By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
D. Sharon Pruitt via Compfight
Recently, I read Parenting a Child With ADHD – Is Spanking Helpful? by ADHD expert Keath Low. Low does a good job of explaining why it’s difficult to parent a child with ADHD, and offers some general guidelines on how to do so appropriately.
From my perspective, some critical considerations about whether or not to spank a child with ADHD need to be added to the discussion.
Full disclosure
My mom hit me until I was 17.
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
Jack Wolf via Compfight
Imagine how excited I was when I first learned about the slow food movement. Being as slow in the kitchen as I’ve always been, I’d always thought I had a deficit. When all along, here I was, ahead of the pack.
Fast minds
While a lot of us with ADHD have racing thoughts (thus the title for a new book on ADHD adults, Fast Minds), there are areas where we’re actually slower than others.
Let’s take a few long, deep, slow breaths and explore some under-examined territory: when the hyperactive hare becomes the tedious tortoise.
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
Discovering A Treasure Trove of ADHD Memory Gold
peasap via Compfight
I’ve written a lot about ADHD. As an author, my ultimate dream was to write a full-length book about women and ADHD.
For motivation, I kept a stack of books from my favorite psychology publisher on my writing desk. When I was ready, they’d be the first I’d approach.
I was fortunate enough to land that publisher, and we began to shape the book. That’s when they dropped the bomb: could I make it a memoir?
Sure, I said.
Then I panicked.
How can I write a memoir when I have no memories?
I wasn’t going to let a little thing like that stop me.
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
It’s spring (aka, roofing season). It’s time to tackle the last major job on my new house (I hope).
One contractor suggested it would be cheaper and faster to cover over the old roof tiles.
Then someone explained that if we did it the fast, cheap way, I’d never know if the boards underneath were rotting. I’d just be covering up the problem, which could lead to even more expensive repairs down the road when my roof sprung a leak.
Makes sense, I thought.
It also happens to be a great analogy for dealing with negative feelings.
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
Embracing the new with ADHD. Snowdrops in spring.
It’s spring. I don’t know about you, but spring has found me starting lots of new projects and activities.
I’ve joined a Speechcraft course, hosted by our local chapter of Toastmasters International. Although I’ve done lots of public speaking, it’s time to hone my skills.
I’m also super-excited as I greet my first spring and anticipate my first summer in my new house. I’ll be landscaping, building new gardens, and making some alterations to my deck (you could say for the first time ever, I’m playing with a full deck.)
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
Used with permission from The Bloggess herself. (Thanks, Jenny).
Like a lot of women with ADHD, I felt my whole life that I didn’t fit in. It turns out, there are some great fellow female bloggers out there who can totally relate to that feeling.
(Which pretty much makes it a moot point, except that there’s still the rest of the world to contend with.)
As it happens, I’m not the first to discover a special comaraderie with other female bloggers.
Meet the bloggess
After reading the Bloggess’ Tweets, I was hooked.
What can I say? She had me at the curlers.
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
What’s happening with the DSM? I haven’t heard a peep lately. Have you?
In case you hadn’t heard, the DSM-5, which is the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is scheduled to be released this May.
That’s like a month and a half away, people. Am I the only one getting nervous?
Lately, I’ve heard nothing.
It’s quiet.
It’s too quiet.
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
Paolo Margari via Compfight
Finding the positive side in any situation is something I’m pretty good at. In spite of life’s challenges, I’ve been called “insufferably cheerful” (whatever that means) and consider myself to be irrationally optimistic.
Even so (and even though it’s been over 7 years since my ADHD diagnosis) until recently, I couldn’t really come up with any benefits of being diagnosed later rather than sooner. (Besides the obvious one of life finally making sense.) (Sort of.)
Imagine my surprise when I finally did stumble over a plus.
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
Zoe on a camel in Rajasthan, India, 2013
So the first day I’m back from India I’m all like flooded with amazing ideas I want to write about. I jot them all down, and I know I’ll be able to rattle off three or four of them over the next week or two, just riding that wave of inspiration.
Then – wham! – after being completely healthy during the entire trip, I’m taken down the moment I walk in my front door. Now, two weeks later, my pee is the color of molasses and it takes all my energy just to sit upright. My muscles are screaming that they’d really rather collapse back into bed.
Now, before anyone panics – yes – I have had medical attention. I’m waiting for the test results.
TMI? I’m sorry, I’m too sick to care.
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By Zoë Kessler, BA, B.Ed.
While enjoying some live funk / R&B music at a local venue last night (with a kick-ass female vocalist fronting the band, I might add), I suggested to my younger companion that we should request a special song for International Women’s Day.
“What’s that?” she asked.
I have tremendous respect for this amazing mom of 7; with her intelligent, inquiring mind, I’m not surprised she asked. I was happy to share. It’s not the first time over the years I’ve introduced another woman (or girl, or entire classroom of young students) to IWD.
International Women’s Day reminds us that human rights for women (such as the right to vote!) are not universal and cannot be taken for granted; they’re hard-won and had to be fought for – have to be fought for as we see how easily stripped away they are, once gained (witness the current and seemingly endless controversy over Roe vs. Wade amongst my southern neighbors).
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