Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps and the Power of a Mom’s Love

ADHD Education

Michael Phelps recently was in the news again breaking another world record, swimming the butterfly stroke. Michael Phelps also has a mom who always believed in his ability to do something well. Not everything, but at least one thing. She never let up letting him know that you don’t get satisfaction from working on making your weaknesses stronger. She never let him use his ADHD to keep him down.
 


I believe his story has a powerful message that all parents who have children with ADHD need to take note of and integrate into their families. It is the power of love and belief in others. It is the power of one person, his mom, to see only the good in her son. 

When everyone else saw problems, it was the power of one mother to see possibilities. This was a result of a parent’s belief, love and confidence her son could do something well, even when other people in the academic world were pointing out to him the things that he didn’t do well. 

You make the most out of your life by doing what you love, especially when you already do it well. 

Think of all the swimmers, musicians, artists, writers and web designers who may have ADHD and do something well but are directed to spend their time, focus and energy on tasks that play to their weaknesses. Their brains are not getting the nourishment they need. 

When you have ADHD, you don’t gain any kind of momentum, or positive self-esteem, by focusing on what you don’t do well. You get ahead in life by focusing on what you already do well and by doing it better and better. 

I believe it was the power of one mom persevering relentlessly and always saying to her child, even as an adult: “You can and you will if you want to. Don’t let what you can’t do get in the way of what you already, brilliantly can. Just because you struggled in school you are not a loser. Just because the teachers didn’t understand how you are wired does not make you bad. 

I know how you are wired and your brain has trillions of different ways of processing the world. If you can find what you love then I will love it also. I will always remind you of your love for swimming if it ignites both your head and your heart.” 

Through the power of his Mom's love and Michael’s unrelenting determination and hyper focus on swimming, he transformed his natural talents into superhuman strength, and for his efforts we all got to witness the greatest swimmer in Olympic history. Thanks, Mom!!!!!