Really have hit bottom this past year in an unbelievable way. Everything, but EVERYTHING, has felt out of control. My most-often uttered phrase this year has been, "Welcome to ADHD!" Kids want to know why their dad did something which makes no sense to them, dad wants to know why kids are hyper - guess what guys!! Welcome to ADHD!! -sigh-
Really, really trying hard to get it all together. I found a wonderful person recently though that is making a big difference, and wanted to share.
Her name is Marla Cilley, aka the Flylady, at www.flylady.net. For an ADHD family, her emphasis on routines and not beating yourself up is lifesaving. We're just started and have re-started many times now, but that's OK. I'm learning to let go of the perfectionism that I grew up with and that it's OK to do things a little at a time. Honestly, that's probably been the hardest lesson of anything. I can clean my house just fine, thankyouverymuch, but I have a persistent thought process that I have to do it ALL, at once, NOW. It's horribly distracting when the place is a mess, and since we have 3 ADHD people who haven't mastered picking up after themselves, it's always a mess. We're getting there a bit at a time. It still frustrates me endlessly though and makes me feel bad when other people have these beautifully clean, organized homes. People who don't live with ADHD, I think, just don't understand the chaos it can cause.
I'm also starting a new Cafepress store of my very own :D, focusing on ADD / ADHD. It's located at http://www.cafepress.com/adhdtees. I wanted to have some income of my own and the ability to keep my kids home in the virtual school we've been in (K12 is wonderful!! We love it!!), but also I've just noticed that there isn't much out there in terms of ADDer designs. There are a few things I've seen that get a lot of exposure (like this one), but the stores that sell them don't specialize in ADHD and almost treat them like a joke (from that site's description: "Do you have ADHD? Probably not but since people think you do, you may as well wear this AD HD shirt.") Well, what about those that DO have ADHD? What about parents with ADHD kids? Ever had some stranger come up to you and want to know "what's wrong with" your kid? Ever wanted to tell them off, but you can't think of what to say until hours later? That's where I want to go with this. We need something in SUPPORT of us, not making fun of us.
Please visit early and often! I'll try to remember (LOL) to not get distracted (LOL again!) and post here when I get new designs up. If there's something you'd like to see done, please let me know!! I'm not a graphic designer, just a mom, but I'll do my best :D.
Posts
