We Know Us When We See Us

[Miss K]

I just had a very interesting experience while doing a community craft project with several dozen kids. Most of the kids would take a mask, and start coloring it, and that was it. This one girl fascinated me. She was very bright, about 8, very quick, and had a lot of questions...and a lot of comments. And seemed interested in ALLLLL the projects going on at the same time...and came back after she did one to do another one..and then while she was doing that one wanted me to show her the other one...I started, skeptical that she was listening, because she was coloring while I was talking. She WAS listening. And conversing with me, while engrossed in coloring another project. Her mother said to me "don't worry, that's how she listens, she has to be doing something". No need to apologize to me mom, I can totally relate! This kid was a multitasking genius, and REALLY interested in EVERYTHING that was going on around her. It was great to see a kid that was likely an ADHDer with a mom that really understood and accepted her. Totally awesome.

[Bryan Hutchinson]

Like totally, Miss K! Awesome, that is!

[Miss K]

I just keep thinking about that little girl and that energy in her eyes. She was so engaged in what we were teaching her, she really wanted to just dive in, so we let her. And I saw her come back the next day to see what we were up to at our bigger event. I just kept seeing her popping up in different places, excited and having a great time, digging her hands literally into the community mosaic project, the mural that people were working on in a group, and checking out the performers. I just wish I had been that expressive about my enthusiasm at that age, what a gift (I was very overloaded with anxiety). Little did she know that the two women organizing this thing that she was loving participating in were very much like her. Not that it matters...she's just living and enjoying life. My co-producer and I compared notes at the end of the night. We're so on the same page about so many life experiences and it's a relief to find someone else so similar, who clearly lives a life influenced by impulse but has also managed to "get things done" through sheer determination and refusal to fail. We've both managed to find positive ways to channel some of our less helpful qualities through our creative lives. My friend put together a performance and a company of performers that literally brought people to tears with their beautiful performance.

I hope that little girl can continue to explore her impulses and creativity so positively and find her way. I hope she doesn't have to take all the knocks to her confidence that we had to fight our way past.

[designergrl]

Awesome story! Thanks Miss K.:)

[DANA]

Miss K, I LOVE your story and that is so magnificent that this girls mom was able to understand how her daughter learns best!

I can usually pick out other individuals who are ADDer's. It is as if we are magnets and are instantly drawn to one another! Does anyone else feel this way?

[Miss K]

Totally agree Dana...I was at a meeting the other day and my stimulant meds hadn't kicked in, so my brain was doing every but listening...and I happened to notice that there was one guy across the room having the same problem...sitting there in his suit trying not to check his Blackberry, then realizing he shouldn't be checking it, then having conversations in his head, then realizing he wasn't paying attention...meanwhile I'm sitting there with the VP of a local bank sitting next to me as I'm just barely stifling the urge to put my feet on the furniture, re-arranging my pens on the table, then reminding myself that this woman next to me is probably someone I shouldn't be doing this next to...haha...the other ADHDers are so easy to spot! I wanted to wave at him but...that would have been odd...

[DANA]

Poor guy.......I wonder if he even is aware of possibly having ADD/ADHD? There are so many adults who do not discover the diagnosis. until late in life.

The one ADDer challenge that I have during work meetings is keeping quiet and unexpectedly verbally expressing my random thoughts or idea's. There are times in which it was acceptable and nobody appeared to mind, but other times were rather AWKWARD! And embarrassing! (I probably turned bright red from humiliation!)

In reality, I have to force myself to keep quiet and not blurt out random thoughts, suggestions or idea's. True, in my mind they are brilliant, but not everyone would agree with me. This is my most difficult struggle with ADHD; keeping quiet and still.

[Miss K]

Haha, totally...I blurt of reactions...someone says something fantastic and I go "OH!"...oops...sometimes many times...I just apologize, and say something like "sorry, that's just a fantastic idea" and then shut up...until the next "OH!"...

[Michelle MacGregor]

people pretty much think that I am insane because even with my meds, I have trouble not saying what I think - and sometimes it is not even remotely connected to the last thing that came out of my mouth...or anyone elses!

Oh yeah also, Miss K, I was a real estate paralegal for 11 years...I worked with VP's of fortune 500 companies while preparing multi-million dollar documents or worked on projects that we were paid over a million dollars for and I had to work really hard not to make bad jokes. Good thing for me they were sort of guys' guys...oh, that is the other thing I have trouble with - I have the worst potty mouth! I cannot even control it...it is terrible!

[Mags Smith]

"The one ADDer challenge that I have during work meetings is keeping quiet and unexpectedly verbally expressing my random thoughts or idea's."

Oh yes Dana - X1000000!

I go into meetings etc thinking 'This time I won't do it' - but I ALWAYS do. I am on Concerta, which really helps me with mood and focus, but it does nothing for this blurty blurter.

I wonder what does help - I'd love some ideas! I am doing a Masters degree just now and it's SO embarrassing in lectures. I find it a lot easier when people know me.

I can spot an ADDer a mile away. I'm a teacher and when I get a new class I spot the ADD kids within 10 minutes.

:)