For years, we felt something was off with our son, but the classic signs never quite fit. In this post, I share our family’s journey - the missed clues, the challenges, the joys, and the reality of parenting a child with ADHD.

ADHD is so often reduced to the stereotypes of forgetfulness, fidgeting, or disorganisation. But for Smiler, the lesser-known characteristics have been just as significant. In this post, I explore the subtler sides of ADHD and why understanding them matters.

School has always been one of the biggest pressure points for us with Smiler. On the surface, he seemed like a typical student ‘getting by,’ but behind the scenes, it was a different story. In this post, I share how ADHD shows up in school life, the strategies that sometimes help, and the lessons hindsight has taught us along the way.

In this post, I explore the “Coke-bottle effect” and how learning to give Smiler downtime to ‘de-fizz’ has made all the difference.

ADHD often runs in families, but we didn’t realise just how strong the genetic link could be. In this post, I explore how recognising patterns can bring clarity, compassion, and support to the whole family.

This week, Smiler received his first prescription for ADHD medication. In this post, I share our hopes, fears, and reflections on why we decided to give it a try, and what it means for Smiler and our family.

ADHD often gets framed through struggles, but there are many strengths too. In this post, I reflect on Smiler’s hyper-focus and dedication, alongside the daily challenges.

After years on the long NHS waiting list, we pursued a private ADHD assessment for Smiler. In this post, I share what the process looked like, from choosing a provider and the assessment itself, to receiving the full diagnostic report.

Parenting an ADHD child can feel isolating, but the right friendships make all the difference. In this post, I reflect on how connecting with other parents who are navigating similar paths has been a source of support for our family.

Our first month navigating ADHD medication with Smiler has been full of learning, observation, and reflection. In this post, I share what it was like to take that next step, and what we’ve learned so far on this part of our journey.

ADHD isn’t just about focus - it can also affect memory in ways that are easy to miss. Our family’s journey with Smiler has taught us a lot about working memory, learning, and the power of compassion over frustration.

I used to think my anxiety came from my child’s behaviour - now I realise it came from feeling judged for it. I share this post to build empathy, understanding and hope for families like ours. 

In this post, I reflect on noticing patterns, keeping records, and navigating the ADHD assessment process, in the hope that other parents might connect the dots sooner and feel more confident in supporting their children.

Some weeks in our ADHD journey feel manageable. Others are more difficult. This post is one of the difficult ones.