Being a Parent to a Child with ADHD: 'My Naor Teaches Me What True Emotion Is'

A parent to a child with ADHD shares an emotional story about what her 'unique' son has taught her: "For those who know me, I am Ayelet Baram, Naor's mom," begins the mother in her letter. "My Naor is diagnosed with ADHD and emotional issues. Why am I sharing this? Because I want to shout to everyone that my son is special.

"And why special?

"Because without his ADHD, I wouldn't be who I am today. My Naor teaches me what attention issues are. He shows me what true emotion is. He reminds me that it's not a punishment. Naor teaches me to be a strong mom facing a system that doesn't understand that my Naor is 'the perfect child.' My Naor wants to be seen without judgment, seen with eyes trying to understand the essence, to delve deeper.

"Eyes that allow him to see himself differently. Embracing eyes that let him feel more connected—and when there is connection, there is communication, allowing us to help him refine his relationship with himself and others. In my opinion, this is what 'education' should really do."

So how can we identify ADHD early on?

If your child shows at least six out of the eight criteria listed, consider having them professionally evaluated for attention deficit issues:

1. Difficulty focusing on details.

2. Partial listening to what is said.

3. Making 'careless' mistakes that shouldn't occur.

4. Difficulty in sustained listening.

4. Poor organization and order.

5. Difficulty following instructions and completing tasks.

6. Forgetfulness and losing things.

7. Losing concentration and switching from 'topic' to 'topic' quickly.

8. Avoidance of tasks that require prolonged thought.