Imagine a typical Jewish family: mother, father and a handful of kids. The scene is a Wednesday afternoon, just a few days before Rosh Hashanah. The kids come home from a long day at their Jewish day school, juggling a rigorous academic dual curriculum and high expectations. They’re starving — hangry might be a better word.
Mom, who always strives to have dinner ready when they get off the bus, faces an unexpected challenge today. Her boss handed her an urgent project just 30 minutes before she was supposed to leave work. She managed to complete it but left the office with barely enough time to pick up her kids. She’s the last parent at the bus stop, with the bus pulling away just as she arrives.
There’s no dinner ready and not even a decent snack to hold them over. The laundry needs to be done, the grocery shopping is a week overdue and the Rosh Hashanah menu still needs to be planned before she can buy the groceries.
Mom takes a deep breath, using every ounce of mindfulness she’s learned. She exhales the stress and prepares to handle the chaos. She greets her children, hoping they won’t immediately melt down as she asks about their day. She listens to their stories — the good, the bad and the ugly. Then she braces herself for the inevitable question: “Who has homework?” She secretly wishes the teachers would realize that Rosh Hashanah is near and that no one has time for extra assignments.
A typical day for a Jewish mother can be overwhelming, even without added challenges. But when someone has ADHD or an Executive Function Disorder, the overwhelm can feel insurmountable. How do you start? How do you meet everyone’s needs? (Spoiler: You can’t.)
Many Orthodox women with ADHD have found effective strategies for navigating life’s ups and downs. Imagine benefitting from their successes and adapting your strategies to fit your own life. Picture connecting with like-minded individuals who share the same struggles. That opportunity is now available to everyone!
Beginning Sept. 9, a support group exclusively for Orthodox Jewish women with ADHD will be held on the second Monday of each month from 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Every participant will be asked to commit to confidentiality. The group will be hosted by Bergen County CHADD and facilitated by this author, Deborah Goldstein, MSEd, ACC. For more information or to register, visit bergencountychadd.com today.
