Daily Excerpt: Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain (Wilcox & Wilcox) - Always Disorganized and Hopelessly Distracted (ADHD)

 

Today's book excerpt comes from Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain by Kristin and Andrew Wilcox. 

Always Disorganized and Hopelessly Distracted (ADHD)

 

Blink, blink, blink, the cursor keeps time on the blank screen as thoughts rush through my brain like a runaway freight train.

“What was that book about? Who were the characters?”

Oh, where to begin? There are just too many details to think about. My thoughts drift aimlessly as I stare out of my bedroom window. It’s a sunny day, and there is the smell of freshly cut grass pulling my attention to what I could be doing. I wish I were riding my bike or fishing down at the stream. Instead, here I am stuck at my desk, writing a dreaded book report for English class. Correction, I am not writing it. I wish I could make myself write it. If I were writing it, then I could be done with it. All I want is to be done with it. Why didn’t I start working on it when it was assigned to us weeks ago? “Ugh!”

Now, it’s the night before the report is due. Why do I always wait until the last minute? Characters, setting, and theme. Chug-a-lug like that freight train going through my head, keeping time with the blinking cursor on the still blank screen. My brain hurts. How do I get it all organized? Where’s the book? “Ouch!” Stupid Legos scattered all over my bedroom floor. Mom told me to clean those up yesterday. Under my bed, I find some dirty socks, random puzzle pieces, and a wrapper from a granola bar. “Oh, I got it; I found the book!” Never mind, it’s not the one for my book report; it’s the paper airplane book I have been missing.

 “What page was that airplane on I wanted to make?” flipping through the paper airplane book, I hear someone talking off in the distance.

“Andrew, are you working on your book report? You know it’s due tomorrow?” Mom’s talking to me.

I sit back down at my desk. Maybe if I sit here and think about it, I can remember where that book is. I keep eyeing the paper airplane book on the floor and ask why do we need to write about books in 7^th grade anyway? I hear Mom’s voice in my head, “Andrew, learning to write is an important skill that you will need in high school and even college.” Blah, blah, blah. I struggle with writing; it has been like that for as long as I can remember. In elementary school, countless half-finished worksheets got shoved into my desk. Now, in middle school one-page essays on random, boring topics turned into full-blown book reports. We don’t even get to write about something cool, like traveling in outer space or building a habitat on Mars.  

“Writing is agony, plain and simple.”

When I was eight and in third grade, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. I finally had an explanation why I struggled with writing and had difficulty paying attention sometimes. I like to think of my ADHD as an elephant living in my brain. It is big and imposing, and it gets in the way.

When the English teacher hands back our graded book reports, I just stare at the paper I have left face down on the desk, not wanting to turn it over to see the grade. Finally, I make myself flip the paper over. There it is, the letter “D” written across the top in red marker, with a note from the teacher, “Andrew, I know you can do better.” If only that paper airplane book weren’t in my room.

* * *

Did you know?

ADHD has been diagnosed in kids since the 1770s, around the time that the Declaration of Independence was signed. There are three types of ADHD:

1.     Inattentive Subtype: Some kids with ADHD have trouble paying attention, like me. We also have trouble listening to others, following instructions, staying organized, keeping track of our stuff, doing something we have to pay attention to for a long period of time (homework, cleaning our bedrooms), and remembering things we are supposed to do every day (brushing teeth, turning in homework). Sometimes, when my brain doesn’t want to pay attention, I end up folding paper airplanes instead of writing my book report.

 

2.     Hyperactive Subtype: Some kids with ADHD have trouble sitting still, playing quietly, and waiting their turn; they are always on the go, talk a lot, and interrupt others. Even though I sometimes butt into conversations, I am not considered hyperactive.

3. Combined Subtype: Some kids with ADHD have several behaviors associated with inattention and hyperactivity. This subtype is the one most diagnosed in children.

AWARDS

Literary Titan Gold Award
Best Indie Book Award
Readers' Favorite Book Award

Read more posts about the Wilcoxes and their book, click HERE.

Read more book excerpts HERE.

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