| In my fifteen years of private practice working | | | | Parents need to step up and correct these |
| with children with ADHD, one of the common | | | | behavior problems whether a child has ADHD or |
| concerns that I observed by parents was the | | | | not. |
| fear that they had done something, or failed to | | | | It may also be true that the parents may need |
| do something, that caused their child's ADHD. I | | | | further training. We are constantly amazed at |
| guess it is normal to blame yourself when your | | | | how many young parents today grew up in |
| child is having problems. However, it is important | | | | homes where their parents were gone all day. We |
| for parents to know that Attention Deficit | | | | now see "grown up latch key kids" trying to |
| Hyperactivity Disorder is not the result of "bad | | | | parent as best as they can, but without having |
| parenting" or obnoxious, willful defiance on the | | | | had the benefit of growing up with good parental |
| part of the child. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity | | | | role models. This is a problem in any family, but |
| Disorder is a medical condition, caused by genetic | | | | especially when there is a child in the home who is |
| factors that result in certain neurological | | | | inattentive, impulsive, and possibly hyperactive. |
| differences. Yes, a child may be willfully defiant | | | | Parents should consider becoming a part of a |
| whether he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity | | | | parenting class offered by a local therapist, or a |
| Disorder or not. But defiance, rebelliousness, and | | | | local church. These classes can be a good |
| selfishness are usually "moral" issues, not | | | | investment of your time. More information about |
| neurological issues. Make no excuses for | | | | Attention Deficit Disorder is available at the ADHD |
| "immoral," "selfish," or "destructive" behaviors, | | | | Information Library. |
| whether from individuals with ADD ADHD or not. | | | | |