| Having grown up with undiagnosed Attention | | | | don't understand ADHD and don't know what to |
| Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I know | | | | do about their child's learning problems. |
| how it feels to be labeled "lazy" when you're | | | | |
| really just fighting ADHD and doing the best | | | | What I want to say to all parents is this: |
| you can to fit your ADHD square peg into the | | | | |
| round hole of life. | | | | You know your child. You know whether he's |
| | | | being lazy or really struggling. You may not |
| I remember, as an ADD child, deciding I | | | | know why. You may not have an ADHD diagnosis |
| wouldn't write my spelling words five times. | | | | to fall back on. You may not be an expert on |
| I just didn't want to do it. To a kid with | | | | ADHD or parenting. But you know your kid and |
| ADHD, that kind of work is just torture, and | | | | you love him. |
| I quit doing it. | | | | |
| | | | Remember that, and seek out people who do |
| I remember that ADHD experience because I | | | | know and who can help. |
| failed sixth grade spelling, though I went to | | | | |
| the spelling bee as champion for my class. | | | | It's frustrating and even infuriating to see |
| | | | a kid we know is bright not living up to his |
| I remember how painful it was when my | | | | potential. But think about how frustrating it |
| parents, who'd never heard of ADHD, called me | | | | must be to the child, to know he's doing |
| lazy--and meant it | | | | everything he knows how to do and just isn't |
| | | | making it. |
| I know how it feels to be the kid with ADHD. | | | | |
| | | | So think about that the next time your child |
| But I accused my ADHD son of laziness | | | | seems to be "slacking off," and investigate |
| recently for not doing his work at school. | | | | whether there might be something going on |
| Even though I know about ADHD. Even though I | | | | related to his ADHD, if he's been diagnosed, |
| know what it's like. I forgot. | | | | or whether he might have ADHD, if he hasn't, |
| | | | and whether you should talk to a qualified |
| How much harder it must be for parents who | | | | professional about your son's difficulties. |