Real parent training, with coaching to make it stick!
Never underestimate the value of taking a break, a pause, or a breather, whether it’s deep breathing, counting to 10, or walking away before reacting. “Pause” has the power to re-direct and diffuse even the most difficult circumstances. Though simple, breathing is really a powerful tool: It reverses some of the natural responses when we... read more
I know of a school that gives 2 grades for each class: one for academic achievement and one for effort. What a great idea! The school can really acknowledge kids for their attitude, even if they aren’t getting straight “A’s.” It’s a great idea to take this approach with our kids at home, too. We... read more
Sometimes my life feels like Groundhog Day! Each morning my alarm goes off at 5:55. For the next 50 minutes, I do what I need to do for me: I take a shower, do my meditation, make my coffee, sometimes sleep in a little, sometimes read a little. By 6:45, I am ready to get... read more
Simply put, life is more fun when I let myself laugh out loud. As a parent, there are daily opportunities for me to choose laughter – over tears, anger, frustration, etc. Sometimes, I’m just so focused on a task that needs to be done that it’s difficult to find my son’s antics or constant chatter... read more
An ADHD diagnosis can be alarming, upsetting, frightening. “What’s wrong with my child?” we wonder in fear. It’s no laughing matter. Or, is it? We hate feeling scared about our children’s future. But what do we want instead? What’s the opposite of scared? Calm? Brave? I suggest it’s laughing. Laughing or fearful; amused or anxious;... read more
Some people are comfortable when things don’t go the way they plan, while others want to control everything. The gift lies somewhere in the middle, recognizing when things are good enough. Last week Diane talked about recovering from perfectionism. In learning to let go of perfection — frankly, in every aspect of life — the greatest... read more
“The ends justify the means.” “Outcomes measurement.” ”Getting to the finish line.” Our focus as a society seems to be on where we are going, and not how we get there. With ADHD kids, this mind-set can lead to frustration and feeling defeated, because the “finish line” often feels out of reach. So what can... read more
Have you ever had one of those moments of mis-communication when you just can’t figure out why someone is so upset? After all, you’re in agreement, but s/he is hearing something else. It might be that a simple twist of language is at fault. Often, we use two simple words interchangeably: But and And. The... read more
The first step to feeling successful when raising children – particularly children with complex needs like ADHD – is to get out of the muddy river of denial. To effectively navigate the choppy waters of parenting you’ve got to climb out of the water and into a boat. Only then can you skillfully direct your course... read more
You should never start a sentence with the word “you.” Now, notice what happens for you when you read that sentence. Did you feel a tad defensive? Perhaps, a bit accused? Amazing how we can feel guilty or defensive when we haven’t even done anything wrong! Expressions like “you should,” “you don’t” or “you make... read more