So much energy goes to my ADHD son that my daughter has started saying 'you never have time for me'. She's right and it's breaking my heart. How do you balance it when one kid genuinely needs more?
4 replies
Sarah M
1 April 2026
We started 'special time' — 15 mins one-on-one with each kid, their choice of activity, non-negotiable and on the calendar so she can SEE it coming. It's not about equal minutes, it's about reliable minutes.
Michelle K
1 April 2026
Naming it openly helped: 'your brother's brain needs extra help with some things, and that's not fair to you sometimes, and I love you exactly the same.' Kids can handle honest better than pretend-equal.
Liam B
1 April 2026
Also let her have her resentment without rushing to fix it. 'You're allowed to be cross about that' did more than any solution. She mostly wanted to be heard.
Emma V
2 April 2026
Calendar special time + letting her be cross. We've been so busy keeping the peace I forgot to just listen to her. Thank you.
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