Living with a Child with ADHD {Mental Health Awareness Month}

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living with a child with adhd“Bug, go get dressed. Your ride will be here in ten minutes.” This is probably already the 18th time I have told him to get dressed.

“Bug, go into your room and put on your clothes. Come on Buddy.”

I’m not going to yell today. I’m not going to yell.

“Bug, it’s time to be dressed. Come on.” I pull him up off the couch and lead him into his room. He flops down on his bed. One more time for good measure, “Get dressed please.”

I leave the room to make my coffee. “Bug, are you getting dressed?”

“I’m doing it,” he assures me.

I peak into his room and he’s flopping around like a fish out of water on his bed. And of course, he’s only in his undies.

“GET DRESSED!”

“I am.” We’ll repeat this between five and fifteen times. I get a shirt and shorts out and hand them to him. He’ll play around for a little while. He starts making robot sounds.

“Bug, are you dressed?”

“I am a robot.”

“Well, get your robot clothes on!”

“I think I just farted. As a robot.”

“Put your shirt on.”

Finally, finally he is dressed. At least a shirt and shorts.

I hear him singing in the bathroom.

“Mom, is there any human being on earth that is cold blooded?”

“No.”

“What about God?”

“No. Get your shoes on!”

Then we have a conversation about wedgies. And he starts singing a song about wedgie butts while swinging his shoes around.

“Shoes!”

Every. Day. We go round and round and round. It’s incredibly frustrating. This is life with a child with ADHD.

ADHD is only one of many mental health issues children may face. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 20% of children in the United States have mental health disorders.

Children's_Mental_Health_infographic

As with all children with a special medical need, it can feel incredibly overwhelming and isolating. But there is good news. There are local resources and help for parents who have a children with mental health issues.

The Federation of Families of South Carolina

The Federation of Families of South Carolina is a nonprofit organization established to serve the families of children with any degree of emotional, behavioral or psychiatric disorder. They provide a wealth of resources all around the state for children with mental health issues or suffering from trauma.

The SC Department of Mental Health – Division of Children, Adolescents, and Family (CAF)

CAF is exploring new avenues for linking families with critically needed mental health services in the home, school and community settings.

The Children’s Mental Health Network

CMHN is a national organization bringing together the voices of children’s mental health. They also provide resources and information.

If your child is showing signs of a mental health disorder, contact your pediatrician, and reach out for help.

Does your child or someone you know struggle with ADHD? What resources have been the most helpful?

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Alexa Bigwarfe
Alexa Bigwarfe is a mother to 3 wildlings who keep her on her toes. She is an advocate, activist, speaker, author & author coach, publisher, and podcaster. Her writing career began after her infant daughter passed away at 2 days old and she turned to writing for healing. Since then, she has used her writing platform for advocacy and activism to support mothers, children, and marginalized voices. She began a nonprofit, Sunshine After the Storm, to provide support, care, healing retreats, and grief recovery to mothers in their most difficult time. She is the creator and co-host of the Lose the Cape podcast, which features moms working to make a difference in their children's lives and has co-authored and published four volumes under the Lose the Cape brand. Her primary business is Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to shepherding authors through the massive process of writing and publishing their books like a pro. She owns her own publishing house, Kat Biggie Press, and a children's book publishing company, Purple Butterfly Press - both dedicated to bringing stories of hope, inspiration, encouragement, and girl-power to the world. Learn more at alexabigwarfe.com.

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