Why Parenting with ADHD Feels Like Herding Fireflies
- Joshua Ericson
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
Parenting with ADHD isn’t exactly a walk in the park.It’s more like a walk in a field full of fireflies—all darting in different directions at lightning speed.
And you’re just trying to catch a couple of them before they disappear into the night, but you have no idea which way is up.
Chaos in the Brain, Love in the Home
When you add ADHD to the mix, it feels like your brain is a hamster on a wheel with no off switch.
Every second is an emotional rollercoaster, and the highs are like fireworks.
But the lows?
They’re like running into a wall made of emotional Legos.
Nothing Is Linear. Nothing Is Calm. Everything Is Loud.
In my experience, parenting with ADHD means never truly being on top of things.
You’ll forget to buy groceries, then remember at 11:30 PM that your kid has soccer at 8 AM.
You’ll start cleaning one room and end up reorganizing the entire kitchen.
When you finally sit down to breathe? You’ve got about 10 minutes before someone needs homework help.
And don’t even get me started on multitasking—it’s just a constant juggling act with no safety net.
But There’s Magic in the Mess
Here’s the thing: There’s a whole lot of beauty in this chaos.
Kids—like ADHD brains—thrive on creativity and spontaneity.
As exhausting as it is, there’s something weirdly magical about it.
It’s not about perfect parenting.
It’s about being there, even when your brain is in a thousand places at once.
It’s about showing up, even if your “best” just means finding 10 minutes to sit down and breathe.
You’re Still Showing Up—and That’s Enough
Parenting with ADHD might feel like herding fireflies…but it’s also about embracing the light in that chaos.
Because even on the wildest, most chaotic days—there’s still love.
There’s still growth.
There’s still laughter.
So the next time you forget your kid’s lunch for the third time, or reload the dishwasher for the fifth time because you got distracted?
You’re doing just fine.
You’re still showing up.And honestly, that’s all they need.
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