--- title: Now I get what it’s like to have executive functioning challenges description: Parent Amanda Morin explains how she found out what it's like for kids to have executive functioning issues, or trouble with organization and time management. slug: now-i-get-what-its-like-to-have-executive-functioning-issues author: Amanda Morin published: '2019-08-05T15:13:33.573Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/8B73201D13AD4B9C8E0D55C609ED7936/67c497100a4ae6ec506febc9916e0b3a/dajdaa-0141.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/now-i-get-what-its-like-to-have-executive-functioning-issues lang: en --- # Now I get what it’s like to have executive functioning challenges For nearly 20 years, learning and thinking differences have been the focus of my professional and personal life. As a teacher and an [early intervention](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/early-intervention-what-it-is-and-how-it-works) specialist, I felt fairly prepared to be a parent of children with learning and thinking differences. And for the most part, I have been prepared. I’m a fierce and organized advocate and feel I’ve been empathetic to the struggles my boys face. Honestly, because of my background, when I was asked to try [Through Your Child’s Eyes](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/through-your-childs-eyes), I wasn’t expecting to see anything new. I was wrong. And it’s been hard to write about it because I feel so humbled. It only took three-and-a-half minutes of simulated [executive functioning challenges](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-executive-function) to bring me to tears of frustration. It still makes me panicky to think about it. The task seemed simple enough—just move a “basket” and catch falling shapes on the computer screen. Except the directions kept changing and the shapes kept falling, and no matter what I tried they didn’t slow down and I couldn’t do everything at the same time. I failed at the task repeatedly. I felt helpless. I was completely unprepared for the emotional impact of this experience. Is that how my children feel every day? Those few moments of looking through the lens my children wear all the time made me realize I haven’t really understood their struggles as well as I thought. I wasn’t sure what to do with that realization. Should I feel bad about not getting it before? Or should I feel grateful that I get it now? The funny thing about parenting is that when you find yourself asking contradictory questions like that, more often than not, there isn’t one right answer. I do feel bad that I didn’t get it before. I also feel grateful that I understand a little more now. Looking through my children’s eyes was a hard thing to do, but I’m so glad I did it. I think it will help me [get past feeling guilty](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/parent-guilt-tips) for my boys’ issues. And believe it or not, I’m going to try the simulation again. After all, there’s so much more I need to understand. *Any opinions, views, information and other content contained in blogs on Understood.org are the sole responsibility of the writer of the blog, and do not necessarily reflect the views, values, opinions or beliefs of, and are not endorsed by, Understood.* --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [5 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with executive function challenges](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/parenting-tips-executive-function-challenges) - I remember when we first started to see signs of disorganization in our son, Michael. He struggled to organize his schoolwork and finish tests. He also found it hard to remember things. When we learned that Michael had trouble with executive function, everything started to make sense. We began to fi - [How does a child with executive function challenges think differently?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-does-a-child-with-executive-function-challenges-think-differently) - Q. Last week a psychologist told me my son has executive function challenges. She said he has a disorganized mind. What does this mean? How do kids with executive function challenges think differently? A. Executive function challenges can vary greatly from one child to the next. Thats why I want to - [Executive function skills: What are they and how can we help kids build them?](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/in-it/help-kids-build-executive-fuction-skills) - Messy backpacks. Forgotten lunches. Missing assignments. How can we help our kids get organized this school year? Messy backpacks. Forgotten lunches. Missing assignments. How can we help our kids get organized this school year? 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