Cut the Cord, Parents!
When our oldest son began 6th grade, over the course of many conversations varying in topic, I began to share with him that it was time to start speaking for himself at school.
Meaning: less of me and much more of him.
I felt like it was a conversation that required a loud booming voice over saying, “You are now leaving the little kid zone where parents and teachers speak for you. You, my son, can now activate your own voice! Welcome to Middle School!”
At this age, your teen must start developing self-advocacy. While I know this skill is years in the making, the conversation needs to begin in Middle School, so Parents, it’s time to cut the cord – yes, it really is…it’s time. You can do it!
The one main reason why students need to understand their ADHD and advocate for themselves: COLLEGE. I recently attended a local meeting where the speaker was the local Learning Disability Director from a community college. She shared how college students with LDs want to “do it on their own” but fail classes because they are not communicating their needs with their teachers. Sound familiar?
When your child has ADHD and is college bound, here are some examples of how they must OWN their ADHD:
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They have to know when to schedule their classes based on their medication and when it is most effective, or when their brain is most tuned in
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They have to be able to explain why they need a separate testing room
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They may need to explain why they need study guides and notes in advance
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They need to know what helps in class – if they need earbuds to stay focused in the classroom, or extra time on tests.
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And most importantly, they need to know how to communicate all these things in a way that their needs will be met
