Parenting children with ADHD can be a challenge. Children with ADHD require more monitoring and supervision. Their school problems may require parents to spend evenings helping with homework. Parents need to be more involved in making sure they complete their chores. If parents are not able to work together to provide consistency, they may end up arguing and being at odds with one another. Often, one parent may feel the other is too harsh, while one feels the other is too lenient. Families have been torn apart by the constant conflict within the house.
In addition, siblings can feel neglected or resentful. Children with ADHD are often impulsive, acting without thinking and possibly causing arguments with their siblings. Parents can feel guilty over the amount of attention given to the child with ADHD and the lack of attention given to the children without ADHD.
Raising children with ADHD requires parents to evaluate their parenting techniques. Their children may not respond to normal discipline methods, such as time outs or grounding. They may need to adopt a new way of parenting, instituting a system of rewards and consequences.
Days may be exhausting from constant monitoring and possibly hours of homework each night. Parents who once had certain visions of family life must re-evaluate and determine new priorities. Where once a clean and peaceful home may have been important, now making it through the day may be enough of a priority.
ADHD is also considered to be hereditary. There is a good chance that at least one of the parents has ADHD as well. This can lead to inconsistent parenting and disorganized households. Many parents have discovered and been diagnosed with ADHD after going through the diagnostic process with their children.
Often, the tension and stress in a home with at least one child with ADHD is high. Sometimes parents can feel frustration, exhaustion and the feeling that they are not going to make it through the day.
