10/13/2025
“Back in My Day, Kids Didn’t Have ADHD”
You hear it all the time, don’t you?
“Back in my day, kids didn’t have ADHD.”
But they did.
They just didn’t have the language for it.
They had the symptoms, the struggles, the restlessness. but not the understanding.
They were called lazy.
Told to “try harder.”
Punished for “not paying attention.”
Scolded for daydreaming, for interrupting, for forgetting things they were trying so hard to remember.
Those kids weren’t broken, they were just different.
Their brains were wired for curiosity, creativity, and constant motion.
But in a world built for stillness and silence, their light was often mistaken for chaos.
They were the ones who tapped their pencils to stay focused.
Who doodled in notebooks because it helped their minds stay present.
Who got labeled as “troublemakers” because they asked too many questions or couldn’t sit still for long.
And every time they were told to “stop,” they learned to hide a little more of who they were.
Those kids grew up.
They became adults who struggle to start tasks, not because they don’t care, but because their brains don’t process motivation the same way.
Adults who feel guilty for procrastinating, even though they’re exhausted from masking all day.
Adults who can’t stand clutter but can’t seem to get organized either.
Adults who replay every conversation, overthink every mistake, and live with the constant hum of “why can’t I just do this like everyone else?”
Because for so long, no one told them what ADHD really is.
It’s not a lack of discipline.
It’s not about “trying harder.”
It’s a neurological difference, one that affects how the brain manages focus, time, and emotions.
But here’s the good news: awareness is changing everything.
Today, more people are recognizing ADHD for what it is, a different operating system, not a broken one.
We’re learning that kids who fidget, talk too much, or zone out aren’t “bad,” they’re just trying to regulate a brain that processes the world in high-definition.
ADHD Awareness Month isn’t about making excuses.
It’s about understanding the truth behind the labels.
It’s about giving grace to the adults who were once misunderstood kids.
And it’s about making sure the next generation grows up seen instead of shamed.
Because when we understand ADHD, we stop asking,
“What’s wrong with you?”
and start asking,
“How can I help you thrive?”
