Aha! ADD

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This post may seem to be all about me and the changes here at ADD Moms, but stick with it. I think you’ll find it relevant to your ADDer.

I had a real wake-up call the other day. As I mentioned in my last post, I am in the process of making some changes to this site in order to make it even better. Kelly McCausey, from Mom Masterminds is my mentor on this.
I contacted Kelly on Friday or Saturday to let her know I was ready to begin. I had some material I had studied beforehand, and then Kelly started me out with a few very simple questions about my site based on what I had studied. Now, Kelly has seen my site, so she knew most of the answers already, but apparently I didn’t.

Over the weekend, Kelly and I exchanged emails 8 times, all in regards to 1 question: what kind of site do I have? There were 5 possible choices, and none of the 3 I picked were the right ones. The only 2 remaining answers (which I didn’t pick) were a podcast (which this site clearly isn’t) and a blog (which is the correct answer).

Now before you abandon me forever because I am obviously an idiot, let me explain – please! The entire fiasco was due to a huge misunderstanding on my part brought on by my Attention Deficit Disorder. You see, I was very anxious for this project to begin – I’ve been looking forward to it for a month or more – and I wanted to get as much out of it as I could.

When I was listening to Kelly’s audio lesson, I was jumping forward into the future. I live most of my life in the future (rather than the present) and I think that’s pretty typical of ADDers. So, when Kelly was describing the various types of sites I could build, one caught my attention. It had all the bells and whistles I want for this site someday, like a podcast and a forum. That was my first answer to the question: what kind of site do you have?

When I got an incorrect response, I went to my 2nd and 3rd choices for what I want my site to be. Can you see what I was doing? It seems so obvious now, but it wasn’t at the time. I was almost in tears wondering how I could be so dumb.

I’ve always said that teachers should be required to learn something new every year or two that’s completely outside of their field so that they can experience the challenge that learning can sometimes be. I was always a good student in school. Sure, I can remember spacing out in class, and forgetting things, even waiting until the last minute to do assignments. I was the kind of kid you probably have now, but still I did very well.

There have been very few times in my life when learning was a challenge. College calculus was one of them, and this weekend was another. I was so very frustrated and confused this weekend, because not only was I not getting it, I didn’t know why I wasn’t getting it. I’ve had that experience a lot with Mom Masterminds, and I’ve told Kelly more than once that I have never before felt as dumb as I do in that group. I stay because it’s valuable and I learn a lot – sometimes later rather than sooner.

This weekend was an eye opener, and a gift, because it will help me understand more fully what your ADD children go through, and hopefully, give me a better way to help. I don’t have any answers for you at the moment, but I think that I will end up getting more out of this project than I anticipated.

For now, here’s what I ask of you: the next time your very bright ADD child doesn’t get something that seems not only obvious but beyond simple to comprehend, give them a break. Remember the ADD is putting up a roadblock, and see if you can’t help your child find another way around.

Lacy Estelle

Lacy Estelle

Lacy Estelle is the writer of Lacyestelle.com and the Podcast host for An ADD Woman.

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