We now know that ADHD is highly genetic. In fact, if you have ADHD, there’s approximately a 50% chance your child/children will have it, too.
There are three subtypes of ADHD:
1. Hyperactive/impulsive 2. Inattentive 3. Combined type
So what happens when mom has inattentive ADHD and junior is hyperactive and impulsive?
In my case, I have the inattentive sub-type and my daughter is hyperactive and impulsive. Let me give you an example of how these two subtypes under one roof can collide:
Mackenzie doesn’t close a door; she slams it. When she’s happy, she doesn’t laugh; she shrieks. When she talks, the volume of her voice often rips through my brain like a knife. When she’s hungry, she wants to eat.. NOW. Conversely, when she asks me a question and I need time to process her rapid-fire words, she’s already out of the room, feeling nothing but contempt for my slow cognitive tempo.
It’s like watching a hurricane sweep over a sleeping willow tree.
One way to help me cope is to use hand signals. When Mackenzie’s voice begins to rise, I signal her to lower it. When she’s racing through the room, I use a stop sign or time out hand signal. If I’m in desperate need of quiet and solitude, I’ll tell her I’m taking a time out in my home office and will be ready to interact again in 10 or 15 minutes. It’s often a matter of seeing it coming and having a plan before the overwhelm sets in.
I wonder if you have the same issue at your house and how you handle this mismatch of temperament and the resulting sensory overload.
Face it. Summers can be tough if you have a family that includes a child or two with ADHD. And it’s even tougher if you, too have ADHD. I was reading the posts you wrote in response to my blog, ADHD and Hypersensitivities and was struck by how many of you, like me, are super sensitive to the chaos and noise at home.
With summer coming up fast and kids out of school, it can be pretty difficult to handle days filled with kids at home making noise, messes and more.
I always advise parents to keep their ADHD kids super busy with organized activities. But that can be awfully tough if you, as a mom, have ADHD. Organized isn’t our middle name!
Consider day camp (overnight camp if they’re old enough). Kids need activities and particularly, those that match their interests. But sometimes, camp is out of the question, so here’s an idea to keep them busy while allowing them to burn off some excess energy.
Hop Balls not only do that, but they also improve coordination! Let your kids bounce through summer. Just keep them off your carpet!
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
Youtube
Consent to display content from Youtube
Vimeo
Consent to display content from Vimeo
Google Maps
Consent to display content from Google
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. To learn more about the cookies we use and the data we collect, please check our Privacy Settings.
