Why I created The ADHD Teacher Mom
Welcome to my new blog section The ADHD Teacher Mom. If you have been reading my blog up until now, hopefully you are starting to get to know the information I have been sharing about teaching special education.
I am going to continue posting this information, but I am expanding what I am sharing by including more about me and my journey with ADHD.
Supporting special education teachers is a big goal for this blog. I also want to share my journey with teachers and moms who have ADHD. I want you to see yourself in my journey and know that you are not alone.
Where It Started
I received an ADHD diagnosis in my early twenties. There wasn’t much information back then about having ADHD, especially for adult women. If I’m being honest, I didn’t really think much of the diagnosis and went about my life like nothing had changed.
There wasn’t access to information on the internet like we have now. There were only books available to do research. This became a challenge for me. Having ADHD meant I couldn’t really focus on doing the research and learning about how it was affecting me. I am very able to hyperfocus, but only on those things that I am extremely interested in.
ADHD, for me, has been like a double edge sword. There are so many amazing parts of me that I have ADHD to thank. There are also so many other things that cause challenge and frustration.
The ADHD Teacher Mom Journey Continues
Over the next twenty or so years I got married, had three amazing children, became a teacher specializing in special education, and earned my M. Ed.
Along with all of those amazing accomplishments I had and still have a lot of struggles, challenges, and hurdles to overcome.
It took me a really long time to start understanding the impact that ADHD had on me. Teaching special education taught me a lot about my own struggles with ADHD.
I am now at a point where I am working to better understand how ADHD looks for me specifically.
Being a teacher and parent with ADHD
Of all the professions I could have chosen, and looking back on it now, I’m not convinced that teaching was the best option. I have significant challenges with staying organized, getting work done, focusing on planning, and managing the stress that comes with teaching, especially special education.
These are some of the same challenges I have being a parent with ADHD. Keeping the house in order, managing appointments and schedules, keeping on top of communication with school and other organizations, and the list goes on.
Overall, I think that there are more benefits to being a teacher and parent with ADHD than there are challenges.
Trust me, the challenges can be significant, but having ADHD has so many benefits.
I think creatively, frequently thinking outside of the box.
Being able to hyperfocus on things that I enjoy and see them with a new perspective is definitely a strength.
I have a different energy and way of connecting with people. This has been a real benefit to my own kids, as well as some of the students I work with.
I know that I wouldn’t change having ADHD if I could. Having said that, I really do have to work hard to manage some of the challenges. Being aware of them now, more than I used to be, has also been helpful.
Starting a Business with ADHD
I spent a good few years contemplating starting a business. I just didn’t think I would be able to manage the time commitment and consistency that it required.
One of the good things about the way I experience ADHD is that I tend to jump in anyway, even if it takes me a while. In this case, I am so glad that I did.
About a year ago I started creating resources for my special education students and selling them on TPT. This is where creative and out of the box thinking has really been a benefit.
I have a lot of training in working with students who have special education needs, and have a really good handle on how to scaffold learning.
This has allowed me to create resources that focus on one IEP goal in a progressive way. I also have a good understanding of what special education teachers need for their classrooms. I focus on the things I wish I had when I was new to special education.
Having started this business has also been a confidence boost because I am staying much more consistent than I thought I could. I figured by now I would have gotten bored and moved on to something else.
I really enjoy the creation process and am finding that having a creative outlet has been a real benefit to me.
Having ADHD comes with a lot of overwhelm and I am finding that managing it with journaling, art, and creativity has been a real benefit to my stress levels.
Should I Really Be Adding YouTube?
Starting to create content on YouTube has been something that has been in my mind for longer than starting the TPT business. I have struggled with self doubt and lack of confidence which has really hindered me from jumping in.
The TPT business has been a great boost to my confidence which has really got me thinking about YouTube again.
Having this blog has been an excellent way to share the information in my brain about teaching special education. As I reflected on what I have done so far, I came to the conclusion that I must not be the only person struggling with these different aspects of life.
I have decided to share my journey in the hopes that I can help others who might be similar to me.
I am starting out on YouTube and hope you will join me on my journey.
What Next?
As we begin a new year, I am excited for what this next year holds. I would love to say that I have spent a bunch of time setting goals for the new year. I have definitely reflected on goals and where I want to be in a year.
Right now, I am going to continue working on resources for special education teachers. The creation process is something that brings me joy and calm.
The special education resources I talk about in the blog will also continue to be a staple here. I wish I had access to some of this information as a new special education teacher. My hope is that I can be a help to those who are starting out or struggling to make it work.
I am starting to create content for YouTube about my personal journey with being a mom, teacher, and entrepreneur with ADHD.
You can find my new YouTube channel TheADHDTeacherMom here.
Comment below or send me an email letting me know what you are struggling with right now. What helps you to manage the overwhelm?
If you are interested in resources and strategies for teaching special education, be sure to sign up for my email newsletter.
Thanks for staying with me to the end of this long post. I can’t wait to have you join me on this journey.