Fran Parker always knew her son was different from other kids. “He could not sit still, was not cooperative, disrupted the class and was very immature,” says the Farmington Hills, Mich., mom. At age six, a pediatric psychiatrist diagnosed him with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). After the diagnosis, he tried various medications, social skills classes and therapy sessions in an attempt to deal with his symptoms.

Parker struggled to understand the condition and how to deal with it. As her son grew older, he was constantly late and disorganized. He seemed overly sensitive and emotional, especially when he felt criticized. “I tried to micromanage him and he resisted,” Parker explains. The story has a happy ending. Today, Parker, who is a psychologist, teaches classes to help parents deal with their ADHD children. Her son is doing well in college and has learned to effectively manage his time and focus on academics. He was even on the dean’s list last semester.