Having a child with ADHD can affect the entire family.
Since Valentine’s Day is this month, I thought it would be a good time to talk about some ways that ADHD affects the parents of the child.
The hard truth is that ADHD in a child can destroy the relationship of the parents.
I wish this wasn’t the case, but I’ve seen it happen many times.
Anytime there is a child with special needs of any sort, it adds an additional layer of stress to the family unit. And stress – if we’re not careful – can tear apart a family.
So, that’s the bad news.
What’s the good news?
The good news is that there are steps we can take TODAY to help manage this stress in a healthier way.
Tip 1 – As a team, set clear house rules.
If you and your partner set up the house rules TOGETHER, there will be less opportunity for conflict to arise later on.
Remember, even if you don’t agree on everything as far as parenting goes, you’re on the same team!
Tip 2 – Have a consistent bedtime for your child.
Having a consistent bedtime routine for a child with ADHD has many benefits. It helps the child for sure, but it also helps the parents.
By having a consistent bedtime, parents are giving themselves time together as a couple on a regular basis.
Tip 3 – Prioritize time for YOU as a couple.
Having a child with ADHD can be all-consuming. It can completely take over a family’s life if we’re not careful.
One key way to keep your relationship with your partner strong is to prioritize it. Having that bedtime routine for your child helps, but there are other things you can do as well: go on dates if possible, take mini getaways if your schedule and finances allow, have a time each day for daily check ins, etc.
Tip 4 – Listen first. Always.
There will be conflict in any relationship, but having a child with ADHD pretty much guarantees it!
They key to working through conflict in a healthy way is to listen first. There’s an old saying that is worth repeating, “We have two ears and only one mouth for a reason.” I love it!
Listen more. Talk less. Such a simple thing, but SO hard to do sometimes.
Hope these tips are helpful for your family.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours!
If you’d like to hear even more tips and tricks surrounding this topic, make sure and check out my YouTube channel because I made a video on this topic earlier this week!
