Debbie Phelps had become accustomed to hearing that her son, Michael, would never amount to anything. The energetic, hyperactive nine-year-old had trouble focusing on his schoolwork and couldn’t sit still, and Phelps had no idea what was wrong.

“Michael followed my two daughters, who sat quietly and played with paper dolls and PlayDoh, and I used to say, ‘maybe it’s just because he’s a boy,’” she recalls. “He was a little ball of fire who had energy oozing all over the place…and I just kept asking myself what I was going to do.”

Unfortunately, when her son was growing up, there weren’t many places that Phelps could go for help and information. She finally went to Michael’s teachers to discuss his problem, suggesting that he might be bored with the current subject matter; but they snapped back by insisting that he wasn’t a gifted child. After his pediatrician recommended using checklists to pinpoint his precise symptoms, it wasn’t long before Michael was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, better known as ADHD. Phelps turned to family and friends for support, but was fully aware that most moms of ADHD children find it difficult to approach others regarding their child’s struggles.

And that’s precisely why ADHD Moms was born.

Located on the popular social networking site Facebook, this page is brimming with a wealth of information, ranging from expert articles to podcasts to links to support groups. “We’re so connected with computers and Blackberries, and I feel that this website is helping to reach out to parents who are in need,” she says. “It’s a safe zone to get information and gather knowledge from people who have experienced this within their own homes.”

By logging on to www.facebook.com/adhdmoms, parents can connect with fellow parents, as well as to the educators and medical professionals who contribute regularly to the site’s content. It’s no secret that there are plenty of younger moms out there who haven’t outgrown the use of social networking sites—and, heck, even our presidential candidates have Facebook pages these days. Within seconds, an overwhelmed parent can be connected to people who may be able to offer far better advice than they’d find buried within the complicated jargon of a medical journal.

“It’s about having the resources and not being ashamed. You have to reach out and get help,” Phelps says. “This site is a wonderful place to do that in a non-threatening way—people can’t always come face-to-face with other individuals and say, ‘I have a problem.'”

Phelps, of course, has absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. Her son is Michael Phelps, six-time Olympic gold medalist, multiple world record holder, and arguably one of the world’s best swimmers (look out, Beijing!). Knowing who Michael grew up to be and his lifelong passion for swimming, Debbie is no longer surprised that the young Phelps would sit still for four hours at a swim meet waiting for his chance to be in the water for just a few minutes. He’d be anxious to complete his checklist for the day—homework had to be completed and evaluated, chores had to be done, and dinner had to be eaten—so that he could head to the pool. In fact, his mother decided to take him off his medication on the weekends, in part because he now had something to look forward to.

“Whether it’s athletics, art, music, or whatever your child has a passion for, engaging in something they love is so important,” she says. “It helps to firm up a platform upon which your child wants to grow on.”

Think there’s a chance your son or daughter may be exhibiting signs of ADHD? Fortunately, there are some warning signs to look out for. If their grades are plummeting, your phone is ringing off the hook with calls from teachers complaining about everything from incessant pencil-tapping to poking their classmates, or if their behavior results in suspension or even expulsion, consider these red flags that you need to schedule a conference with the school as soon as possible.

A middle school principal, Phelps is a strong believer in the educational responsibility to collaborate with parents. It might begin with a simple list of goals and progress into regular meetings between healthcare professionals, educators, and parents.

“You have to break it down into digestible bites to help your kid be successful,” she explains.

Because it’s such a challenge for ADHD children to return to school each year and adjust to new teachers, friends, and unfamiliar classrooms, Phelps can’t stress enough that an intervention must be a “team effort” where parents are involved in their child’s education process. Thanks to the Facebook site, moms can also have all the tools they need to build a strong knowledge base and learn how to help their children thrive from right behind their computer screen.

Sometimes it’s with medication, rigid daily schedules, or behavioral therapy, but whatever the treatment, the most important thing is that moms of ADHD children no longer have to feel alone.

“This whole initiative was launched to help parents do what’s best for their kids. Michael has been able to take his little energetic, impulsive self to stand on this platform of the world where he is so focused,” Phelps says. “To me, that’s proven testimony that anything is reachable.”