Parents of kids with ADHD - what were the early signs?

[Anonymous]

I hope that no one gets offended by my question, but I would really appreciate it if parents of kids with ADHD could share their experience of the early signs of their kids' condition. I'm going back and forth with my 2.5 year old: most days I lean towards thinking that he is just a very energetic and strong-willed (shorthand: spirited) toddler, but on some challenging days I worry whether there is something more to his behavior. He's always been high energy and seems to move from activity to activity more than other kids, but when he finds something he is interested in he can focus very well. He does throw pretty bad tantrums and tends to be physically aggressive when he gets frustrated/ overwhelmed (time-outs and other punishments only seem to have little effect - he's pretty fearless), but again, as a first time mom with little prior exposure to kids, I'm having a hard time knowing where a strong-willed/ spirited temperament ends and ADHD begins..

I know I shouldn't rely on an internet forum to make a diagnosis, but I'm really just after a reality check before I potentially take things further. I really appreciate any advice/ experiences!