What a generous share! I loved so many things, but especially this quote: “That time period also really forced me to grapple with the realization that there is so little in life we actually have control over. We can do everything "right" and still have horrible things happen to us.”
As a recovering control freak and perfectionist - this is balm to my soul!
So much of this resonated - I don’t have ADHD myself but my kids deal with similar issues as your kids. Traditional advice and schedules do not account for the reality of life with non-NT kids who are doing their best, but have different needs than NT kids. The sleep issues alone are 🤪. We’ve improved things at our house by working with a pediatric sleep specialist for a few years, but it’s realistically probably never going to be “easy.” It was so lovely to read your thoughts and how you’ve managed to create a thriving family life. I have to say, you’re KILLING it!!! This was so inspiring!
And suggestion, feel free to take or leave: weekend exercise. We do hikes or bike/scooter rides with our kids many weekends and if you’re trying to beef up your exercise over the course of a week, that totally counts while productively getting out some of that adhd energy! :)
You are so right! My health was so bad for awhile that even trying to exercise made me very ill, so I think part of my hurdle is mentally getting over that!
I hope my suggestion didn’t sound flippant! Just wanted to encourage you that exercise doesn’t have to be a HIIT workout or happen in a gym to “count.” You may already be doing it and are just not giving yourself credit. Xo
First can we coordinate something where we can buy this woman a cup of coffee? MORE OF THIS. As a mom of two neurodiverse kids she has summed this up so nicely. People with neurotypical kids do not always realize that ND moms can’t just wing things or even schedule and stick to the plan . I feel very seen by this. The sacrifices moms of ND kids have to make: schedule changes, job changes, weekly therapy (out of pocket), med management. @kelly please can I Venmo you to buy this woman coffee ASAP.
You are so sweet – and right! I do send the sharers a coffee gift card when I publish theirs, so we're on it, but thank you! Such a kind thought! She's also shared here in the comments that she's @morganizingthechaos on Instagram if you want to connect with her there! ◡̈
This was amazing- sent to probably 5 different people. Thank you for taking the time with this generous share. I would love love love to see a screenshot or more info on the meal queue- meals are my biggest pain point!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s me! I share a lot on my Instagram (which is public) but not sure if I’m allowed to share that here? I will chat with Kelly to see if there’s an easy way to share screenshots. It took me awhile to perfect my meal planning system but I’m obsessed with it now!
thank you thank you!!!!!! what's your IG name? I will definitely look at that and anything else you can share through Kelly would be so appreciated. I need a system desperately!!!!!
It’s @morganizingthechaos - I post quite erratically but I think I have my meal planning stuff saved to a highlight (including my old system when I worked out of the house)! And I’ll try to post some screenshots today too :)
I have been asking for an ND day, and I’m so grateful to this person for submitting one! I have an almost 8yo AuDHDer, my husband was just diagnosed with ADHD, and I was just diagnosed as an AuDHDer. My 4yo is the only one not yet diagnosed. I have always felt like my life is so much harder to stay on top of when reading other people’s days.
It was so refreshing to see today’s post and see that I’m not alone. I have adapted many of the same strategies as this person and realized I just can’t (or my daughter can’t) do it all. We have to prioritize what keeps our nervous systems in check.
We too struggle to do anything after kids’ bedtimes because it takes a while to get them to fall asleep.
I was so grateful to see that this was coming from a fellow ADHD-er. Sleep and transitions are what make or break my ability to function, regardless of schedules or structure. I’m grateful for all of the detail you shared in both and plan to use your HISMD during my Clean Slate session today 🩵 Thank you, thank you, thank you.
We also lay with our kids until they fall asleep, which is sometimes a several-hour affair. (And my kids are neurotypical, ages 6 and 8) I feel like the author was so apologetic about doing this for her kids, but I think that’s a hero’s work! 💕it’s just always been how we do bedtime. I love the cuddles and I think the kids love feeling close and supported.
This was an amazing one, thankful for the vulnerable and detailed share! I am also a late-in-life ADHD diag about six months postpartum and yeah cleaning the pantry at 1am is a thing 😅
Taking note on the calendar system tricks to add into my rotation!
Thank you so very much for sharing this - so much of this resonated with me (I;m a single mum to an 8yo autistic daughter). Being grateful for a flexible job, bedtime struggles, even the hair washing scheduling! I love the balance you have created between making systems that make things "easier" while accepting that you are in a season where it's never going to be "easy". You are doing an absolutely incredible job.
What a generous share! I loved so many things, but especially this quote: “That time period also really forced me to grapple with the realization that there is so little in life we actually have control over. We can do everything "right" and still have horrible things happen to us.”
As a recovering control freak and perfectionist - this is balm to my soul!
Recovering control freaks, unite!
So much of this resonated - I don’t have ADHD myself but my kids deal with similar issues as your kids. Traditional advice and schedules do not account for the reality of life with non-NT kids who are doing their best, but have different needs than NT kids. The sleep issues alone are 🤪. We’ve improved things at our house by working with a pediatric sleep specialist for a few years, but it’s realistically probably never going to be “easy.” It was so lovely to read your thoughts and how you’ve managed to create a thriving family life. I have to say, you’re KILLING it!!! This was so inspiring!
And suggestion, feel free to take or leave: weekend exercise. We do hikes or bike/scooter rides with our kids many weekends and if you’re trying to beef up your exercise over the course of a week, that totally counts while productively getting out some of that adhd energy! :)
You are so right! My health was so bad for awhile that even trying to exercise made me very ill, so I think part of my hurdle is mentally getting over that!
I hope my suggestion didn’t sound flippant! Just wanted to encourage you that exercise doesn’t have to be a HIIT workout or happen in a gym to “count.” You may already be doing it and are just not giving yourself credit. Xo
Not flippant at all! But it is a reframe to think about what I can do on the weekend vs starting a whole new routine 😵💫
Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Sarah! ♥️
First can we coordinate something where we can buy this woman a cup of coffee? MORE OF THIS. As a mom of two neurodiverse kids she has summed this up so nicely. People with neurotypical kids do not always realize that ND moms can’t just wing things or even schedule and stick to the plan . I feel very seen by this. The sacrifices moms of ND kids have to make: schedule changes, job changes, weekly therapy (out of pocket), med management. @kelly please can I Venmo you to buy this woman coffee ASAP.
You are so sweet – and right! I do send the sharers a coffee gift card when I publish theirs, so we're on it, but thank you! Such a kind thought! She's also shared here in the comments that she's @morganizingthechaos on Instagram if you want to connect with her there! ◡̈
You are very sweet, Kelly did send me a Starbs gift card this morning!
This was amazing- sent to probably 5 different people. Thank you for taking the time with this generous share. I would love love love to see a screenshot or more info on the meal queue- meals are my biggest pain point!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s me! I share a lot on my Instagram (which is public) but not sure if I’m allowed to share that here? I will chat with Kelly to see if there’s an easy way to share screenshots. It took me awhile to perfect my meal planning system but I’m obsessed with it now!
thank you thank you!!!!!! what's your IG name? I will definitely look at that and anything else you can share through Kelly would be so appreciated. I need a system desperately!!!!!
It’s @morganizingthechaos - I post quite erratically but I think I have my meal planning stuff saved to a highlight (including my old system when I worked out of the house)! And I’ll try to post some screenshots today too :)
You're welcome to share! Whatever you're comfortable with!
Yes, please share your meal spreadsheet if you're willing! Loved reading this all - thank you so much for sharing!
This was such a good read! As someone who thrives on systems (and may also have ADHD..) I loved this. Thank you to the submitter!
Agreed! Thank you to her – and to you!
I have been asking for an ND day, and I’m so grateful to this person for submitting one! I have an almost 8yo AuDHDer, my husband was just diagnosed with ADHD, and I was just diagnosed as an AuDHDer. My 4yo is the only one not yet diagnosed. I have always felt like my life is so much harder to stay on top of when reading other people’s days.
It was so refreshing to see today’s post and see that I’m not alone. I have adapted many of the same strategies as this person and realized I just can’t (or my daughter can’t) do it all. We have to prioritize what keeps our nervous systems in check.
We too struggle to do anything after kids’ bedtimes because it takes a while to get them to fall asleep.
Thank you, thank you!!
I think I saw your request (or a similar one) and volunteered as tribute LOL! I’m glad it was helpful or at least supportive!
I was so grateful to see that this was coming from a fellow ADHD-er. Sleep and transitions are what make or break my ability to function, regardless of schedules or structure. I’m grateful for all of the detail you shared in both and plan to use your HISMD during my Clean Slate session today 🩵 Thank you, thank you, thank you.
We also lay with our kids until they fall asleep, which is sometimes a several-hour affair. (And my kids are neurotypical, ages 6 and 8) I feel like the author was so apologetic about doing this for her kids, but I think that’s a hero’s work! 💕it’s just always been how we do bedtime. I love the cuddles and I think the kids love feeling close and supported.
This was an amazing one, thankful for the vulnerable and detailed share! I am also a late-in-life ADHD diag about six months postpartum and yeah cleaning the pantry at 1am is a thing 😅
Taking note on the calendar system tricks to add into my rotation!
Thank you so very much for sharing this - so much of this resonated with me (I;m a single mum to an 8yo autistic daughter). Being grateful for a flexible job, bedtime struggles, even the hair washing scheduling! I love the balance you have created between making systems that make things "easier" while accepting that you are in a season where it's never going to be "easy". You are doing an absolutely incredible job.