Parenting Through the Storm: Our ADHD Story

ADHD awareness⛅️

the real deep dive into the raw feelings and challenges of parenting two children with unique needs and an ADHD diagnosis.

The stuff no one really talks about.

I remember my first experience advocating in the ADHD world — with what was the CYAN clinic with Dr. Michelle Francis. The woman who did the intake process and family support planning, the touch point person for this service could not have been more perfect for this role. I knew her through work and so we did have a foundational relationship, but her personal experience landed more deeply for me .

Both Michelle and Dr Francis were the most compassionate, patient , and empathetic humans who held space for the hard, honest conversations.

When starting a process exploring diagnosis, we have many questions about our role as the parent, have we done enough what went wrong? Is it something I’m doing? Why is it so hard? This deep yearning for our family to be happy.

As a parent of two I was stuck in the guilt of frustration.

The embarrassment of what others might think.

The grief of what I once envisioned for my parenting path — all while navigating divorce, coparenting and shared homes.

How on earth do you create consistency, routine, and structure among two homes? Through two parents who, all along, were not able to communicate in a good way. All along had different values and views on parenting.

I wasn’t quite ready to understand what was next.

Not yet realizing that moments would continues to feel desolate, dark, and difficult — while others would flow into hope and a sense of normal.

What I didn’t know was those two souls… bless their hearts, set the stage for how I would move forward… how I showed up each day, even when I didn’t want to get out of bed, when I would sit on the floor in the bathroom for just one moment of relief, when my husband would hold me while I cried for my children.

I am resilient and so are they. What I know now is this path was meant for me, how I show up for my children and now advocate for others.

After years of witnessing, and being immersed in the complexities of children who identify as neurodivergent.. the ongoing trial and error of strategies, routines, sports, exercise and school … i truly know it’s not about changing our children.

It’s about changing the way adults and other children begin to understand that kids are not all the same.

How we change the environment. Leading with compassion and connection.

It’s how we begin to ask different questions,

What could we shift to make this work?

Are these expectations realistic?

What type of energy am I giving + what needs to change?

Am I being clear?

What do you need from me and others?

Celebrating what is, + who they are rather than focusing on what they are not..

More to come. ✨