5 Things I'm Loving

Because sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.

Here’s my monthly roundabout of a few things that are making me happy or helping me and my family in some way.

1. Cooking with Libby

My youngest is 6 and we’ve been struggling to connect lately. She’s my most outgoing kiddo and she would prefer to be busy and playing with friends all of the time. In this current season, she’s not doing any organizing activities. We tried swimming but it just didn’t stick and I’m trying to wait until January to get her in gymnastics.

So, keeping her busy and also finding meaningful ways for us to spend time with each other is a challenge. And by that I mean, when I’m people out and need down time, she still needs people time and it’s an ongoing rub.

Additionally, getting her to eat is an ongoing challenge. She’s really particular and most of her diet is granola bars and buttered pasta. It’s a whole thing in itself.

On Monday evenings, my husband takes Frank to therapy and my oldest is still at band practice so we have this unique window of time with just the two of us at home so we’ve started having a special cooking time. This allows me to give her my undivided attention and I have a lot more patience and am less overwhelmed when it’s just the two of us.

We already had a few kid cookbooks but I’ve been letting her go through and pick what she wants to cook. She usually looks through on Sunday so that I can order anything special that we need. Giving her the control of what we cook is a huge part of it for her. So far we’ve made alfredo noodles (shocker, I know!), chocolate cake, homemade pizzas, chocolate cookies, and oreo pie.

I’d love to say that she’s been willing to try vegetables or drastically expanded her palate but that’s not really the focus right now. More than anything, we’re focused on spending time together and giving her more confidence and control with food. This time is about connection and it has helped her to know that she gets this weekly one on one time with me.

She’s been mostly been using these two cookbooks. The recipes are all pretty basic and don’t require a lot of random ingredients.

2. ADHD Children’s Book

I get asked all of the time about recommending a book for explaining ADHD to kids. Kim and Penn Holderness just sent me a copy of their new book, All You Can Be with ADHD and I love it. Libby read it to me right when it arrived and has asked to read it again before bed a few times.

It’s funny and clever and more than anything the message is that there is an ADHD club and some pretty cool people belong to it. I don’t subscribe to the belief that ADHD is a super power and more believe that we as ADHD individuals have unique gifts AND challenges. We have ADHD but our ADHD doesn’t define us or limit or long term potential. It does impact how we live but it doesn’t mean we aren’t incapable of achieving big things. The book is very much aligned with that idea and addresses some of the challenges with compassion and empathy while also highlighting the strengths.

I think the messaging of this book is positive, encouraging and insightful and will help kids with ADHD feel less alone and less shame around their diagnosis. I highly encourage you to order a copy for your ADHD family. Order It Here.