Ten Things My Son Wants You to Know About his ADHD:

1. “You are stupid, lazy, crazy, clumsy, careless, etc.”

First, I want you to know that I am none of these things, not really. People with ADHD are more often than not, very intelligent. Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison were very famous for their scientific theories and inventions, yet they had symptoms of ADHD and autism.

2. “You just don't think.”

I do think. In fact, I think a lot. My thoughts are like airplanes circling an airport, just going and going and unable to land. You know how sometimes you can't turn off your mind to fall asleep at night? I have that problem every night. In some ways its more of an ability than a disability because it means I have lots of ideas and that I am a creative problem solver.

3. “Lincoln, you need to be more responsible.”

I am responsible, but I may need help and I may struggle with finding school papers, books, and things that I need to organize my day. I will always have to learn strategies to help me focus and concentrate. I actually have to work very hard to be responsible.

4. “You are not normal.You are different.”

That depends on what is considered normal. What is normal for you, may not be normal for me. We all have things that we struggle with on a day to day basis. I am as normal as anyone who struggles with a problem or difficulty. Mine just happens to be ADHD. I can accomplish the same things anyone without ADHD can, but I may have to work harder.

5. “Stop that! You are annoying me.”

I don't deliberately try to annoy you. None of things I do – fidgeting, tapping my pencils, pulling apart or playing with erasers, tapping etc., are done deliberately to annoy you. Sometimes I don't really know I'm doing it at all. Sometimes I may do things that are strange, like tap you on the shoulder. Overall, I just want to be your friend and I want you to like me.

6. “Earth to Lincoln”

Sometimes I may not hear you because I'm thinking about other things or I have something on my mind. I also may not look you directly in the eye. It doesn't mean that I don't hear you; I'm just preoccupied at the moment. It takes me awhile to switch directions and move on to something else.

7. “Sit down!”

Movement is how I learn. In school, you are expected to sit and listen. But this goes against my very nature. I like to be outdoors exploring and seeking adventure. I can classify different insects, snakes, and spiders. These things do not scare me. In fact I'm curious about them and curious about the world around me. I may get up to sharpen my pencil a lot because I can get up and move around the room.

8. “You are bad.”

I may get in trouble a lot at school for things that I do and say, but that does not mean that I am bad. I don't do things to be defiant. As a person with ADHD, I can be very impulsive, sometimes 1 or 2 years behind someone my own age who does not have ADHD. God knows I'm not bad, and loves me the same way he loves everyone else. I am a kind person and a loyal friend who often gravitates to others who have some of the same issues.

9. “You are a liar.”

I'm not a liar. I like to tell stories and sometimes I exaggerate or embellish them to make them more exiting. To me, I'm telling the truth. Sometimes, you may want to ask me, “Did that really happen?” Once I start talking about something that I'm excited about, I usually can't stop. Even if you interrupt me or walk away from me I will just continue talking until I'm finished. There may be times you may not want to listen to one of my stories and get bored or disinterested. I cannot always tell if you're annoyed. Please let me know that you would like me to stop.

10. “You don't even try”

I try very hard every day. I have to try very hard to concentrate, to do my schoolwork, and to be organized. I have to try very hard to keep track of everything. Sometimes I try so hard that I mess up even worse. Trying is a part my life every single day.