What I Wish I Knew: Real Talk on Raising a Son with ADHD

On this episode of Raising Sons, host Dr. Richelle Whitaker interviews her aunt, about the realities of parenting a child with ADHD. They discuss the transition from seeing a "mischievous child" to receiving a formal disability diagnosis and the emotional journey of managing behavioral challenges in school versus the home environment.

In this episode, You’ll Learn:

The Diagnostic "Flashbulb" Moment: How an undergraduate psychology class provided the first definition of ADHD for a struggling mother.

Academic and Behavioral Struggles: Navigating the "frustration" of teachers and the difficulty of following through with structured assignments.

The Medication Dilemma: A candid look at the trial and error of antidepressants and ADHD medication.

The Power of Counseling: Balancing medical intervention with counseling strategies during the summer months.

Parental Self-Care and Advocacy: Overcoming the feeling of being "less than a parent" and learning to heed the experts and professionals.

Key Timestamps:

01:03 – The "Flashbulb" Moment: Finding the ADHD definition.

02:21 – Beyond "Mischievous": Recognizing the signs of a disability.

04:04 – Teacher Relations: Managing school disruptions and classroom frustrations.

05:30 – Medication Trial: The emotional side effects of early treatment.

08:12 – Parental Guilt: Feeling "less than" while doing everything possible.

11:34 – Advice for Moms: Seeking resources and professional help

Navigating school concerns and wondering whether your son’s environment is truly supporting him, Book a Parent Roadmap Session: https://www.richellewhittaker.com/workwithme

Text 1.833.638.5442 to share your comments or ask questions

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Resources:

• Strong Men Start Here – Dr. Richelle’s book for moms raising sons
• New YouVersion Devotional

Connect with Dr. Richelle:

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/@drrichellewhittaker

Instagram: @dr_richelle

LinkedIn: Dr. Richelle Whittaker

Website: www.richellewhittaker.com/podcast

Disclaimer: Dr. Richelle is a therapist, but she is not your therapist. All information provided is not to be taken as therapy