Confessions of an ADHD Mom: When My Son Forgot the Slime (and Somehow Won Big)
I thought I had failed my kid. Big time.
He’s in second grade, has ADHD, and his classroom does a monthly “pop-up store.” Kids sell little crafts, slime, fortune tellers, finger claws, you name it. This month, we had planned to send him with extra slime from work. Only…we forgot. Completely.
Cue my internal panic: You’ve ruined everything. He’ll be crushed. He’ll be dysregulated. You are a failure.
Classic ADHD-parenting shame spiral.
And yes, I have ADHD too. So when my executive function falls short, the emotional fallout hits fast and loud.
When ADHD Parenting Anxiety Takes the Wheel
Then he told me what actually happened.
First thing in the morning, he realized he had nothing to sell. Panic? Sure. But instead of folding under it, he got creative. He remembered he could sell services, not just goods. So…he sold himself.
Boundaries came first. One kid asked him to rob a store. Hard no. He returned the $5 and adjusted course.
Creativity, Boundaries, and ADHD Strengths
Next, he became the classroom “security guard,” protecting other kids’ stores while they shopped. By the end of the day, he walked out like he’d won a carnival jackpot: $232 (fake money) earned, backpack stuffed with treasures, and pride written all over his face.
Watching him navigate that moment, calm, flexible, and values-driven, was a parenting masterclass I didn’t know I needed.
Takeaways for Parents of Kids with ADHD
Sometimes the best thing we can do is get out of the way. Kids with ADHD are resilient, creative problem-solvers when given space.
Our own ADHD-fueled anxiety can make everything feel catastrophic. Especially when RSD gets involved. But most moments don’t need fixing, just witnessing.
Living by your values matters, even in small ways. My son set limits, adapted, and thrived. That’s a win for him and for me.
Parenting kids with ADHD, especially when you’re an ADHD parent yourself, can feel like a tightrope walk over guilt and overthinking. But sometimes, all they really need is a safe place to land, and then… they’ll soar.
If you’re an ADHD parent who recognized yourself in this story, therapy can be a supportive place to explore that anxiety, guilt, and resilience. You don’t have to carry it alone.