ADHD And The Holiday Spirit

Strike that...

ADHD & The Holiday "Attitude!"

No matter what has happened this year, or in previous years, most of us look forward to the holiday season. People travel to be with family, and there is a great deal of emphasis (perhaps even pressure) to make the holidays full of joy and happiness.

Having never been a huge fan of holidays, my wife taught that Christmas to her family is more about getting together and enjoying each other's company, than it is anything else. You see, my immediate family does nothing but argue, criticize, and ridicule each other about the lives we lead, the choices we make, and most of all how are children behave. So it's with great reservation that I look forward to holidays.

Joy And Happiness

Despite the pressure to make things "perfect," the holidays inevitably soon become about stress and frustration. I have tried otherwise, and it just never seems to make a difference. There is always something that is said or taken too literally or too offensively, despite the unintended nature.

But what really does it for me is when someone has a comment about my child... Or when someone questions my authority as the parent of my child... Or when someone makes "suggestions" about how I raise my children or talk to them...

Does this sound familiar?

No one is perfect! And I am willing to bet that suggestions are meant with the best intentions, but sadly the delivery is always lacking.

That Holiday Attitude...

While the holidays are meant to be full of joy and peace, many parents struggle with the constant criticism and overbearing attitude that sometimes accompanies family gatherings. Whether it is your parents, a sibling, cousin, or friend, it never seems to get overlooked.

Someone... Somewhere... Sometime...

...has something to say about how your child is behaving, carrying on, or perhaps about how the choices you make.

I have noticed that it is the worst when we as parents are bombarded with comments, critiques, or recommendations that something must be wrong with our child.

Suddenly the holidays have become not about peace and togetherness, but about our overwhelming belief that we want to hear opinions... We want to be criticized, and we want to be questioned about everything we do.

I'm NOT quite certain where some people get this belief - but it happens (all too much).

When you have a child with ADHD, the last thing you need is grief during your brief time off or your time away from work. Instead...you end up with attitude and often times turn out to be the ingrate of the family!