He Reminded Us

Some of the most meaningful parenting wins come quietly — not in the big milestones, but in the small moments when something finally clicks.

From My Home to Yours: He Reminded Us

For a long time, our evenings were filled with friction. Bath time, brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, going potty, cleaning up toys — every step of the bedtime routine felt like a negotiation. Transitions were hard, and even when we offered reminders or warnings, our son struggled to shift from one task to the next. It wasn’t about attitude. It was about regulation.

We knew he needed something more concrete than words. So we began experimenting with visual schedules. We tried clipboards. We tried laminated checklists. We even gave him portable versions to carry around. But they ended up everywhere: under the couch, inside the toy bin, forgotten in a different room, or used as props in his play.

Eventually, we landed on something that stuck: a simple, Velcro-backed routine chart, taped to the shoe-closet door in the foyer hallway — low enough for him to use on his own. It didn’t move. It didn’t get lost. And best of all, it gave him something he could touch and track.

Each time he completed a task, he’d flip a Velcro tab closed with a satisfying little rip. Brush teeth. Flip. Pajamas on. Flip. Use the bathroom. Flip. It became part of the rhythm. He didn’t just follow the routine — he owned it.

One weekend night, as we were heading out the door in a bit of a rush, he suddenly stopped and said, “Wait! We have to do my chart.” He then walked to the shoe closet door and flipped up the Velcro tabs for teeth brushing and shoes on.

He reminded us.

Our five-year-old had internalized the structure. It wasn’t about compliance anymore. It was about confidence, pride, and the security of knowing what came next.

🔍 What I Learned

Kids with ADHD don’t just need reminders — they need tools that are consistent, accessible, and made for them. When routines are visual, tactile, and predictable, they become something kids can take ownership of.

💡 Why This Stuck With Me

Because the win wasn’t that he followed a routine. The win was that he wanted to. And that shift, no matter how small it seemed, made a big impact.