When a parent has ADHD it can place a lot of stress on the family unit.
I recently came across a blog[1] about how one woman coped with an ADHD husband and parenting a young child. It seems that, at times, the mother found it quite frustrating as her ADHD husband would break away from the parenting plan they had in place for their young child. And she’s not alone!
It’s true – a parent that has ADHD may actually land up sabotaging parenting dues because of their impulsive nature, and that can be extremely frustrating. One of the suggestions that was made here was for the wife to ‘let go’ a little a not be so stuck.
So what should a couple do when one parent suffers from ADHD, and how do you handle things when a parent and the child both have ADHD. There’s no question, when ADHD involves apparent it can lead to a great deal of dysfunction in a family.
Coping with ADHD Parent
When a parent has ADHD it can be very difficult to be consistent in parenting, and this can be confusing for the child, and frustrating for the other parent. There is no question that a parent’s parenting skills are affected by their own ADHD. According to Patricia Quinn, MD[2], studies have shown that moms with ADHD tend to:
- Supervise their children less
- Have a harder time knowing what their children are doing
- Have a harder time where their children are
- Are less adept at creative problem solving
When there is a problem, moms with ADHD tend to address it the same repeatedly, rather than thinking of different ways to handle the situation more effectively. It is often difficult for those with ADHD to be flexible in their approaches to parenting.
Coping with a Child and Parent with ADHD
Parenting is always a challenge. When you have a parent with ADHD it can be hard to stay focused and on task. When you have a child and a parent with ADHD the remaining parent must be able to take control, while at the same time building patience and understanding. There’s no question for the unaffected parent the situation can become overwhelming, and it’s a good idea to seek out a support group or at the very least have someone you can talk with.
Source:
[1] http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/11/9685.html
[2] Patricia Quinn, MD. Phone interview/email correspondence
