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Old Jul 07, 2015, 02:45 AM
Ameline Ameline is offline
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Member Since: Nov 2014
Location: CZ
Posts: 27
I don't know if I'll be much help, I don't have children, but I grew up with ADHD (or something from that group. Minimal brain dysfuncion it was called then). Never been on medication. What I recall is feeling so frustrated and misunderstood. Frustrated because the things didn't work out the way I wanted. Misunderstood because on top of that everyone was always assuming I meant what I didn't mean and drawn conclusions from it. That was the worst.

Now, the relationship with my mother is strained because of what was happening after I was about 10-12 and her mentall illness really started presenting itself. But before that she was wonderful. I wonder if the strain of bringing me up was just too much... The biggest thing she's done for me is to feel more or less "normal" and let me know that she loves me even if things don't work out the way I want. She always distracted me from the thing that frustrated me, talked to me, patiently explained things to me (I responded very badly to pressure and demands that didn't make sense). I believe telling me what's just happened, calmly and without asumptions, really made a difference. Also a big part for her was keeping something of a peace with teachers, who often really hated me. I wish she explained that to me, besides the typical (typical for her illness, I learned later) "they're just bad, evil people". I loved things that moved, but hated things I couldn't understand and no-one really explained or allowed me to explore. Understanding what's going on, how things work, was really big for me.

Of course every child will be different, but maybe this can be also helpful. Just don't forget to take care of yourself as well...