How To Get Through It

A letter to a misunderstood child

Hello,

I am the Mum of a little boy with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, just like you. I know you sometimes get very sad at the thought of having to go to school where you seem to get into trouble lots. Even at home you seem to rub people up the wrong way sometimes and then your brothers and sisters or parents are mad at you for things too.

Sometimes you get into trouble with your teachers and parents for moving about so often or acting in a silly or dangerous way. Now and then you have the need to butt in when other people are talking, or you find it extremely hard to wait your turn. Because of this, grown ups often find it difficult to cope, so they get cross with you and this is why life sometimes feels very unfair. You try your best, but still you seem to get things wrong and you don't know why. This sometimes makes you frustrated and angry and this is when you lose your temper and maybe shout or hit other people...and this gets you into more trouble!

However, I want to tell you something. Children like you are often extremely good at certain things. Many children are 'quite' good at a many things but you; you excel in subjects like science, technology or computers and are often way above the other kids in these areas. There are many children just like yourself in school as well you know. You are not the only one. Although you may often think that your teacher doesn't like you I can assure you, you will find teachers who do like you for who you are, and accept the difficult things you do without judging you. When you find a teacher like this, make him or her your friend. Go to them when you are having problems.

All I can say to you is this. Some of the greatest names in history were said to have symptoms like the ones you have. Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Richard Branson, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams, Stephen Hawking .... the list is much, much longer than this. All these people have made the world a better place for others BECAUSE of the way they are, not despite the way they are.

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