Parenting, ADHD & the Chaos Sandwich That Is My Life (Updated Edition)

 

Let me tell you something they don’t print in the parenting manuals (and let’s be honest, I’d never have the attention span to finish one):
Parenting with ADHD while juggling a tech career, dyslexia, and family life is like trying to herd caffeinated squirrels... on roller skates... during a thunderstorm.

And that’s before anyone’s had breakfast.

My ADHD Story: No Meds, Just Mayhem and Mind Maps

I was on ADHD meds as a child, but I don’t take them anymore. Over time, I’ve found my own weird, wonderful system to stay grounded. Computers have honestly saved me — the way they work just clicks with my brain. It’s like my thoughts run at 200mph, and computers can just about keep up.

But that speed? It’s a double-edged lightsaber.
At work, I often think faster than others, which can make me really impatient. My brain’s halfway through the problem before someone finishes explaining it. I’m working on it — deep breaths, patience, and sometimes just muting myself in meetings.

Tools That Keep Me (Mostly) Sane

I love tools.

  • Pomodoro Timer: 25-minute sprints, short breaks. It's like tricking my brain into focus mode.

  • Mind maps: My lifeline. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to plan anything — blogs, projects, shopping lists, you name it.

  • ChatGPT: Yes, you’re reading it now! With my dyslexia, spelling and grammar used to be a nightmare. Now, I write freely and let the AI help polish things — which gives me so much more confidence.

The Chaos Moments No One Talks About

Let’s be honest… sometimes I forget how to make a bed. Not in a jokey way — I literally stop and stare, like “Wait… which bit do I tuck in first?”
There are moments when ADHD just hijacks the ship. You walk into a room with purpose and leave wondering if you were born there.

Anyone else?

Kai and Me: When Worlds Collide (and Somehow Click)

What’s fascinating is watching my ADHD energy bounce off Kai’s calm, focused world. With his autism, Kai seems to live in a different realm — quieter, more structured, and more inward-looking.

Me? I’m Marvel's multiverse in overdrive. A sensory explosion with a fast-forward button.

Sometimes we clash. Other times, we click.
He slows me down. I pull him out of his shell. It’s like tunnel vision meeting hyperspeed — and surprisingly, it can work. He lines up toy cars. I scatter Lego everywhere. He thinks. I blurt. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours.

Lessons I’m Still Learning

  • That I don’t have to be perfect to be a good dad.

  • That slowing down doesn’t mean I’m lazy — it means I’m being present.

  • That loving your kids also means forgiving yourself.

  • That your brain doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s to make amazing things happen.

💬 What about you?

Are you a parent with ADHD or dyslexia? How do you manage your career, parenting, and the brain that never stops?
Do you ever forget how to do really basic things and wonder if anyone else is living in this chaotic comedy too?

Drop a comment, message me, or just laugh along quietly knowing you’re not alone.

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