“It is well to cultivate a friendly feeling towards error…”

…to treat it as a companion inseparable from our lives, as something having a purpose, which it truly has.” Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind   It’s okay to make mistakes.  We often learn more from the mistake than we do from completing a task successfully.  Errors, viewed through a healthy prism, motivate us to try again,  repeat until we master, and achieve.  In so doing, we build our...

Respect is demonstrated through…

…a careful balance of accepting a child just they way he is and encouraging him to grow into all that he can be. - Elisa Morgan & Carol Kuykendall   Striking this balance can be difficult, when your child’s behaviors trigger your own fear for your child’s ability to be successful, and your own memories of being a child.  We hear what our own parents and teachers taught us about...

The first duty of love is to listen.

- Paul Tillich. As adults with ADHD, we often use our intuition to achieve success in our business relationships. At home however, over-flexing our intuition muscle, can lead to hurt feelings.  We can jump to conclusions before a family member has conveyed their feelings or opinions.  Take the time to really listen to what your family is saying, be fully present.  Avoid creating your response as they talk,...

“If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”

A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh) “I feel like a broken record.”  Did your mom ever say that to you, growing up as a child?  Now, here you are, thinking if not saying it to your own child.  For the child with ADHD, there really is proverbial ‘fluff’ in the way- inattention.   Below are a few tips to overcome the ‘fluff.’ Eliminate distractions. After pre-scripting the event, such...

True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils.

Baltasar Gracián y Morales, SJ (1601 – 1658) Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer, known for his masterpiece writing accomplishment, Criticón, published in 1651, 1653, and 1657.   Expect and encourage siblings to support each other.  Remind them that they will be friends longer than any other friends that may come along in childhood.  Coach siblings to seek understand as to why a sibling may act...