Ya’ll, Adam is smart! Like REALLY SMART! I have never understood why he chose me. We have known each other since 2014 and I still think that my ADHD and Dyslexia are qualities that he didn’t know made me who I am!
Adam told me that he knew he would always marry someone who was very type A and put together. It took him awhile to understand why I am the way that I am. I strive to be very scheduled, organized and on top of things because if not I am an absolute train wreck!
Most days Adam puts up with my ADHD by me taking forever to tell a story that is all over the place or me quickly forgetting what he JUST told me he wanted from the store. Not too bad, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. But there have been a few moments that were really rough.
At the beginning of 2020 we started the home buying process while moving to Savannah, Georgia. It was a typical process but my dyslexia came out in its fullest ugly expression when we talked numbers. Adam would talk numbers out loud because he can do that but I could not keep up with any of the numbers he was saying. I was getting so emotionally frustrated because I could not keep up and it made me feel stupid.
Once I could comprehend that my emotions were simply because we were missing the mark in how to communicate the numbers, I asked Adam to write the numbers down and then we had no problems! This experience was hard to go through but we now know that when we talk numbers we just need to write them down so I can see them.
Being ADHD in marriage is pretty fun most of the time. I manage my ADHD by being very strict on my schedule. This looks like making my part of the bed every morning, eating the same meals every week and being very predictable. These are all great things but sometimes it can be bad because I get so set on what I do and when I do it that getting out of routine throws me for a loop. Then I have to communicate that it is going to take me a second to adjust and then all will be fine in the world!
At the end of the day, I would say that my dyslexia and ADHD have made us stronger as a couple. Adam is so extremely patient with me. He has helped me learn how to not take myself too seriously and to laugh mistakes off. I can say that we both motivate each other to work really hard to pursue our dreams and become who we dream of being.
Thanks for following along during Dyslexia Awareness month!
Your friend,
Colleen Howard