Parenting is like being on a rollercoaster that never stops, especially when you've got kids with ADHD. I'm here to share a bit of my life that sounds simple but is anything but: getting my kids to brush their teeth before bed.
Imagine me, totally wiped out, camping out in the bathroom because, well, I have to.
I've got two boys with ADHD. If left to manage brushing their teeth on their own.
One of them will wander off with a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth, dripping toothpaste everywhere, probably stopping to watch TV or cuddle the cats.
The other? He'll forget what he's doing mid-brush, leave the water running, and get super interested in reading what's in the toothpaste instead of actually using it.
And if I have them both do their teeth at the same time?
They turn the bathroom into a WWE ring, complete with tag team matches and water fights.
So, what's the least stressful option? Park myself in there with them. It saves on clean-up, cuts down the drama, and honestly, at the end of the day when I'm beat and just want a moment of peace, it's the easiest thing to do. Sure, I might have to play referee and remind them that the shower glass isn't a WWE prop, but it's worth it.
I get asked a lot about how to make ADHD kids more independent, especially with simple stuff like brushing teeth so we can, you know, actually do other things. The hard truth? Sometimes, they're just not there yet. It could be their age, how wiped they are from the day, or just the way things are at the moment. And that's totally okay.
It's exhausting, yeah. You might feel like everyone's judging you for not having kids who haven't reached these milestones yet. It can even feel like you're babying them too much, or that you are failing them. Which, you aren't.
Because the flip side? Trying to force independence before they're ready just leads to frustration all around, more messes, and honestly, no time saved. There are days when you'll see a glimmer of hope, like they're getting the hang of it. But today might not be that day.
I just wanted to say this out loud because you're not alone, and you're doing an amazing job. The fact that you are here reading this already speaks volumes about your dedication to your child(ren). It's tough, and when it comes down to it, being there for them, is what makes a difference. Here's to all of us getting through another day of parenting with our sanity (mostly) intact. You've got this!
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