06/20/2025
Meet Heaven 💛
She’s Derrick’s mom—and a beautiful example of faith, patience, and fierce love.
When I asked her to share what life is like raising a child with ADHD, she didn’t hold back.
These are Heaven’s responses to my questions—
raw, real, and full of God’s grace.
A short intro to Heaven's responses to my questions: 🌟 ADHD is not a flaw—it's part of my son’s God-designed uniqueness. 🌟
What’s one thing I wish more people understood about my son’s ADHD?
He’s not a bad kid.
He’s not misbehaving on purpose.
He’s not bouncing around because he doesn’t care.
He’s not interrupting because he thinks he’s more important.
He’s not trying to be rude, defiant, or disrespectful.
He’s simply wired differently—and that difference doesn’t make him wrong. It makes him Derrick. 💙
ADHD Superpower? Oh yes.
Derrick has the biggest heart.
He will go out of his way to include anyone, cheer on strangers, and make sure no one feels left out. He carries God’s light in how he loves—with joy, empathy, and fierce kindness.
A small challenge we live with daily that many don’t see?
Emotional dysregulation.
Something as small as a canceled walk or a shift in routine can cause a full emotional storm. Not because he’s overreacting, but because his brain builds safe, exciting expectations—and when that gets pulled away, even with explanation, it hurts.
What might look like a meltdown to others is really a battle inside—a storm of sadness, anger, and confusion, all at once. And the only way through it?
To sit in it with him. To be his calm in the chaos.
Every. Single. Day.
How does he shine? ✨
He loves Jesus and he loves people.
He wants others to know God and feel cared for. His teachers constantly comment on his kindness and his natural way with younger kids. He’s the one comforting a crying child, lifting others up, and always looking out for the lonely. He is light in a world that can be dim.
Being Derrick’s mom has changed me.
I’ve grown in patience (though I still take those breaks to walk away after asking him to do something for the 276th time 😂).
I’ve learned to advocate—not just for him, but for others who are misunderstood.
I’ve learned to listen—really listen.
I’ve learned that we never know what someone is going through, and sometimes what looks like defiance is just a child desperately trying to hold it together.
How do we help him thrive?
We pray. We talk through big emotions.
We break big tasks into small pieces.
We let him info dump about blenders, chickens, and Minecraft—and we engage. Because what matters to him matters.
And we don’t fix everything. We sit with him in the hard, so he can learn to do the same one day.
And finally—
If Derrick could tell the world one thing, I’m pretty sure it would be:
“Chicken jockey!” 🐔🤣
But seriously? He’d say:
“I’m doing my best. I have ADHD, remember?”
Please remember that. 💛
And remember: different isn’t bad. It’s just… different. And sometimes, it’s exactly what the world needs more of.
