The Secret In the Sauce

Kids with ADHD often suffer from a very de-bilitating lack of self-esteem. They recognize in themselves that something is different and the heat they get from inability to stay focused, complete tasks, follow-through and generally finding themselves in trouble more-often than not really drives home that there is 'something wrong with them.' ADHD is truly a vicious cycle that feeds itself and feeds the environment around these kids in a threatening and very sad way. Preston's increase in cognitive awareness, compliance and pleasant demeanor have been absolutely exciting beyond measure for me. That is not to say the battle is over. He still has meltdowns - one just the other day over having to finish a chicken taco for lunch that he quite enjoyed the night before. He fell to absolute pieces over this! I gently escorted him to his room where he was welcome to have his cry, where he stayed for a good ten minutes, sobbing. It was little mind-boggling to me (as it usually is)...

I do alot of reading and probably spend too much time reading informational books. I do try to vary things from time to time but with a kiddo with ADHD, I need all the help I can get! It is what it is right? So, for help with my business I picked up Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." I have found this book to be exceptional for everyday inerpersonal interactions. It makes some amazing points that I find myself recalling and putting to use not minutes later. He uses alot of people's mistakes and strengths to drive his points home. There was a particular article that he re-counted that I can't get out of my head and I hope that in giving credit where credit is due I am okay to post that article on my blog today because it will definitely change your day if not your life. Father Forgets by W. Livingston Larned   "Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls sticki...

Life is busy. It always will be! This is why we always hear sentiment like, 'happiness is a journey, not a destination' and 'stop waiting for the next stage in life to be happy.' This is tough simply because some stages in life's journey are tougher than others. The last couple of years have been extrememly challenging as we've learned about ADHD, felt and dealt with the effects of it at home and in school and struggled to find some answers and solutions. It has been very taxing on me and my family and it has not been easy to find 'joy in the moment.' I went to a neighbor's house the other night where she had a little get-together for moms to talk about 'taking care of yourself as the mom.' She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and absolutely brilliant and passionate about what she does. Any time she talks - I listen. She said numerous wonderful things and to everyone that was there I'm sure different parts stood out to them. What re...

I dedicate this post to the impressive clear-minded Preston moment that I witnessed just a couple days ago. Regarding sibling rivalry, the back-up argument to allowing kids to handle squabbles amidst themselves is the need to develop problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills. By parents always interjecting and acting as self-appointed judges, we rob them of the opportunity to develop these skills on their own (this is also a big part of Love and Logic parenting as we let them make decisions and act and natural consequences follow). I was super excited to see this in action with none-other than my little Preston whose skills have proven to be severly lacking in this department. I've been amazed with who this kid has been for the last several days. I have to assume we are simply on the uptake of his natural mood and mind cycle, but he has been amazing - especially given the fact that most of his big life stressors including step-parent, step-siblings and ch...