But Jane loved her husband; they shared many of the same interests, enjoying antique shopping, going on picnics, watching movies and many other activities. They laughed together and enjoyed each other’s company. Jane wanted life to be simpler, to be the way it used to be. She wasn’t sure if she could keep up with life the way it was now. She was sure that if her husband went to the doctor for ADD and began to manage it, that he would be able to take more of the responsibilities around the house, not need her to manage his schedule and would be more responsive to her children’s needs.
Betty
Betty had been married for 30 years. Her children were grown and her two sons had discovered they had ADD as adults. The diagnosis of ADD wasn’t really around as they were growing up. Betty had been a stay at home mother and had worked hard to keep her home running, her children in school and her husband happy. But now, she felt, was time for her to pursue her own interests.
Communication between her and her husband was not very good and he still expected her to keep his life organized, even if he didn’t say it. He was constantly losing things, and she was always finding them. He was not good at paying bills, they tried that once and had the electric shut off, even though the money to pay the bill was in the bank. He started household projects and left them unfinished. He changed careers several times in his life, always ending up getting bored and starting over. Betty felt like her time had been spent looking after him, helping him find his way in life, and now, she wanted something for herself.
But Betty wanted this together, with her husband. She didn’t want to start out on her own. They had a history together and often laughed together. They enjoyed each other’s company, enjoyed their life together. But Betty knew something needed to change.
After her two sons were diagnosed with Adult ADD, Betty talked with them and the more she found out about ADD, the more she felt her husband also had it. He agreed, although did not feel it was important enough to go to the doctor or find ways to manage. He thought their life was fine and he didn’t really want to make any changes.
