When my daughter was diagnosed with ADD, I dove headfirst into research, desperate to help her navigate through it. The more I learned, the more I began to suspect that I might share this quirkiness in our family. I’ve always been a bit all over the place, a master of procrastination, and found it challenging to kick off and finish tasks. I often pondered how others, seemingly busier than I, managed to be so productive while I struggled to stay on top of my bills. Eventually, a doctor’s visit confirmed my suspicion: I have ADD. Suddenly, a lifetime of awkward behaviors that had often embarrassed me clicked into place.
Curious about what living with ADD feels like? Here’s a glimpse into my week…
Monday
You wake up to discover a jury duty postcard stuck to the fridge by your partner. It says you missed your court date two weeks ago and might be facing a fine. You call the number on the card, relieved to be dealing with an automated system, which spares you the awkwardness of explaining to a person that you never received the original summons. Most likely, it’s buried under the mountain of bills, your daughter’s masterpieces, school announcements, unmailed thank-you notes, and receipts in the ever-expanding “in basket” on your kitchen counter.
Tuesday
You’re irked when your phone rings, and the caller ID shows it’s your credit card company. What do they want now? You ignore it and return to scrolling through social media. You know you made your latest payment. They’re probably just reminding you to activate that new card that vanished into thin air a month ago. Just to be safe, you log onto your account, only to discover your payment is, in fact, overdue. How did that happen? You mentally tally the late fees, grit your teeth, and pay up.
Wednesday
You have a dermatologist appointment later today, but forgot to jot down the time. You think the reminder card is either in your purse or lost in that chaotic basket. Nope, you distinctly remember placing it on your dresser. After a frantic search, you finally find it under a glass of water. Your heart sinks when you realize your appointment was this morning at 10:45, and it’s already 10:27. As you rush to the clinic, hair still damp and in your favorite (and stained) sweats, you celebrate being just five minutes late, despite the curious stares you attract.
Thursday
You scramble to finish an essay for a contest due tonight. You’ve known about it for months but only started yesterday. Still, you feel good about your progress. Then, you remember it’s your daughter’s back-to-school night. You reassure yourself that you’ll finish the essay once you’re home. By 10:30 p.m., you’re almost done when a panicked thought hits you: was that 11:59 deadline in your time zone? A frantic check of the contest rules sends you spiraling—nooooo! You’ve missed the deadline.
Friday
Your car registration, which you’ve been procrastinating on since receiving the renewal notice, arrives. You should probably go stick the new stickers on your license plate right now. But you’re tired and hungry. What’s the rush? You still have two weeks before the old ones expire. You toss the registration in the kitchen basket, thinking to yourself, no way will I get another ticket for expired tags… right?
Saturday
You’re baffled as to why the credit card company keeps bothering you. They should have processed your payment by now. Log into your bank account, and your jaw drops in shock—there’s no record of your outgoing payment! Furious with yourself, you resend the payment, triple-checking it went through. It did, right?
Sunday
You hurry to the ATM to deposit a pile of checks you’ve been collecting. There’s the birthday check from your mom dated back in July. (At least you’ll cash this one!) And the payment for an article you wrote five months ago. As you drive away, you realize you forgot to withdraw cash. But maybe it’s for the best—you’ll need that cash to cover late fees for your credit card and the potential ticket for those expired tags.
Later that evening, you reflect on the week. It wasn’t a total disaster! You managed to finish an essay to send out, got your daughter to school on time every day, walked the dogs regularly, prepared meals, and even picked up your partner’s dry cleaning. Plus, the biopsy you delayed for a year came back normal.
I briefly experimented with medication for my ADD, but it didn’t work out. Still, just knowing that my quirks have a biological basis has been a huge relief. I’ve also found support groups helpful, breaking tasks into smaller steps, keeping concise to-do lists on my phone, and incorporating exercise into my routine. I pay my bills on time most months now and haven’t had a collector breathing down my neck in over a year.
For more insights into managing ADD and family life, check out this other blog post. And if you’re interested in home insemination, this site is a great resource for tools and information. Plus, this blog offers excellent tips about pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, living with ADD can be a whirlwind of chaos and unexpected challenges, but with some strategies in place, it’s manageable and even rewarding at times.