Daily Excerpt: Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain (Wilcox & Wilcox) - Master of Disaster
Excerpt from Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain -
My ADHD Brain Is a Master of Disaster.
My mom is on a constant mission to tame my
tornadic ADHD brain.
“Andrew, how can
you possibly work at your desk with papers piled everywhere, Legos strewn
about, and a stack of empty plates and cups?”
I look up from the computer, survey the
desk, and shrug my shoulders. “It’s not so bad.”
I shove a pile of papers to the side. They
teeter on the edge of the desk, fall to the floor, and scatter in every
direction covering my carpet in a snow-white blanket.
Oh, there’s the instructions for my
science project! I haven’t started it yet, and it’s due the day after tomorrow.
I pick the page of instructions up off the floor and put it on top of another
pile of papers on my desk. I misplace important papers for school all the time.
I turn back to the computer and start playing my game again.
“Mom, why do I
have to bother with cleaning off my desk? It’s going to stay organized for all
of ten minutes. You know me; I’m not organized.”
Mom eyes the mess on the floor, then looks
up at me. Reluctantly, I get up from my desk and look from the pile of papers
on the floor to the pile of papers on my desk. The thought of cleaning up makes
my brain ache.
----
I poke and prod at
the things on my desk, pushing stuff around from one place to another. There’s
the Lego car I built last month! I wondered where I’d left it. I start to
wonder if I should I add on some bigger tires? Maybe a new design altogether? I
place the car next to the Lego bin on the floor so I can finish it later. I’ll
finish this later; I’ll finish that later. Everything always gets put off until
later. I hear Mom walking up the stairs. She is coming to check on my
progress. I scramble to clean up the papers scattered on my floor.
“Andrew, you have
been up here for an hour, Your desk still has a pile of papers on it the size
of Mt Everest, and papers are still all over your floor.”
I wish the ADHD elephant was better at
keeping track of time. I spot my folder for school on the floor, All of the
papers stuffed inside have caused it to rip apart, and now it’s covered in
random strips of duct tape. I wish duct tape could hold together the mess on my
desk.
----
Here are the ABBS I use to help organize my
disorganized ADHD brain:
1.
I
try to break down a big task into very specific parts so my ADHD brain doesn’t
get overwhelmed. When I clean my room, Mom helps me to make a list of specific
tasks:
· Put all laundry in
the hamper.
· Clean up the Legos
off the floor.
· Make the bed.
2.
I
use clear bins and open shelves for storage. If my ADHD brain can’t easily see
where something goes, then it’s going on some pile to be found again in a month
or two.
3.
I
try to clean up or, clean out, once a week. Then I don’t have to use all of Dad’s
duct tape to keep my exploding folder for school together.
4.
Sometimes,
I listen to music. The rhythm of the music helps my ADHD brain by increasing
the focus chemicals.
5.
If
all else fails, Mom keeps her stash of neon-colored sticky notes at hand.
* * *
Did you know?
Inattentive ADHD brains can focus intently
on something they like to do. It’s called hyperfocus. Hyperfocus is something that is good about my ADHD
brain. Keep reading, and I will tell you more about it.
Best Indie Book Award
Literary Titan gold medial
For more blog posts about the Wilcoxes and their book, check HERE.
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