We all come into parenting with a lot of preconceived notions of how things should be. We read traditional advice from experts or inspirational quotes about the life-changing gift of parenthood. But early on, when it comes to raising a child with ADHD, not many people have a lot of familiarity with Executive Function.

Executive Function is basically the part of the brain that’s responsible for self-management. It’s the part of the brain responsible for organization, planning and keeping track of the big picture. “Kind of like the conductor of an orchestra,” explains Guest Expert Dr. Bertin.

Early on this podcast, Dr. Bertin tells the story of a woman he was working with who found change by simply becoming aware of what poor Executive Function meant for her child. Whether it’s struggling with impulse control, forgetfulness or organization, the practical solutions become much easier once you see things with a sense of clarity -- or what Dr. Bertin refers to as seeing ADHD through the lens of Executive Function.

Similarly, here at ImpactParents we teach parents to ask the question, “Is it naughty or neurological?” Essentially it’s the strategy of subtracting three to five years from your child’s age and recognizing that, neurologically, that’s where their behavior is at any given moment -- and to try giving them the benefit of the doubt.