Lesson 2: Lesson 2: Impact on Family & Society
Build A Support System - Marriage or Personal Relationships
Take Time for Your Marriage and Personal Relationships:
Finding some personal time for you and your husband is not a luxury; it is a necessity! All relationships need nourishing! Budget for a baby sitter for occasional nights out. Be creative. A quiet, inexpensive restaurant may be an option, or going for a relaxing drive. Or choose a time for a “date in”. After the children are in bed, plan a special time just for each other: talking, giving each other foot or neck rubs, etc. It should be a time to share the love you have for each other, NOT a time to discuss problems! Schedule that for another time. In the busiest of schedules, this is always a possibility!
BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM
Support is crucial. As you learn more about ADHD set aside a special time to explain and share what you have learned with grandparents and other extended family. Find friends who will listen and support you. There are ADHD support groups available for parents. CHAD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is one such organization that has meetings with speakers and publishes a national magazine with articles by researchers on latest research information. Their headquarters is 8181 Professional Drive, Suite 202, Lanham, MD 20706, and can be reached by telephone 1-800-233-4050 or you can visit their website, www.chadd.org. Maybe you can start a chapter in your community. Support groups are extremely helpful in helping you know you are not alone, and that help is available. It is a place where our feelings of demoralization, depression and isolation can be shared as together parents and professionals try to better understand what adults and children are going through and to share problem-solving strategies.
