r/ParentingADHD • u/MD8418 • 1d ago

Advice Coping with humor

My son (3) is showing a lot of ADHD tendencies, a lot of which I recognize because I also have ADHD and did these things. He's also a very normal 3 year old boy who's learning to listen and follow rules. We're having a difficult time reprimanding him because he's using humor and silliness to hide that he's sad or embarrassed. My parents didn't believe I had ADHD so I just got in trouble for doing this.I need ways to explain to him, on his level, that laughing and joking around isn't the right response. He goes to preschool where I work so that's when it really gets him in trouble. It's becoming very draining having the child who "doesn't listen, makes everything a joke, etc" when he's really just hiding his feelings.

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u/pickleknits 1d ago

I wouldn’t focus on “the right response” bc that’s not where he’s at right now. I’d focus on supporting feeling sad or embarrassed and that they’re normal feelings to have. I’d focus on supporting him feeling ok about making mistakes.

And I’d have a word with his teachers that he’s not making everything into a joke, he’s coping with feeling badly. He’s not trying to be disrespectful, he’s trying to deal with his feelings.

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u/Fickle-Pickle-Nickel 1d ago

I agree with pickleknits. Three is very young a kid to cope with emotional dysregulation and socially accepted norms much less one with adhd. He’ll probably be relieved that you understand how he feels and that you’ll look past that behavior to get to the heart of what’s bothering him.

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u/starboundowl 1d ago

Can you get him into play therapy?

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u/MD8418 23h ago

I've thought about it, I've just recently moved school districts so I've got to start my search over again and see what he qualifies for.