The diagnosis sounded like a life sentence

"When the doctor finally said the words, "Your son has ADHD," I felt like the air had been knocked out of me. I held it together in the doctor's office, but the moment I got into the car, I broke down. I sat there crying, staring at the steering wheel, wondering what this meant for him - and for me. Fear, guilt, and anxiety came crashing in all at once."

"I'd always known my son was different. His energy was - endless. He could run circles around the house long after I was exhausted. Homework was a daily battle; instructions seemed to go in one ear and out the other. At school, teachers told me gently that he had trouble sitting still, trouble staying focused, trouble following along. At home, I saw the same thing."

"Still, hearing "ADHD" out loud felt heavier than anything I had imagined. It sounded permanent. It sounded like a life sentence. In the beginning, all I could see were the struggles. I worried he'd never keep up in school, that other kids would tease him, that teachers would see him as difficult. I even worried about myself, whether I had it in me to parent a child who needed so much more than I felt I could give."

A mother felt overwhelmed and devastated when her son received an ADHD diagnosis, experiencing fear, guilt, and anxiety about his future and her parenting. She perceived his behavior as constant struggles: boundless energy, difficulty focusing, and daily conflicts over homework and chores. Teachers reported trouble sitting still and following instructions. Over time, the mother began to notice positive qualities, including enormous curiosity and other strengths previously obscured by stress. She learned to lean into his needs, adapt her expectations, and became more patient and caring as she appreciated his unique traits.

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