8 Things Your Mom Was Probably Right About
As much as I hate to admit it, my mom was right about a lot of things, not everything, but a lot of things. Moms are like that. Much of what they are right about are things that are especially important for those of us with ADHD. Here are eight things your mom was probably right about.
1.) Go to Bed
Sleep is crazy important. It helps our brains to function at their highest level. Those of us with ADHD need our brains to be operating at full capacity. I talk more about the importance of sleep here.
2.) Go Play Outside
Sunshine is a great source of Vitamin D, and Vitamin D helps prevent a variety of physical ailments. In addition, Vitamin D can also boost one’s mental health, particularly if one has depression which commonly co-occurs with ADHD. It is estimated that over half of psychiatric inpatients have a Vitamin D deficiency. Bottom line: Get more Vitamin D.
3.) Eat Your Vegetables
We ADHDers can be impulsive eaters. A lot of my favorite foods always sound like a good decision, but a lot of my favorite foods are not healthy. Moms are right to encourage healthy eating.
4.) You Don’t Need That
I once asked my mom if I could buy a unicycle. NOTE: I said I was going to buy it; I did not ask her to buy it. Even so, she strongly discouraged me from buying one. I listened, and I’m glad I did. My balance sucks. I would have wiped out many, many times, and I probably never would have learned to ride the unicycle. Those things we ADHDers really, really want to impulsively purchase or have purchased for us are not always the best decisions. Moms are excellent at helping us see that.
5.) Chew with Your Mouth Closed
This one has nothing to do with ADHD, but come on! Chewing with your mouth open is gross, and the noise is worse.
6.) Don’t Text and Drive
You have ADHD. You are distracted enough already! Do not add another distraction. It can wait.
7.) Call Me
Dr. Edward Hallowell, one of the leading experts in ADHD, promotes creating strong connections to help a person with ADHD live a fulfilling life. There is no one who wants to connect with you more than your mom. Call her.
8.) I Love You
She does. We ADHDers need love. Let your mom love you.