"ADHD MELTDOWNS, MEET MINDFUL PARENTING"

When this headline popped into my inbox this morning from ADDitude magazine. I had to read it! They just published a wonderful article about Mindful Breathing and Mindful Attention while parenting: "Stay Calm and Mom (or Dad) On". It invites us all who deal with ADHD or anything like it - issues with distraction, poor prioritization, poor organization, poor impulse control, and emotional disregulation - to use simply mindful breathing and paying attention to each moment as a way through. ADDitude Magazine is a fantastic resource for anyone living with and/or parenting ADHD.

I live with ADHD (without hyperactivity). I was diagnosed in my late 20s and have lived with the impact of the disorder throughout my life. These days, I've found many ways to live productively and happily, yet it still threatens to derail my ability to be calm, confident, and happy on a daily basis. Mindfulness and self-compassion are the primary tools in my recovery and resilience toolbox. And, as it goes, I was blessed with a creative, passionate and heartfelt daughter who has been exhibiting many of the symptoms of ADHD (with hyperactivity) since she was a 2-year-old. Her energy, lack of impulse control, and extreme emotional reactions regularly threaten whatever stability my mindfulness and self-compassion practices create. As someone wise said, "life always gives us what we need to learn and grow."