Mom Is Very Involved: Raising awareness of the battle
ADHD families are forced to fight

Let’s talk about some of our challenges, the invisible hardships. Sleep for instance. It was 12 years before we got our bed back.  I wouldn’t change that despite the toll it took on my husband and me.  Our first born slept with us for five years, no matter where he was when he went to bed, he woke up with us. Our second born, oldest of the twins by four minutes, slept with us on and off. He decided when he needed to, we honoured his needs. He never seemed to require much sleep.  We bought him a clock to teach him what “too early” was.  Most mornings he laid in his bed until it was “the right time.” Our youngest of the twins, by four minutes, had night terrors. Several times a week she would scream out in the night. Every time we ran to her room, and every time sounded like she was being brutalized.  For those parents out there with a child with night terrors, you know exactly what I am trying to describe. Oh that sound, that scream, goosebumps will form, the hair on your neck will stand.  Despite knowing they are safe, you will jump and run to their room, as your automatic stress response activates and takes over.  She slept with us, for part of the night, until she was 12. We purchased a day bed to sit at the end of our king bed, guaranteeing that we could all find a place.  I wouldn’t change a thing.  We didn’t sleep well for more than a decade.  I am still catching up.