Parenting experiences of parents of children with ADHD: approaching the normal

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of parenting from the parents of children with ADHD and to develop a grounded theory about their experiences. METHOD: This study was a qualitative research study that used a grounded theory to understand and discuss the parenting experiences of parents of children with ADHD in a greater depth. Grounded data was collected through an in-depth interview from twelve participants with ADHD children. The data was analyzed using the grounded theory method. RESULTS: "Approaching the normal" emerged as the core phenomenone. Parenting experiences for parents of children with ADHD referred to a process of bringing the children, back on track of normal growth development, and their functioning in the family at a normal level and establishing a new normalcy. The process of approaching the normal involved a basic social-psychological process, such as 'living a day in hell', 'accepting', 'confronting the conflicts', 'lowering expectations', and 'making a new normalcy'. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study, which observed the parenting process of parents of children with ADHD, could enhance nurses' understanding of ADHD and help nurses become major mental health service providers for the mental health of children with ADHD and their families.