I am actually being assessed for ADHD today. Everything I read about and from people who know this condition makes sense and seems 'normal' for me. I am 68.
My daughter (14) was diagnosed with adhd a couple of years ago. My ex wife was also diagnosed recently in her late 40s it explains so much, and seems obvious in hindsight. It has been a huge positive for my daughter, she’s able to understand herself better and knows when she needs her medication or just to take herself away from a situation, or give herself a break.
As an autistic and (probably) ADHD mum of a (probably also AuDHD) three year old, I relate very strongly to everything Jessica said. Thank you so much for sharing Bex.
This is pure gold. I discovered I was ADHD reasonably late in life, at a teachers only day and an address given by a local ed pysche.........back when they were available and there were more than 1 servicing 1000's..............he was ADHD himself, and his kids......AND his daughter. I had been verging on concluding thinking as a father and teacher, that maybe ADHD was a myth and was really just absent father syndrome. How very wrong I was. The psychologist's daughter was adhd......and his generic and funny descriptions of finding the adhd kids in ya class..........they described moi. @50ish. My whole world changed...............my teaching career and space (music) attracted the neurodiverse. It was safe and accepting and home in a school environment. I know girls are undiagnosed, including my own daughter perhaps..................so this is a good good read and wonderful in it's transparency and truth.....it's that kinda read. But living it like Jessica doesn't feel like gold or translate into wealth like Branson, and other famous artists lives that are mean't to give us hope and a level of excitement about our state of minds. Being ADHD can be a very lonely misunderstood space despite the awareness of many within society and institutions. Me and time, and realistic perceptions thereof and adjustments...........I get it totally and thankfully don't beat myself up anymore....but I do try to minimise my weaknesses. I once had a maxim, if I am not asked for something twice don't do it, it's just not that important in the bigger gameplan. In institutions riddled with planning and assessments and written this and written that.........I found no great love, valuing or esteem really, of the things that really mattered and made you a great and effective teacher and learner. Connection and empathy were given lip service but not really valued above beautiful plans, classroom management and written shite.
I NEVER had issues with classroom management. 99.9% of the kids wanted to be there.
I love/d being me, and have been and was and am still greatly loved by most ex students for being me.....but I have been very misunderstood and judged for being me. What hope is there is this anti DEI fragranced world for us who are different? Thankfully I was a greatly loved teacher for who I was and the safety neurodiverse kids felt in my teaching spaces. I was still an agressive learner.
The staffroom wasn't a place I liked to go. I was energised hanging out with the learners at breaks........and having our little neurodiverse haven. I always said, you are not a leader unless you have followers. The Music Zone as I named it, in The Dare To Dream block as I named it.............that was a haven for a band of happy as misfits, that knew where to find a safe and understanding place for them to be themselves. Provided by moi, who was happily himself as a teacher. Kids detect fakes.........and sadly, there are a few fakes in the education world. Happily ADHD and retired. Time is no longer my enemy, except when I have to be somewhere at a given time. Thanks Jessica for these insights. Pure Gold for those with ears to hear.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, am so glad Jess’s post resonated with you - her style is so wonderfully refreshing and honest and funny, but yes, she finds it quite disabling at times
my total pleasure..........one of my fast brain things is, that communicating the heart and thought supercedes capitals.......dunno how common that is amongst fast brainers.......adhder's. :-)
Thanks for this, my son has ADHD and I'm always trying to understand how things are for him. It breaks my heart that he is labeled naughty, or angry etc, when he is just frustrated or feeling injustice at the ways things are changing around him. He's only 7 so we've got a long way to go to get through schooling, so I try to arm myself with enough information to advocate for him, but it's hard when I don't fully understand the condition myself
Ngā mihi. Teachers especially need to read first hand accounts like this
I am actually being assessed for ADHD today. Everything I read about and from people who know this condition makes sense and seems 'normal' for me. I am 68.
All the best!
I hope it goes well today
My daughter (14) was diagnosed with adhd a couple of years ago. My ex wife was also diagnosed recently in her late 40s it explains so much, and seems obvious in hindsight. It has been a huge positive for my daughter, she’s able to understand herself better and knows when she needs her medication or just to take herself away from a situation, or give herself a break.
I'm so glad you get a diagnosis and have found it so useful and positive
As an autistic and (probably) ADHD mum of a (probably also AuDHD) three year old, I relate very strongly to everything Jessica said. Thank you so much for sharing Bex.
Fabulous thanks. Insight into who I am. I’m 69.
I loved reading this. Thank you for this kōrero. J
I love the imagery of the reeds at the top of the story forming a boat at the end of the story when Jess talks about supporting her kids ❤️
Thank you 🌸 😊
This is pure gold. I discovered I was ADHD reasonably late in life, at a teachers only day and an address given by a local ed pysche.........back when they were available and there were more than 1 servicing 1000's..............he was ADHD himself, and his kids......AND his daughter. I had been verging on concluding thinking as a father and teacher, that maybe ADHD was a myth and was really just absent father syndrome. How very wrong I was. The psychologist's daughter was adhd......and his generic and funny descriptions of finding the adhd kids in ya class..........they described moi. @50ish. My whole world changed...............my teaching career and space (music) attracted the neurodiverse. It was safe and accepting and home in a school environment. I know girls are undiagnosed, including my own daughter perhaps..................so this is a good good read and wonderful in it's transparency and truth.....it's that kinda read. But living it like Jessica doesn't feel like gold or translate into wealth like Branson, and other famous artists lives that are mean't to give us hope and a level of excitement about our state of minds. Being ADHD can be a very lonely misunderstood space despite the awareness of many within society and institutions. Me and time, and realistic perceptions thereof and adjustments...........I get it totally and thankfully don't beat myself up anymore....but I do try to minimise my weaknesses. I once had a maxim, if I am not asked for something twice don't do it, it's just not that important in the bigger gameplan. In institutions riddled with planning and assessments and written this and written that.........I found no great love, valuing or esteem really, of the things that really mattered and made you a great and effective teacher and learner. Connection and empathy were given lip service but not really valued above beautiful plans, classroom management and written shite.
I NEVER had issues with classroom management. 99.9% of the kids wanted to be there.
I love/d being me, and have been and was and am still greatly loved by most ex students for being me.....but I have been very misunderstood and judged for being me. What hope is there is this anti DEI fragranced world for us who are different? Thankfully I was a greatly loved teacher for who I was and the safety neurodiverse kids felt in my teaching spaces. I was still an agressive learner.
The staffroom wasn't a place I liked to go. I was energised hanging out with the learners at breaks........and having our little neurodiverse haven. I always said, you are not a leader unless you have followers. The Music Zone as I named it, in The Dare To Dream block as I named it.............that was a haven for a band of happy as misfits, that knew where to find a safe and understanding place for them to be themselves. Provided by moi, who was happily himself as a teacher. Kids detect fakes.........and sadly, there are a few fakes in the education world. Happily ADHD and retired. Time is no longer my enemy, except when I have to be somewhere at a given time. Thanks Jessica for these insights. Pure Gold for those with ears to hear.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, am so glad Jess’s post resonated with you - her style is so wonderfully refreshing and honest and funny, but yes, she finds it quite disabling at times
my total pleasure..........one of my fast brain things is, that communicating the heart and thought supercedes capitals.......dunno how common that is amongst fast brainers.......adhder's. :-)
Thanks for this, my son has ADHD and I'm always trying to understand how things are for him. It breaks my heart that he is labeled naughty, or angry etc, when he is just frustrated or feeling injustice at the ways things are changing around him. He's only 7 so we've got a long way to go to get through schooling, so I try to arm myself with enough information to advocate for him, but it's hard when I don't fully understand the condition myself