A while ago (perhaps about 10 years) Jess was diagnosed with ADHD. Which – on a strict interpretation of the acronym means Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – but mostly Moms and Dads recognise it as ‘busy child syndrome’. This diagnosis came as a complete surprise. I have always thought of myself as quite an organised person. Duncs is also quite together. How then did we produce a child that is not organised – completely ditzy – has the attention span of a fly – and generally is just BUSY. You might now be thinking that the diagnoses is not relevant to Duncs and I but, I read somewhere, a while ago (perhaps about 10 years ago) that often ADHD is inherited or can be ascribed to one of the parents. My assumption, as such, for the last 10 years has been that Jess is one of those kids that didn’t inherit this from us and her diagnoses was due to the fact that she was born 9 weeks premature (as a result of late onset twin to twin transfusion syndrome), weighed 1.1kg, was resuscitated twice, countless transfusions, NEC, obstructive jaundice, bowel surgery and 12 weeks in ICU.
But I regress. This post is not actually about Jess or her horrid start in life or her diagnosis with ADHD – its about the fact that I realised, at 45, that Jess most definitely inherited her scattered brain thought process from me. It has taken me 45 years to accumulate the wisdom to realise that I must have at least a million random thoughts pop into my head during my waking hours (and sometimes when I am trying to sleep). Most of the times the random thoughts are connected with something I am doing or saying or with what someone else is saying or doing but sometimes – they come from nowhere. Is it possible to inherit ADHD from your children or maybe develop late onset ADHD? I have also realised that – for me – 45 was the age when my once trim waist gave way to a more round, muffin type waist, where my pants seem to act like the muffin cup and my waist now slightly hangs over my pant. I am not sure how I got here. I have never had a trim figure – athletic would more aptly describe my figure – but I have always had a trim waist. After the birth of the twins (when I resembled the Oros man) my waist – now a little softer was still trim and knew its place. Now, at the age of 45 – Muffin Mom.
I stare, in horror, at myself in the mirror. Wow. So this is what they are referring to as the ‘middle-age spread’. I am at a loss for words. How do I defeat this monster? Will I need to start eating less. Will I need to exercise more? Do I need to do both? I imagine the answer will be ‘Yes’ to the last question. This thought occupies my mind long enough to join the gym, download all the free apps I can on exercise for those ladies over 40, buy seeds and healthy food (and a small box of smarties) and then, I remember I have to pick up the kids, Fifi has a party tonight but she has had a nasty tummy bug and couldn’t even go on choir camp so do I send her to the party, today is non CP day for Kim (and we are all walking on egg shells around this angry teenage monster right now) and Jess has to jump Gally this afternoon as they are eventing on Sunday at Northern Farms, Siya – thankfully – is sleeping at school tonight, I still haven’t done my grocery shop for the weekend so I have no idea what we are eating tonight but I had an awesome ride on my horse, Quibble this morning, I am sure I have organised something with someone tomorrow and I can’t remember who or what (but don’t worry Lillian I have remembered I have a lesson with you at 9:30 – I think).
Disclaimer: none of the facts stated in this post are checked or verified – they are just random thoughts of a Muffin Mom!