Having a child with ADHD can be incredibly difficult, but practicing gratitude on a regular basis can help. Read this article to learn more.
Parenting a child with ADHD can be overwhelming.
The fits.
The meltdowns.
The embarrassing charades.
Many parents of children with ADHD feel defeated because nothing they have tried has worked. They’re embarrassed and feel judged because of the ways their child behaves in public or at family gatherings.
Often, when I talk with them on the phone, I can tell they are holding back tears that threaten to spill out as they share about the challenges they face on a daily basis.
I felt like this too when my son’s ADHD symptoms were at their worst.
But then I did something that drastically changed my life.
I know most of the time, I write about nutrition and how the foods we eat can change our lives. (And they absolutely can!)
But today, I wanted to focus on something entirely different.
Today, I wanted to share something I began doing during a really hard season of my life.
This simple, quick, and free habit didn’t change my son’s behavior, but it did change ME!
What I’m talking about is the practice of gratitude.
I began writing down a few things each day that I was thankful for, and the more I did it, the more I realized my attitude was changing.
It wasn’t that there were more things to be grateful for. Instead, it was that I NOTICED the things that were already there.
One especially difficult day, I remember sitting down to write in my journal and re-thinking all of the events of the day.
I started thinking about my son’s rigid thinking. This kid would NOT take no for an answer and just pushed and pushed and pushed if he didn’t get his way.
As I reflected on this from a place of gratitude, I realized that this rigid thinking – this strong-willed behavior – is also a blessing. My son is persistent!
So, I could focus on his rigid thinking….or I could focus on his persistence. It’s the same character quality, but a different way of looking at it.
Practicing gratitude on a daily basis helped me change my perspective. It helped me think things like…
“My child isn’t where I want him to be YET, but we are further along in this journey today than we were yesterday.”
Gratitude doesn’t always change your circumstances, but it DOES change the way you view them.
So, here are a few ways that parents of children with ADHD can begin to shift their thinking to a more positive perspective.
4 ways parents of children with ADHD can develop more positive mindsets:
☺️ Look for the WINS!
Parenting a child with ADHD is HARD! One of the best practices parents can do is look for (and then praise) the positive things they see their child doing.
☺️ Daily, say aloud 3 things for which you are thankful.
I love doing this around the dinner table with my family. It helps ALL of us develop an attitude of gratitude.
☺️ Write in a gratitude journal.
I set a goal to write 1000 things a year that I’m thankful for. This breaks down to about 3 things a day.
Bonus- if you are already looking for the wins and saying things you are thankful for each night at dinner, then these items won’t be hard to remember at all!
☺️ Practice self-care.
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Like I mentioned above, parenting a child with ADHD is difficult. It’s VITAL for parents to do things each and every day that feed their souls.
Want to know more about how we can help YOU get to a place of peace and calm with your child using natural strategies?
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And as always, I am not a medical doctor and the above post is based on my experience. No information on this site should be relied upon to make a medical diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure any disease or medical condition.