and her husband work to instill in their son. Living in Denver, they don’t hide how the world really is for Sam—instead they try to help put into perspective for him how some things going on in the community and the world aren’t great. So Ofner and her husband take Sam with them when they volunteer or gather things to give to organizations to help people. She says it’s important to even have kids come into a grocery store to help pick out canned food and to go with to drop it off. “He volunteers with us when we do volun- teer projects. I think it’s important to instill kids early on,” explains Ofner. “I was frustrat- ed when he was five years old and all these different nonprofits had age requirements. They want to help, they want to feel impor- tant and like they’ve done something for someone else.” Ofner’s advice for other parents is to, instead of offering unsolicited advice, to just remem- ber to pat someone on the back and say, “You’re doing a good job.” “I think people sometimes need the valida- tion that you’re doing enough, you’re not failing. They are alive, they are thriving. Yes, we’re all tired. Yes, we might be wearing clothes from yesterday, but we’re doing the best we can,” she says. For parents with children with ADHD, Ofner says it’s important to go to pediatricians first and ask for resources. They look at a child’s development every year and might know when something is just a phase or some- thing that is a longer pattern that might need looking into.
RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS Favorite date night …new restau- rants, or staying home watching a movie in pajamas. Words that best describe your family…. adventurous, centered, humorous, foodies. Favorite genre of movie or television show… thrillers or whodunit detective shows. Favorite food… anything my husband makes.
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