02/08/2026
I had a really beautiful teaching moment with my ADHD, ASD2 son last night.
He was making not great decisions while playing with his brother eg hitting, kicking etc
I asked him to talk with me, I playfully grabbed him and asked him to listen to me. I said I want to give you the respect to make your choices yourself but first I want you to stop and think about the choice before you make it.
He struggled and giggled and got distracted all while I was holding him. He said he didn’t know how to stop. Then it dawned on me.. he likely doesn’t he has ASD and ADHD.. his brain doesn’t do stop and listen well.
So I let him know I would show him how.
I continued to talk with him asking him to listen to my voice only, to listen to what I was saying. He struggled; he continued to get distracted, lash out and yell at his brother.
I continued to talk with him telling him to listen to me and only me, after about 2 minutes he started to listen and responded to what I was saying.
I let him know he was doing it! He as able to focus on just me. I let him know I had been talking with him the whole time, he was shocked- I had!? I said yes but he wasn’t listening but I was here waiting for him to hear me.
Now he was able to focus on just me. He could stop and think about his choice.
I asked him think about your choice before you respond. I asked him have you had enough thinking time- he said no. He continued to think.
I asked him again after some time, how about now. He said yes. I said great, have you thought about your choices, he said yes. I said have you thought about what you have decided to do? He said yes.. I said great.
Now go and make the choice you have decided to go with…
He said okay Mum I will.
He walked right up to his brother. I looked on with love in my eyes, was he going to hug him.. say sorry.. walk away.
No. He did none of these. He kicked his brother in the crouch…
Yep. He thought about his choices, made the choice and chose intrusive thoughts.
I had to giggle. 🤭
Still proud Mum moment - atleast he thought it through and considered all of his choices bahaha
