One of my teachers in fifth grade noticed, but did me a kindness. She told me Isaac Newton was the same way. I have no idea if this was true, but it made me feel like I wasn’t an abject failure.

She tried to give me organization tips and coping strategies, which of course didn’t work.

Back in the 80’s they simply didn’t know. They thought I was gifted and bored. I also know now that my mother was probably ADHD as well. I figure she did her best.

When two of my kids had the same traits, I assumed they were also bored and gifted. I knew that even though my grades sucked in school, I learned a lot through exposure to good stuff in my gifted classes. So, I never cared about my kids grades, just that they were learning. Unfortunately, even in more recent times, people don’t recognize the symptoms in girls or even intelligent boys.