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This Monday is Victoria Day in Canada. Its origin is a celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday and it occurs on the weekend prior to May 25. (Canada still has a British Queen, why I don’t know. Maybe we’re just too polite to point out to the Brits that we’re Canadian, but I’m just speculating).

In lieu of ousting the monarchy, we’ve created an alternative name for our holiday: the May 2-4 weekend, thus named both for the date, and after a 2-4 case of beer (hey, we’re poetic like that.)

With the first summer-ish holiday looming, and Canadians across the land opening their cottages for the first time in our short summer season, I thought this would be a good time to review some do’s and don’ts of holidaying with ADHD.

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It appears that my little rant on spanking has struck a mighty chord.

In addition to readers and comments here at my blog, I’ve received a lot of input on my Facebook page and elsewhere from those weighing in on the weighty topic of how the heck do we deal with our ADHD kids?

It’s distressing to see that some of you (and I suspect many more whom I haven’t  heard from) are suffering and agonizing over what the right way to discipline your ADHD children.

The blog comment that tipped the scale was (excerpted here):

“…how in the world do you get an ADHD kid to learn the social skills required to get along in life before their parent finally finally [sic] loses it and spanks them..” [read molbiomom's full Comment here]

How indeed?

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Did you know today, April 19 is bicycle day? That sounds like something super-wholesome, doesn’t it?

There’s tripping, then there’s tripping

Wrong. It’s actually the anniversary of the first-ever deliberate acid trip in history, taken by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann while riding his bike. Hofmann, a chemist, created the psychedelic drug Lysergic acid dethylamide (LSD), commonly known as acid, in 1938.

Thanks to you-know-who, biking and illicit drug-taking is now old hat. But when Hofmann experienced his acid trip, his description of the event was diametrically opposed to that other famed cycling druggie. According to an International Business Times article, Hofmann described it as an experience of reality without an ego.

7 ADHD Advantages to Help You Butt Out

photo credit: Arif Akhtar (AAPhoto)

If you have ADHD, chances are one of your New Year’s resolutions is to quit smoking.

Sadly, research shows that not only are more people with ADHD addicted to cigarettes, we’re more deeply addicted to them.

Don’t despair!

I’ve recently discovered a book called Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking.

Sir Richard Branson, famed Virgin Airlines entrepreneur, is an ex-smoker who has publicly acknowledged his ADHD. He’s also been a long-time advocate of Carr’s approach.

So it’s Christmas but all I can think about is that it feels like it’s already over. And that’s not a bad thing: this year I’ve already received the two best gifts I could possibly think of.

No, it wasn’t two Chippendale dancers. (What’s the fun in that? They’d just unwrap themselves.)

I’m talking about the kind of gift that you don’t expect, didn’t ask for, but is something you secretly hoped for all along but had (almost) given up on.

Nope. Wrong again: nobody’s bought me a pre-paid year with an awesome ADHD coach.

photo credit: saxoncampbell

Ever wonder why your favorite Christmas Carols are your favorites?

Thinking about that the other day I discovered the reasons why, over the years, certain yuletide tunes appealed to my ADHD self.

Jingle Bells

I don’t know about you, but when I was little, singing “alternative” lyrics to Jingle Bells was the sign of a rebel. And who amongst us with ADHD (especially those of us in the blurtatious a.k.a. verbally impulsive camp) can’t relate to that?

Bonus points if you were brave enough to sing “Jingle Bells, Santa smells…” in front of a teacher or parent. (Guess who got the most bonus points?) (There’s no point in being jealous; you’ll never catch up to me now. Pin your hopes on your ADHD kids.)

photo credit: Kitsadakron

Yesterday, I stumbled on a blog post called Treatment of ADHD reduces criminality, by Dr. Timothy Bilkey.

Recently, I tried to tackle the topic (from a slightly different angle) in Binders Full of ADHDers, Part II.

Bilkey deftly handles a complex subject; but when I read his conclusion, I shuddered. My concern is not with his writing (which is excellent), my concern is that to those already laboring under misconceptions and misgivings regarding ADHD medications, the conclusion might be misconstrued.

Morpheus: This is your last chance. After this there is no turning back. You take the blue pill the story ends you wake up in your bed and you believe whatever you want to believe.

You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

[Neo reaches for the red pill]

Morpheus: Remember. All I’m offering is the truth, nothing more.

[Neo swallows the red pill]

- from the film The Matrix, 1999

Sometimes I wish I’d taken the blue pill.

Binders full of ADHDers

I don’t want to get all political on you, but here’s the thing: like it or not, politics and mental health are inexorably linked.

With the conclusion of the US Presidential election, many of us throughout this great continent (and elsewhere; I believe I’ve picked up swoons of relief from my home planet) have heaved a collective sigh of relief.

Let’s hope this feeling is rewarded.

One thing I don’t want to hear Obama say is, “I have binders full of ADHDers.”

People with ADHD Actually Can Die of Boredom

photo credit: idea-saras

Several years ago, I interviewed ADHD coach and expert Pete Quily. Pete said, “Boredom is like kryptonite to someone with ADHD.”

Pete might have been speaking truer words than he thought. On the bright side, our ADHD ability to hyperfocus might actually be a health boon.