The fear of labels, the worry, the doubts—I’ve been there

"You must be bad parents. You need to be stricter! Be firmer in your tone. Don’t scream; use gentle parenting. Punish them—take away the iPad or TV, send them to their room, or cancel that birthday party or hockey game. How do they even know these things? Ban YouTube! That will teach them! Maybe you need a reward-punishment system or a sticker chart to motivate them." 

Sound familiar? Have you heard these comments? Maybe you've even tried some of these suggestions. Did they work? Probably not. 

Let me be clear: you are not bad parents. ADHD, autism, or any other challenges your child faces are not your fault. Your parenting strategies didn’t cause these conditions. If anything, you’ve likely tried every trick in the book and every piece of advice people have thrown your way. 

It’s time to take a different kind of action. 

Where do we go from here? 

It’s time to seek professional help. 

I understand how scary this can feel. The fear of labels, the worry, the doubts—I’ve been there. But I can also tell you from experience: having your child assessed is a step toward understanding. It’s the key to uncovering what they’re struggling with and what you can do to make their life—and yours—easier to navigate. 

An assessment isn’t just a label; it’s a foundation. It’s the beginning of a plan, a real strategy to help your child function better and gain the tools they need to thrive. It’s the steppingstone to clarity, support, and a brighter future for your family.