The Holidays Are Hard
Parenting a child with ADHD during the holidays can be difficult.
For some parents, the holidays bring lots of joy with seeing other family members, spending more time with the family, and finally getting a much needed break where you can relax and spend time at home. As a parent of a child with ADHD, the holidays can be much more difficult for several reasons:
There’s less structure and routine over the holidays.
Kids with ADHD thrive on routine and structure. That’s part of the reason why they may seem to do so well at school and then can’t hold it together any more once they get home. During the holidays, it can be impossible to keep any sort of routine during this time.
More energy and activities that have to be planned.
Think of the afternoon tornado that happens when your child gets home from school. It can seem like so much energy and you don’t know how to contain it all. When you’re on holiday breaks, it’s even more amplified. You can only keep your kids entertained for so long before you’re exhausted yourself.
Less alone time and feeling emotionally drained.
Because you’re having to take on more time caring for your kids, you are not able to find time for yourself. And the time that you do spend yourself, may not be as rewarding or feel like you are actually relaxing.
I’m sure you’re aware of all of these things, because you’re experiencing them right now.
The holidays and breaks from school don’t always have to feel so exhausting.
One of the most important things that you can do as a parent is to offer yourself some self-compassion. Self-compassion involves three parts:
When you are experiencing a difficult time, it is common for parents to respond with criticism towards themselves or avoiding the pain that they are feeling. People who are self-compassionate recognize that making mistakes is inevitable and offer themselves kindness rather than running from the pain or judging them even more.
Recognize that all parents and people tend to suffer at times. When you are able to realize that something you are going through happens to not only you, it can feel less lonely.
Mindfully acknowledge your emotions, but do not over identify with them. By acknowledging your emotions, you are able to see how you are feeling and observe them from a difference without getting caught up in their negativity too much.
Putting these skills into practice can be really difficult, but with the right support it doesn’t have to be.
My group coaching program will be launching again in February, and you can join parents who are experiencing all the ups and downs just like you are while also learning how to feel more calm and less stressed. Starting in January, you’ll start receiving emails about how to apply for the program.