You've succeeded with both, Huon, because you see them as individuals and no doubt react accordingly to their individual needs
I don't know if ADHD is similar to autism, but male and female display marked differences in the type of response, males often being more prevenlant (or ppossiby simply more readily diagnosable as its understood better) whereas lasses tend to be diagnosed only if they display classic autism. The understanding of aspergers in women is in infancy, I DEFINATELY don't have it because I learned to make 'appropriate eye contact' according to te specialists. However I'm completely socially niaeve, totally male brained (I can parallel park and EVERYTHING!
) and my family history to 1522 is peppered with gifted, depressive & mostly alcoholic engineers...
t's about awareness and acceptance, I believe, learning each of your children, trying everything from different angles, exposure to as much as possible including lifes dissappointments and negatives and using the emotional equivalent to Barbour Dressing on yourself frequently
'Some Cultural Differences'.... they feel like yawning chasms within our own society, let alone between different cultures.... or political, medical, monetary, religeous, parenting style or any other social division. I think your teacher was waaaaay ahead of their time, Toddy, I only hope we can help our kids to have such a happy outcome