A Korean actress opened up about the unique parenting challenges she faced while raising her son, who was diagnosed with ADHD in his childhood.
On the September 7th broadcast of KBS 2TV’s Malja Show, Jung Young Ju appeared as a guest and reflected on the time when her son grew up.
On the broadcast, Jung said, “My son was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when he was young. Because it’s not clearly defined by a precise medical term, there’s a borderline aspect to it. This sometimes causes discomfort in social life, and people around tend to have a negative view when they see that.”
She recalled, “Still, the person who has to be closest and take care of him is the mother. So, because I never knew where he might dart off at a crosswalk, I once put a harness on him, similar to what you’d put on a big dog, while raising him.”
She added, “When his thoughts don’t align with common ideas, it leads to clashes of opinions and emotions that can escalate into big fights,” expressing her difficulties.
Despite this, Jung revealed she made constant efforts to understand her son. “I couldn’t manage alone. When there was a place to get advice, I sought it and studied. We talked and debated endlessly; sometimes we couldn’t resolve things and just let them be, but I usually tried to listen to what my child had to say,” she explained.
Jung shared how her attempts to be understanding had grown over time. “The biggest reason was when my son was seven, I was going through a personal failure and breaking down, and he brought me a dirty washcloth, saying, ‘Mom, you have something in your eye,’ and wiped it for me. That moment sobered me up. I felt inspired and learned from him, and that became a turning point in how I raised him.”
She also mentioned a serious traffic accident her son experienced in second grade of middle school. At the time, while riding his bike, he was involved in an accident that caused an orbital fracture, requiring 1,400 stitches for a major injury.
“He spent a long time hospitalized back then, but he was mature enough to comfort me at times,” she said. She was especially impressed by her son’s determination, noting he never stopped practicing beatboxing, which he was interested in, even while missing teeth.
“I think if it were me in that situation, I would have given up, but he kept at it despite not having teeth,” she said. “I don’t think I have ever been so passionate about something I do. So, I was actually inspired by my child.” She added, “Now, he has moved out, is living independently, and continues his music activities well.”