Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world on the second Sunday in May, which this year is on May 8th. Although the customs and rituals vary widely, the central focus is on celebrating mothers’ unique contributions to family, personal and social life.
In the United States, the typical way to celebrate is by presenting mothers and other women who have played some role in nurturing you with cards, flowers and lovely personal gifts. It has also become a significant holiday with shared time for days out in the spring weather, enjoying food, drinks, and company. Contact through phones and social media has become a great boon for people who can’t make it for a physical get-together. Typically on Mother’s Day, phone calls and online meetings soar by as much as 50% over regular working day traffic.
Mother’s Day became an official U.S. holiday in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson established it on the second Sunday in May, although the concept of celebration of motherhood can be traced all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman festivals held in honor of their “mother goddesses”.
Especially for all the mothers who are dealing daily with family members who have the behaviors brought on by the Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, we have special wishes for a day of rest, family bonding and love. Every one of you deserves your family’s ultimate praise for facing this challenging and, at times, seemingly unrewarded task, which you are doing out of pure love. We can only hope that you can get some sense of your own worth from these simple words from us here, because we know only too well how hard the job is.
Since we can’t present you with a gift to help you celebrate this day, we hope we can offer a few words of simple advice. We hope that you can take these thoughts with you when you go on with your daily life together with someone under your care who needs special treatment:
- Never feel embarrassed about your child’s behavior, particularly not what casual observers may think. ADHD symptoms are not a result of poor parental control or discipline, and should never be used as a measure of a person’s worth or intelligence
- The more you learn about ADHD, the more you can help your kids do better
- Your role in handling a person with ADHD is just as important as any other component of treatment
- The way parents respond can make a big difference. The simple guidelines are to be involved and learn as much as you can about how ADHD affects your child’s behavior
- Every child with the disorder is unique, and you should try to identify the specific problems that your child has
- Try to watch them and learn what is getting their attention and when they are listening
- Try to focus on one thing at a time and always praise and reward effort
- Always clearly explain your expectations, dealing with how you want them to behave
- Try to focus on leading by teaching your child what to do, and not on reacting to behaviors
- Talk frequently with others who are interacting with your child. By working with teachers, you can coordinate to help your child do better.
Finally, know that your dealings with your child matter the most. Keep your relationship with your child positive. Protect your child with love as well as care, understanding, and acceptance. Boost their self-esteem by telling them they’re important to you.
Happy Mother’s Day
