KLYNESHIA

I have twin boys with ADHD.

When they were younger (around 5 to 6 years old) I found it to be very frustrating, even overwhelming at times but I learned to cope. I would get phone calls on a weekly basis about their behavior in school. Their teacher would state that “Twin A is having a bad day.” He wouldn’t listening to the teacher’s verbal prompts or redirections, then I would have to come check him out of school. One year, their behaviors were so challenging, they could only attend school three times out of the week. It took a very big toll on me, on having to find someone to keep them while I had to work.

As a parent, I will tell you that it gets rough at times but you can help your child overcome their daily struggles. I found it very helpful that when I’m mad I say quiet and walk away, because I don’t want to hurt them or say something I will regret. I have to remind myself at times that their behavior is related to a disorder and most of the time it’s not intentional. When I’m calm and focused, that’s when I can connect with them and get a better understanding.

But through it all, I wouldn’t change a thing. My twins are one of the main reasons I decided to go back to school and get my Master’s degree in Psychology. While working in the mental health care field and attending school, I was able to come up with fun and creative ways to keep them calm and focused. Now at the age of 13, their behavior have improved a lot. One of my twin boys loves sports and music, and it has been a great outlet for him on dealing with his behavior. The other twin loves to draw, sing, build objects, and also uses meditation when he is 
upset.

- Klyneshia Pittman