First Thing First, Dream
by Krystle Parker

Officially the pandemic is over, but for many children the impact continues. As children return to in-person schooling this fall First Thing First, Dream is an inspirational collective effort of Kyallan Parker and his mother Krystal Parker of how they’ve coped. The easy reader also focuses on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In the summer of 2020, Kyallan was transitioning from private school to virtual learning, then to public school during the pandemic. Like many of us, the pandemic was disruptive, but for him, just 10 years old, the added school transitions were extra stress and anxiety in his life. Krystal, a nurse practitioner with 15 years’ experience in the medical and nursing field, rose to the task of getting her son back on track. At his mother’s suggestion, he started journaling as a therapeutic technique that helped him overcome and get through the frenzy of wearing masks daily, excessive hand washing, and isolating himself from others.

Knowing how journaling helped her son, she took highlights from his journal to write First Thing First, Dream. In the book, Kyllan shares his first day at a new school where he uses a variety of coping mechanisms to help him through his transition. The book offers encouragement to children who may experience different disorders such as anxiety, stress, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), in their everyday life.

Krystal also wrote the book to help parents who are faced with their children being misdiagnosed. Many children get labeled as behavioral problems before they are out of the gate. The book not only tells his story but there are resources and tips for children and adults dealing with ADHD.

This is a great book to share with your audience as families get back to school. Children with ADHD are often labeled without examination. The book is a great way to open conversation with families and educators.

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which is a mental health condition that affects how people pay attention, behave, and control their impulses. ADHD can cause problems in different areas of life, such as school, work, and relationships. ADHD symptoms can vary from person to person, and they may change over time. Often misdiagnosed especially in Black children ADHD is not a sign of low intelligence or laziness. It is a brain disorder that affects how people process information and regulate their emotions.