One particular thing that I believe helped me significantly was how my mother would have us kids gather around her for a story. I loved it when my mother read aloud for us. Mom always picked wonderful stories, full of adventure and fantasy. I listened intently, probably the best attention I gave to any books as a youngster.
Back when I was growing up, ADD ADHD was not something seriously considered and in some cases not even heard of. But my Mom still tried her best with a child who just didn’t seem to learn from his mistakes, she tutored me, she read to me and she got me involved with local activities for children. She didn’t do this because she knew I had ADD, she did this because she loves me and wanted her child to be okay, not knowing I had an underlying disorder. She got me involved in a bowling league when I was very young and this exposed me to other children outside of my school. I was a loner and didn’t want to play with other kids, but once I started bowling I fell in love with it and the shared love we kids had for the sport became a basis for some friendships and helped me learn a little about being around others who weren’t interested in bullying and beating me up.
I credit much of my success as an adult to the positive influence my mother had on me as a child, oh but don’t get me wrong, I gave her plenty of reasons for her to give up on me, but she’s stubborn like that and has never, ever given up on me!
~Bryan
