by Carla Baron

Created on: November 22, 2008   Last Updated: November 23, 2008

Time and time again I am surprised by beliefs that people develop such as the belief that a child with ADHD as a friend can or will put your child in danger. I don't believe this at all. The statement or belief that this is true is driven by fear and excuses.

I have a child with ADHD. He is now 25 years old and has grown into a successful adult. He was hyper since the time he was a little boy. I never saw him as different from any other child until he entered first grade. What I should say is I never heard he was different until he entered first grade. Before that everyone including myself just saw him as having a lot of energy.

Now for you to understand why I feel and know that a child with ADHD is not a danger to his friends let me explain how much experience I have with this. I believe my father had and probably still has ADHD, and one of my brothers had ADHD. Times were different however when they grew up. Both my father and my brother are very successful people. My father has many friends and more than the average person. Everyone likes him. He has never ever endangered anyone. Nor has my brother who is a Dentist. Yes he is a Dentist! I am sure that may surprise many of you who believe that ADHD is such a problem.

Do you know why ADHD is such a problem today? Because people make it a problem. Society has determined that being hyperactive is a problem. It's unacceptable. Teachers and parents and people oh and yes some professionals too think this is a problem. Well it's not unless you make it one.

Unfortunately the child and the parents of a child with ADHD have to deal with many expectations and beliefs that cause damage. Years ago before anyone knew what ADHD was it was not the problem or issue it has become. My father never had to deal with the negativity that surrounds this diagnosis now. Because of that he grew up as a healthy, self confident, assertive and productive human being. He channeled that energy that everyone is afraid of into sports when he was younger and a hard work as he got older. Not one of his friends or family members ever got hurt. He hurt himself, yes he broke his nose a couple of times and dislocated a shoulder. But never, not once have I ever heard of a time from him or my grandmother that he was a danger to anyone or hurt anyone because of his hyperactivity. Same holds true for my brother and my son by the way.

People with ADHD can hurt themselves because they have lots of energy. If they are hanging around with a bunch of kids like

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