How to Love Your Friend with ADHD Well
Oh, how frustrating it is to be interrupted mid-sentence. What a drag it is to have your favorite sweatshirt, the one your friend borrowed, lost. If you have a friend who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), you are probably familiar with these little quirks. You’re probably reading this right now because you’re waiting for that friend who is, once again, late for your coffee date. You’ve referred to your friend as “scatterbrained” a few times, mumbled under your breath, of course. You’ve sighed when they forget your birthday, even though you reminded them twice. You’ve texted, “No worries” with the gratuitous smiley face while actually stewing a little. And yet, here you are, waiting, but still showing up for them for your once-a-week standing coffee date, even when they are nowhere to be found. Loving someone with ADHD forces you to let go of the idea of perfection. Letting go becomes a lot easier when you realize that the same brain that forgets your birthday also remembers the lyrics of every obscure indie song that you love. While that brain that you adore may be a little chaotic, it is also wildly creative, intensely loyal, and deeply feeling. How to Show Love to Someone with ADHD One of the best ways to show your friend with ADHD love is through the giving of grace. Not the “passive-aggressive” kind that wants to squeeze in a few snarky remarks, but the real kind of grace that we see modeled in the life of Christ. Offering grace is much easier to do when you remind yourself that their forgetfulness isn’t careless and being late doesn’t mean they don’t value your time. It’s just a byproduct of the unique way that their brains are wired. Showing grace is easier said than done, [...]
