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“You want me to do WHAT?” Work supervisors at Advent Home hear these words so often! Perhaps it’s when a new student is asked to shovel gravel, vacuum his room or weed a flowerbed.
Although some of Advent Home’s ADHD students arrive with a good work ethic, most have little or no work skills…and even less motivation. However, when they leave, one of the things they are most grateful for is the fact that they have learned how to work.
Take Brian* for instance. When he came to Advent Home, he showed very little interest in his future, acting indifferent to staff’s attempts to help him develop his skills. During the recent work bees to frame staff homes, he worked side by side with skilled builders. At the end of the day, looking back on what he had helped to accomplish, he said, “You know, I think I could do this kind of work!” For the first time in his life, Brian is enthusiastic and motivated about his future!
Work is a blessing to us, appointed at creation as a part of a healthy, balanced life. Advent Home’s work education program aims to recreate this attitude in ADHD boys, who are so often in need of vision and a sense of purpose.
Our ‘practical classroom’ includes tasks in the greenhouse, garden and tree nursery, in addition to construction, repairs, landscaping and general household chores. As boys participate in physical labor on a daily basis, they learn valuable life lessons:
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Spring 2007 
