ADHD & The Extended Family

Family Ties: Managing and Advocating for Your Child with ADHD in the Extended Family

Thursday, July 29 at 1 PM ET; 11 AM MT

ADHD EXPERT: JANETTE PATTERSON, MSW, LMFT

As parents we want to help our children become well functioning and socially successful people, but our own anxieties are sometimes triggered when they act out and get into trouble. We are often unaware of our own feelings of ADHD-related shame, embarrassment, and fear when we are faced with our child’s dysfunctional behavior in settings outside of our home. We desperately want our children to behave appropriately and to be accepted at school, in the neighborhood, and by our extended family. So how do we help grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins understand — and respond helpfully — when ADHD symptoms flare during holiday gatherings or family celebrations?

You may feel embarrassed when grandma reprimands your child for grabbing a cookie out of a cousin’s hand. You may become defensive when your brother judges your parenting skills and calls your child “spoiled.” That is understandable. There are many heartbreaking stories of family ostracization for disruptive or inappropriate behaviors related to ADHD. Such occurrences can leave us feeling misunderstood and our children mistreated, which is why parents need strategies to support and advocate for children with ADHD in social settings, as to engage extended family members in more constructive ways.

In this webinar, you will learn how to:

Identify misconceptions and misinterpretations of ADHD behavior within your extended family

Explore strategies for improving interaction patterns within your family

Learn effective advocacy skills for family situations

Establish a toolkit of coping strategies for family functions, such as reunions, Thanksgiving, and other holidays