quickly our relationship improved.

This past holiday weekend, I used a version of Floor Time to connect with Mackenzie, who is now 21. We spent a few days together at our little lake house in Canada. I was determined not to pester her about her grooming, her habits that often irritate me, her impulsive bedtime behaviors, her poor eating habits, etc. I had decided that we were going to relax together and have fun. Period. I knew that in a matter of days, we’d be back in the school routine with all the stress that goes with that.

It worked. Mackenzie’s whole demeanor changed. She was calmer, happier and her mood was great. It made me think just how much MY reactions to her make matters worse.

With school starting, how can YOU back off and enjoy your children more? I know that now is not the easiest time to even consider this, but perhaps if you begin to monitor yourself- watch yourself as you interact with your kids- maybe you’ll come up with some new strategies so that your time with your children becomes more positive. And even more fun.

September brings the close of summer, back to school mania and the end of sleeping in. I’m often asked by moms/women with ADHD how to get into a better sleep/wake routine but even with the best intentions, it can still be incredibly difficult to wake up in the morning.

The first step is to get you and your kids into a routine! If school starts after Labor Day, start getting the kids into bed about 15 minutes earlier each night. Get them to wake up a little earlier each morning, too.

Discuss a plan for bedtime and morning routines (now!) so you don’t walk into a disaster come September 8. You almost always will get better results when you include your child in the planning.

Lots of kids- and adults- still have trouble waking up. Ask your pediatrician (or your own doctor, if this is a problem for you) about waking up an hour early to take your morning meds, then going back to sleep. Many parents find their kids wake up ready to go once the meds have kicked in.

If all else fails, use a new system that forces you OUT of bed. One idea I like is purchasing multiple alarm clocks and putting them throughout the room and setting the alarm about 10 minutes apart. One clock needs to be far away from the bed, forcing you or your child to get OUT of bed in order to turn it off.

I have some great clocks in my store that are perfect for the heavy sleeper.

When Clocky goes off, it jumps right off the bed stand and onto the floor. You have to chase it down to turn it off. This in particular is great for kids who appreciate the fun of the chase. It also eliminates the need for mom or dad to keep pestering them to wake up.

The Shake Awake Vibrating Alarm Clock is great for the very deep sleeper who doesn’t even hear standard alarm clocks go off. Just like it’s name implies, it shakes your bed to wake you up.

Find these and other great items, all personally hand-picked to help you with your time management challenges in the time management section of my store.

This weekend brought a slew of social activities- parties, etc. – because my niece got getting married on Saturday. I like to write about day to day activities that we all take for granted but rarely seem to write about in the perspective of having ADHD.

So let me share my manicure story to see if it relates to you.

I’ve written before about my sensory issues in regards to certain sounds, smells, fabrics, etc. Well, this is about my sense of touch…

Last week, my daughter and I went to get manicures for the upcoming wedding. As you know, I rarely make PLANS, but instead, just sort of…jump into things when the thought or feeling strikes.

I hate manicures. And I’ve never had a pedicure. I hate massages, as well. Is it the thought of a stranger touching me? I think it’s more- it’s my aversion to certain sensory experiences.

We easily found a walk-in nail parlor and boy… I thought I’d entered a county fair or something. The hustle and bustle; the colors, sounds and odd “stations” took me completely by surprise.

First stop was a nightmare for someone with ADHD. I was told to choose a color. CHOOSE A COLOR? There were hundreds of bottles to choose from! As you know, most nail polish colors fall in the pink/red range. Even with my art background, I was astonished to see so many hues with pink and red in them. Had I been bolder, I’d have chosen orange or blue. I finally found a light light pink that wouldn’t make me my fingers look like bloody daggers.
It took a good 10 minutes to figure this out. But it took my daughter, even longer.

I was instructed to sit elbow to elbow with my fellow manicure customers. Then the fun begins. It starts with filing. The smell of that sickens me- like the smell of an electrical fire. But I got through it and actually am fascinated that someone can file while not looking at the person’s fingers.

Then the bad part begins: I’m being slathered with lotion. One of my biggest sensory freak-outs is feeling anything sticky or gooey on any part of my body. While others scream at the sight of a spider, I shriek if my hands accidently touch a greasy doorknob or if my foot lands on a sticky floor.

That day, I was facing multiple sensory phobias. And it continued with…THE HAND MASSAGE. I looked around and watched as women closed their eyes, SMILING while their hands were being mashed and manipulated. I gritted my teeth, counting the seconds before this part would end. Only to be tortured by step #2- having my greasy hands encased in plastic baggies and inserted into a heated torture chamber. I was afraid to even look at my daughter, worried she would start screaming at me for putting her through such torture.

Finally, the manicurist removed my hands from the goo and started the next step, torture #3: trimming my cuticles. I watched in horror as she took these clippers which had to have been used on hundreds of other women before me and hadn’t been sterilized for me. Now I ask you, dear readers…IS THIS NORMAL? I’m not a germaphobic, but I know a little bit about the transmission of disease and infection. But I digress…

What others brush off as annoying, *I* feel the same thing as PAIN. Clip clip clip (ouch ouch ouch). Finally, it’s over. Wait. It’s not. She’s using that stick to push my cuticles back. I hate every second of it.

The next step is less painful but no less annoying or sensory distressing: the application of smelly, colorful chemicals called nail polish. The smell alone nearly knocks me to the ground and I’m grateful that I’m already sitting down. Thankfully, the process goes quickly and I actually enjoy this part. One, two, three…brush brush brush. Done! Or so I thought.

I’m led to the drying station. The good part is that I know I’m almost done. The bad part is, I am not allowed to move my hands. I’m not particularly hyperactive, but the thought of being trapped is also an “issue” with me. Elevators, planes, trains, busses, dental chairs, MRI machines are all somewhat anxiety provoking for me. Now I can add the drying station to my ever growing list of claustrophobic experiences.

Finally, the machine goes off and we’re done. My daughter fared much better than me. We examined our nails in delight, until I realized why I never ever wear nail polish- it feels like a 20 pound weight is sitting on each nail. I hate the sensation and immediately ask if the shop also sells polish remover, knowing that as soon as the wedding weekend is over, I’m removing these dead weights from my hands.

We exit the torture chamber, and as a reward for my daughter’s exceptional behavior, we stop at the ice cream shop where we both enjoy a special treat, though I think I earned it more than she did. She LOVED the day at the spa!

I hate it!

It comes in through my mail slot every day, flops to the floor and just laughs at me, as I try to decide what to do with it all. Like most of you, I cannot adhere to the OHIO paper rule (Only Handle It Once). Heck, if I could, I would probably no longer carry an ADHD diagnosis. Paper is everywhere. Same with you?

So I found something that looks like it will solve part of the problem and I’m excited about it. I’m going to order one to see if it helps with my kitchen piles. It’s called the Mail.Sorter and it looks like it could be perfect! There’s room for letters (the slots can be categorized) plus a place to hold magazines and catalogues.

Check it out HERE and if you order one, please let me know how it works for you. And I’ll do the same.

I’ve been reading lots and lots of articles and blogs about preparing your child for returning to school. Frankly, most of these articles are saying basically the same thing year after year:

Get back into a routine

Plan healthy lunches

….blah blah blah

I’ve read so many of these lists and articles and maybe you have too. So, here’s MY list of how to prepare for your child’s return to school:

1. Practice your jumping skills so that when Tommy steps on the bus his first day of school, you can leap in the air for joy and not sustain a stress fracture of your ankle.

2. Take a good look in the mirror and decide whether you want to go with Botox or a makeover to cover the stress you’ve been under while the kids were home all summer.

3. Run, don’t walk to your favorite department store and treat yourself to a new outfit to replace the paint/food/crayon covered Tshirts, shorts and flip flops you’ve been wearing all summer.

4. Allow yourself a full week of NOT picking up dirty clothes, toys, food clumps and other summer disasters. You worked hard enough- give yourself a mini vacation now that they’re back in school.

5. Look for every stray quarter, dime, nickel and penny and use them for hot lunches so you don’t have to pack any. This is a great incentive for de-cluttering the kids’ rooms.

6. Make a lunch date with a good friend, since you probably haven’t seen her since the end of May.

7. Do NO, I repeat, do NOT sign up for any parental school activities until you’ve looked at the list 10 times and asked yourself, “Do I REALLY want to do this or have time for this?” There are plenty of ways you can help out in school on YOUR terms and schedule.

8. Ditto with signing up your child for after school activities. In fact, subtract 2 activities from last year’s schedule. You’ll thank me. Really.

9. Encourage your child to sign up for Home Ec so that he/she will be forced to cook dinners for you.

10. Start thinking NOW about next summer and what you can do to make it a more pleasant experience. The stress will still be fresh in your memory and maybe you won’t feel too guilty about signing them up for summer camp. In Austria. Or Australia, for that matter.

Four days ago, I waited in a huge parking lot for my daughter to return from her three weeks at summer camp. There had to be a few hundred parents there, waiting, like me, for the buses to come rolling in. Looking around, I noticed a few things. First, I’m probably at least a good fifteen years older than the average parent I saw there. No big deal- we started our family on the late side.

Second, just about every person I saw was huddled into small groups, chatting and laughing away. I began to wonder how all these people could possibly have known one, two or even more parents. I strained to find someone I might know as well, but came up empty.

For three weeks, I worried how my daughter would fit in at camp. With her severe ADHD and other issues, life is often tough for her. I had flashbacks of my own youth and how I, too, didn’t fit in. I was incredibly shy and anxious and had undiagnosed ADHD. That’s quite a challenge when trying to make friends, let alone keeping them.

The flashbacks continued- not being asked to the prom; always being on the edge of social activities, watching as the other kids laughed, thriving in group activities. Instead, I was the one on the outside looking in. I found more pleasure in playing guitar and making art than going to football games on Friday nights. The feelings became more intense as the memories washed over me. The girl- now a grown woman- who didn’t fit in was waiting for the daughter who didn’t fit in.

The bus carrying my daughter finally arrived. When she raced down the steps of the bus into my arms, all those feelings melted away. I was no longer 12 or 16 years old. I was a grown woman who feasted her eyes on a smiling girl who obviously had a grand three weeks at camp, making new friends and exploring new skills. I grabbed my daughter, kissed and hugged her, and walked proudly out of the crowd. I realized just then that I, too, had grown over the years. I had accomplished many things and gained many skills, just like my daughter. The only difference, I suppose, is I did so in a quieter way than the crowd before me.

Just what we need- something more to worry about. I read an article recently about how today’s moms are too involved in their children’s lives. They snoop, they interfere, they offer too much support and direction. Kids are living at home longer, expecting more from their parents and enjoying luxuries mom and dad are paying for.

They bail their kids out of all kinds of trouble, make sure they get into the best schools available and ensure that they hang out with only the nicest kids in town.

But what if you’re raising a child with ADHD or other special needs? When do you step in and when do you let them swim on their own? And how do you know when to back off?

Kids with ADHD *do* have special needs: they may need more reminders. They may need us to help them with even very basic things, long after their peers have mastered them. When many kids are no longer needing reminders to shower and look after other grooming needs, our kids are often clueless- or don’t care much- about such things.

Are we being helicopter moms if we’re still reminding a 16 year old to hop in the shower? Or to bring their homework papers to school?

Where is the line drawn for you and your kids?

I mentioned in an early blog, that Mackenzie, my ADHHHHD daughter, was leaving for 3 weeks of summer camp. In that post, I wrote about the agony of packing up a kiddo for 3 weeks. I mean really, how do you know how many Tshirts, shorts, underwear, etc. your child needs when at home; they go through 2-3 outfits per day? At any rate, the packing got done, thanks to my older daughter’s superb organizing skills.

Then the fun began. I look forward to these 3 weeks off of mommy duty every year as a way to escape the intensity of living with severe ADHD. Each day that she’s away is filled with peace, quiet and fairly un-cluttered rooms. There are no screaming battles about teeth brushing, hoarding food in her bedroom, slamming doors, etc.

The normalcy of my days almost becomes unsettling. ‘Do you mean THIS is how most families live- all eating dinner together? No daily meltdowns? Chores getting done?’,I think to myself. Within 12 hours of the bus leaving, I become gloriously used to what others might label as normal. I can hear myself think. My stomach isn’t churning at every meal. Bedtime becomes quiet time in the house, where I can do leisure activities without constant interruptions.

Then why were these 3 weeks so difficult for me? Partly because I was cherishing each calm day so intensely, I found that I was practically dreading the day the bus would be bringing back my OWN DAUGHTER.

Those of you who have been following my blogs and other writings, know that I try to be as honest about my feelings as possible. Because I figure that if *I’m* feeling them, chances are, you are too.

I have 32 hours before ADHD touchdown. I know that once I see her mud caked but happy face, I will feel complete again. But in the back of my mind, I’ll remember the care-free days when I could come and go as I pleased and not have to worry about all the things moms with ADHD kids worry about 24/7.

But before that bus rolls into town, I think I’m going to splurge on one more day of freedom of stress. And I’m not going to feel guilty, because I know that I’ll have 344 days to be the best mom I can be.

So don’t I deserve a break once a year? Maybe next year I’ll do so… but without the guilt.

A good friend of mine pointed out today that I seem to be addicted, in a way, to worry. He asked me why I don’t seem to be satisified unless I’m worrying about something.

His words really struck me, so I took some time to think about it. I think worry is a mental stimulant and for those of us with ADD, well…aren’t we always looking for challenges and stimulation so we don’t get bored? Don’t we hyperfocus on things and not always on GOOD things?

Dr. Ned Hallowell wrote an entire book on the topic and titled the book, “Worry” that explains why we do it and what we can do about it.

Are you a worry wart? Does your brain get stuck in worry?

If you answer “yes” to 10 or more, it’s time to get evaluated for possible ADHD:

1. You paint all your walls white because you can’t decide on a color scheme.
2. Your family’s favorite restaurant is the local hospital cafeteria because everyone can pick out what they want.
3. You buy 30 pairs of underwear because otherwise, you know you’ll run out of clean ones. And you still do.
4. Your wardrobe is all black and white so you don’t have to figure out what outfits go together.
5. You’ve learned the fine art of nodding while smiling because you can’t follow conversations at parties.
6. You freak when you’re introduced to someone with a double name, like Mary Ann, Ann Marie, etc. because you
will never remember which part of the name comes first.
7. You’ve lived in your neighborhood for over 10 years and still don’t know your neighbors’ names.
8. You’re afraid to get a cat because you’re worried he’ll starve to death.
9. Your gray roots are usually showing.
10. There are at least 5 bottles of ketchup in your pantry, but you keep thinking you’re running out and return with yet
another bottle from the market.
11. You order pizza more than once a week.
12. You can remember your 5th grade teacher’s name, but not your child’s.
13. There are permanent dents on your fingertips from spending too many hours on the internet.
14. You find your watch in the freezer.
15. You have nightmares about forgetting to pick up your 4 year old from nursery school.
16. You HAVE forgotten to pick up your 4 year old from nursery school.
17. The definition of a scavenger hunt is looking for your wallet in your purse.
18. You realize the milk has gone bad when you walk in the house and wonder who threw up.
19. You open up a new checking account every 12 months because you’ve given up trying to balance your account.
20. You find out you have three copies of The Dummy’s Guide to Organizing.
21. The back of your hands are purple from all the reminders you’ve written on them.
22. You own stock in Post-Its.
23. You own an iPod, cell phone, laptop, digital camera but can’t find their chargers.
24. You are unable to fold sheets.
25. You don’t pay your bills even when you have money in the bank to cover your checks.
26. Your handwriting is worse than your toddler’s scribbles.
27. You’ve forgotten to use a colander when draining the spaghetti in the sink.
28. Getting your eyes checked is a nightmare because you never know if “1” looks better than “2.”
29. You call your daughter by your sister’s name. Her entire life.
30. You’ve gotten a car wash twice in five years.

© Terry Matlen, ACSW all rights reserved

No, I’m not going to France or to Spain. I’m not going to California or NYC. I’m not even going downtown to enjoy the art, music and other cultural city events. No…I’m going to take a stay-at-home vacation while my daughter is away at summer camp.

No more:
….tantrums, whining and begging for the extra hour of TV or dessert before dinner…

No more:
… reminders to wash, brush, comb, shampoo…

No more:
…refusals to put board games, books, magazines away and to pick up clothes….

No more:
…begging for this and that during every shopping excursion

No more:
…piles of electronics tripping me at every turn

No more:
… wailing about losing and breaking every item she’s ever owned

No more:
… slamming doors, cabinets, fridge and drawers

No more:
…stomping up and down the stairs 100 times a day

No more: iPod/radio blaring

No more: medication reminders

Who needs Vegas or Vermont when I can have a peaceful, quiet house for 3 weeks and one day?

What about you? How are you managing now that the kids are home? Are you finding down time? What is keeping YOU sane?

My daughter, Mackenzie, leaves for overnight camp in exactly eight hours. You’d think packing her up for these three weeks would be a fairly easy task. After all, she’s gone to the same camp for the last 5 years and I know the ropes. We’re given a packing list each year. It never varies and I try to keep a drawer full of her camp clothes so that I don’t have to make the same decisions every year on what she needs to pack. So, it’s a no-brainer, right?

Wrong.

Packing her up for camp is beyond my capability. The raggedy, stained t-shirts and shorts I THOUGHT were packed away from last year have mysteriously disappeared.

The five bathing suits I bought last year are also gone. So are the sandals. And so is the special T-shirt she’s required to wear when she first arrives at camp.

I begin to hyperventilate and am short of panicking. I’d forgotten to make the haircut appointment. She’ll return in three weeks not just with a tan and skinned knees, but also with knotted hair that will have to be cut off…all due to my procrastinating and forgetfulness.

As I try and sort through her things, the decisions become overwhelming. Do I pack the required six pairs of shorts? Or do I go with ten, knowing how hard she is on her clothes? But wait, where ARE all those shorts?
I run to Target, buy more clothes and toiletries, only to realize I’ve forgotten to buy a rain jacket. Or wait; is that even on the list?

It’s now two days before camp departure. Things are strewn all over her bedroom floor as I try to sort through things, make decisions, then battle with her because she’s insisting on taking three pillows, a comforter, stuffed animal and three blankets.

“But you’ll be sleeping in a SLEEPING bag– why do you need all this STUFF?”
“I just DO, mom!”

The anxiety level shoots up into the Xanax stage. I mentally go over the things about ADHD that I’ve written and lectured about all these years- how to change expectations; how to accept our ADHD challenges. Then it hit me. GET OUTSIDE HELP. I need to practice what I preach and walk the talk!

I call my older daughter, Kate-Miss Organized- and beg her to take on this horrific task. “Yes, I’ll pay you! I’ll buy you a ticket to Greece, even. Just please…come home and help me get through this nightmare!

Kate comes to my rescue, laughs at the scene before her, grabs the packing list and swiftly gets into gear, seamlessly choosing outfits, underwear, bedding, toiletry, then…gasp…finds the patience (“but I LIKE doing this, mom!) to even print her sister’s name on every item before placing them in the two gigantic duffel bags.
I watch in disbelief as the magic unfolds before me: this clear thinking, calm, organized method of hers and wonder why my ADD brain just can’t wrap around these kinds of chores.

She finishes, dusts her hands off, and plops down to watch TV, leaving me shaking…because…now I have to pack her medications. And document each one- when they need to be given. How many. For what symptoms.
I finally finish and plop down, too… to catch my breath.

She’s packed and ready to go. But I don’t know who needs the vacation more- Mackenzie or me. Whew.

Hi all!

Sari asked me to pass this on to you. Don’t miss this very special event!
___________________________________________________________

Free Virtual Open House and Celebration on July 25th for Men and Women with Attention Deficit Disorder

Hosted by Sari Solden’s ADDJourneys.com, An Online Community For Adults With AD/HD or ADD.

Drop by ADDJourneys.com on Saturday, July 25th between 10:00AM and 1:30 PM Eastern Time for a day of programming whose highlights include prizes of memberships, books, and coaching sessions, demonstrations and participation in mini-sessions such as group coaching, an Ask Sari call in advice show, a call in support group, lots of live broadcasting and video and audio programs designed for connection, fun, and interaction. The day is free and no membership is required to participate. Just log on to www.ADDJourneys.com any time during the day.

This event is a celebration of the six month anniversary of www.ADDJourneys.com, an online community for adults with Attention Deficit Disorder founded and hosted by psychotherapist, Sari Solden, the author of the books Women with Attention Deficit Disorder and Journeys through ADDulthood, an expert in the field for over 20 years, and a frequent presenter at international and national conferences on the subject.

The site’s mission is to use Solden’s strength based perspective to connect adults from all over the world and to encourage a positive view of oneself through the use of live broadcasting and audio and video programming that creates a sense of community and decreases the isolation felt by many adults with ADD.

Years ago…many years ago before I even knew what ADHD was, I had a moment of humiliation that affected me very deeply. I had forgotten about the incident until the other day when I was cooking dinner and found myself staring at a wooden spoon in my hand, flustered, because I didn’t know what I was doing with it.

Let me take you back 20 years to an evening when I had an out of town guest dining at my house. It was tough enough to prepare a meal for her when I had a hyperactive toddler and a pre-schooler under my feet. Somehow, I got through it.

After dinner, I began to clean the kitchen and my guest followed me in, chatting about something or another, when I realized that I could not wash the dishes and listen to her at the same time. I became so rattled by this frozen state, that I remember to this day, holding up a wooden spoon that I had just washed, and not knowing what in the world I needed to do with it next. I stared at it; no…gaped at it and questioned my sanity.

How could I not clean dishes and carry on a conversation at the same time??

Fast forward to the other night. I had someone over and we were chatting as I was cleaning up the dinner dishes. I held up the wooden spoon I was cleaning, and the exact same thing happened again. I could not maintain a conversation while washing the dishes.

This time, however, I was not humiliated. Rather, I understood that my brain “gets stuck” at times like this, when I need to multi-task, especially when it involves different types of activities. I can’t listen while “doing.” This is common with people who have ADHD; we have executive functioning deficits. “Executive function deficits are problems in the starting, sequencing and stopping of actions.” (wikia.com)

Those of us with ADHD often not only have executive functioning difficulties, but we also struggle with working memory. Working memory is the process of being able to hold information in mind for short periods of time. For example, if you call information to get a phone number and can’t keep it in mind long enough to dial it, that might be considered a problem with your working memory.

I’ve been intrigued by cognitive training programs, like Lumosity Brain Fitness Program, CogMed and others, and am interested in the research that’s been coming out.

I do believe that just like we need to exercise our bodies, our brain needs a workout as well.

So, next time you mysteriously find a wooden spoon in your hand, don’t fear! It’s just an example of executive functioning going wrong and how our ADHD can throw us for a loop.

Recently, I blogged on how Being Disorganized Can Make You Sick and it set off a lively discussion. I posed the comment, “If something makes you so distressed it makes you literally feel sick, due to your ADHD, what options do you have in getting help?”

And wow, you guys came up with loads of suggestions and comments. One that I found really fascinating was how to make household chores less stressful. More than one person shared that they use a Roomba– a robot that vacuums your carpet and cleans your floor. I’d heard of it but had never talked to anyone who had used one.

So, if you’re sick and tired of dealing with the drudgery of house cleaning, perhaps handing this particular chore over to the Roomba can make you feel better. If you’ve tried it, please let me know what you think. Roomba.

I just returned from our little lake house in Canada where we spent a long 4th of July weekend. The water, sky, trees worked its magic and I fell into a state of…well…a good state of inattention. I didn’t have to focus on anything. The hours bled into each other, with no particular plans needing to be made. Dinners are always out, so there was no need to fret about meal planning. The kids were happy. Hubby was content doing what we call “Garage Putzing”, meaning…juggling all kinds of projects he loves to do in his little boathouse and garage.

As for me, I was absolutely happy staring out at the sky and water, watching as the blues leaked into the greens, which dripped into reds as the day aged into evening.

Still, a lingering feeling kept stabbing at me. It’s a feeling I get whenever I’m on vacation or other break from routine. The nagging thought that I *should* be doing something productive.

I’m not sure if those without ADHD feel this way, but walking down the beach, I saw plenty of people just relaxing happily on the sand, in the water and on lawn chairs. Or running blissfully with their dogs. Or playing long games of Frisbee and badminton. Why then, was I feeling pulled into doing…something?

I wonder if those of us with ADHD are so used to obsessing and worrying about the things we ought to be doing, that we can’t fully shut off the “on” button. I finally rid myself of this gnawing feeling of being lazy and useless by scrubbing down our wooden swing that had collected a few years’ worth of slimy green algae. I broke out in a sweat, felt my muscles being pulled in all directions, and when I was done, felt proud of my achievement. But at what price?

Am I the only one that feels periodically guilty while on vacation? Who feels pulled and swayed into the “ought to’s”, instead of allowing myself to truly relax and enjoy the freedom of daily responsibilities?

There’s a stack of papers on my desk that needs my attention. In fact, it’s been needing my attention for at least 3 weeks. But there they sit, while I…

…write this blog, read the paper, cruise the internet (getting lost in the black pit of information on everything from Suri Cruise’s haircut to 100 ways to BBQ a chicken, to the Michael Jackson saga and everything in between).

I’m watching the rain pellets hit the roof out my window, which brings back memories of daydreaming in Mrs. Hoskins class at MacDowell Elementary School in Detroit. I’m remembering her pet turtle…and Helene with the beautiful sand colored curls, sitting in front of me. I’m counting the swirls cascading down onto my desk.

….and the laundry is piling up, but the dryer just broke and I forgot to call the serviceman. So that gives me a few extra days of not dealing with laundry.

I didn’t plan dinner too well, so hopped over to the market to buy some ready made Chinese Food. We eat it, analyze it and determine it’s not something we’ll repeat anytime soon.

Facebook is now pulling me in and I meet a fascinating fellow who shares my passion on various health related issues. Our kids have similar medical histories.

The dog scratches to come in. My attention is diverted to the pile of dishes. I put them away. Success!

My daughter needs to pack her suitcase for our cottage trip. And wait… here comes Twitter, luring me in with instant gratification to stimulate my hyperactive brain, which sadly, doesn’t match my sluggish body.

There’s that article I need to write for ADDitude Magazine and my newsletter waiting to be sent out to my readers.

Today I returned the jogging shoes that don’t fit, but stuck them in the wrong box. They won’t take them back, so now I have shoes that will sit in the closet till I figure this out. Anyone need a pair 10 1/2 New Balance shoes? WHY did I go a size too big, anyway?

And where is the receipt? Not that it matters, now. I glance to my left- at my desk- and see that horrific pile of papers that needs my attention.

Do I deal with it now? Or wait till I come back from the lake?

You guess.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog titled: I Don’t Want to Play a Board Game! (Does that mean I’m not a good mother?) , which stirred up some nice conversations with a number of you.

Today I walked into the family room and….what did I see?…. board games and game pieces strewn all over the floor. On the one hand, I’m happy my daughter is creative enough to figure out how to play them when there’s no one at hand to play with her.

On the other hand, the mess this kid makes can drive me up the wall. Since she’s so disorganized, many if not most of her games have missing pieces.

So imagine my surprise when I found this neat solution to the problem.

The Game Saver has compartments to hold game pieces when you’ve lost the box or if you’re worried you lose pieces. The top snaps shut! Genius!

It’s also great for traveling/camping. Check it out HERE.

I attended a wedding shower last weekend. It was a happy occasion, of course, and I enjoyed being with people I love and care about. But it also ruined my week. Or I should say, the last two weeks. Why?

This is one of those ADHD “issues” that most people simply can’t understand. Like many women with ADHD, I have a hard time making decisions. I procrastinate. And…I hate clothes shopping. That combination is a recipe for disaster when there’s a special event coming up and there’s nothing to wear- EVEN when my closet is filled with clothes. Ok, so some of that stuff IS from the 1980s, but that’s another issue.

Another common trait seen in ADHD is ruminating, obsessive thinking. So…in thinking about this shower that was coming up, I worried about the fact that I didn’t have an outfit to wear. Instead of looking forward to the event, I obsessed about what to wear and put off solving the problem by not assessing the options in my closet and avoiding the real possibility of having to get some new clothes.

Two days before the event, I began to panic. So I did what every other “normal” woman would finally do- head into the closet and see what might or might not work. Of course, that takes tremendous effort. Many women with inattentive ADHD, especially, have little energy to do things they hate. Trying on clothes, for me, is one of those exhausting activities. But imagine my surprise when I found an outfit that would work!

Lesson learned? The obvious one of not putting off what you can do today. Or as one woman recently told me, never put off today what you can do tomorrow (gotta love it). But really, what I learned is that had I jumped in and faced my fears early on, I could have avoided two weeks of ruminating and worry. I could have looked forward to the shower instead of dreading it.

What can you do to face an unpleasant task- today- so that you can finally get it off your mind or to-do list?