Real parent training, with coaching to make it stick!
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
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
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
Sometimes, kids come home with assignments that can become a family affair. Maybe it’s a logic puzzle of the week, or a fun assignment for public speaking. Or maybe it’s having a lively discussion about a book your child is reading for Lit. You can increase your child’s commitment to his/her education by showing an... read more
Wouldn’t it be great if your child felt responsible to manage his/her own behavior? I constantly hear myself saying, “Are you on task? It looks like you’re distracted. How can you get yourself back on track?” Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Recently, my son surprised me by identifying a motivator and getting his... 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
Responding rather than reacting when someone pushes your buttons takes time an practice! We use the term button pushing often. We say that our kids (or spouses, partners or co-workers) really know how to push our buttons; but what are those buttons? And what happens when they’re pushed? More to the point, how can we change our... read more
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
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
I remember playing a hiding game with my kids when they were little. They would cover their eyes, and “hide” from me. They were convinced that if they couldn’t see me, then the opposite was true. How often, as a parent of an ADHD kid, do you wish that you could make your situation disappear... read more