I See Bunnies

 

*Facebook 4/15/11 - Brady smelled a bunny outside and ran away. He came back though. I guess he forgot what he was doing. #mydoghasaddtoo #darnbunnies

 

I was diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) in High School.  Never medicated, I instead learned coping strategies that work…most of the time.

This is what ADD looks like in an un-medicated adult:

-Occasional spouts of insane multi-tasking

-Occasional inability to walk and chew gum simultaneously.

-External organization caused by complete lack of internal organization

        -Color-coded excel documents everywhere

        -Planners as large as a small encyclopedia

        -Google calendars for each family member and every activity

        -Sticky notes. Lots of sticky notes

 

A few years ago, my mom gave me a tee shirt that said:

“My mom says I have ADD. 

I don’t know what she’s talking ab---

Oh Look! A bunny!” 

 

From then on, every time I forgot something, became distracted or said something that seemed completely disconnected from the conversation I was having, my mom would yell, “Look! A Bunny!”  Everyone else was more than happy to join in.  During the first weekend that Bill spent with my parents, we were supposed to meet them at their house.  Distracted in the car on the way home from the mall, I accidentally drove to MY house instead of theirs.  Then I took a wrong turn (even though I had driven this path a million times) and we ended up arriving 30 minutes late. Upon entering their house, Bill said to my mom, “Sorry we’re late…there were just soooo many bunnies.” 

Bill is accepting of this personality trait and puts up with my obsessive organization, need to plan ahead, and frustration when things seem out of control (said the girl with 6 kids and 2 dogs). He finds humor in my distractibility.

 

*Facebook 3/11/11 –

Me: (telling a story, gets distracted and loses train of thought)

Mom: (After reminding me where I was) "I'm a bunny catcher."

Me: (Laughs… and forgets again)

*Facebook 3/21/11 - "Attention Target Shoppers there is a Honda Pilot license plate ICBUNYS in the parking lot...you left your door open." Yeah, but I remembered all the kids...

*Facebook 3/17/11 - My fortune cookie said: "you are what you think about all day." Have spent a great deal of time thinking about that today. Does that, then, make me a cookie?

 In October of 2009 when Bill and I were looking for the perfect house for the Bunch, I knew we were in the perfect place from the moment we pulled into the driveway. Bill, however, wasn’t sure until he heard me exclaim from an upstairs window, “Look!  Bunnies!”  We had a forest full of rabbits in our backyard. 

We bought the house.

 *Facebook 4/5/11 - I think blog posts, texts and Facebook updates are so appealing to me for the same reason I liked Sesame Street - my attention span requires that the activity changes approximately every 30 seconds.

 *Facebook 4/16/11 - The difference between Brady and me: today he caught the bunny.

 

© Jody Hoffman 2011

Comments

[Pat]

I have often thought that people with ADD are the ones who actually get everything done!

[Jane Gelbard]

Since you somehow accomplish more in just one day than most of us mere mortals accomplish in a week, I would have to say that for you ADD stands for
ACCOMPLISHED DETERMINED DOER!!!

[Dar Burgard]

Having been accused more than once of being a " bunny watcher " I certainly got a kick out of this~! I have to go to areas to work where I am not distracted by too much stuff sitting around. It explains a lot of things about me that I never understood before. Love your lighthearted attitude and dedication. Of course I also loved the line about when you saw the house....

[Daniel Johnson, Jr.]

LOL! I was notified via email of your comment on a blog post, which I checked via phone. I came over here and read this post but had forgotten to comment. So, now, back at the computer, came back to this post and now comment.

I'm thankful for ADHD medicine as it works to reduce the static in my mind. :)

[Kelli aka One Blonde]

Wow thanks for the little chuckle & positive/happy spin on ADD. I have continuously wondered if I too have it but maybe, it being a mild enough case that it was undiagnosed. But of the general symptoms it would make sense. We always said with me & now even with my daughter Oooh shiney object.