Hi Friend! I’m Lindsay.
No matter what anyone has told you about your child, hear my heart.
Every child has been created with gifts, passions, and purpose.
And together, we moms can change the narrative for kids who think and process the world differently.
The Goal?
To boldly equip kids to thrive as THEMSELVES with confidence and purpose.
Parenting and Homeschooling ADHD and Autism
And thriving as neurodivergent moms, kids, and families…
Requires us adults to use our Executive Functioning Skills. This means we must be willing to change.
Why I could be your new BFF!
I’m a Neurodivergent ADHD Homeschooling Mom
Yep. I’m a wife, a mom of 3 (two biological and one adopted), an educator, and a proud ADHD woman. Right now, I am obsessed with reading all things neuroscience. (ADHD hyperfocus, anyone?)
Grad School to Homeschool
More than 23 years ago, I graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a double major in Psychology and Social Behavior as well as Environmental Analysis and Design.
I later continued to earn my Master of Arts in Teaching at UC Irvine. During my student teaching supporting underserved children, I decided to homeschool my future kids. And we’ve been homeschooling for more than 14 years.
Quick ADHD Tip: Did You Know?!
Adoption Rocked Our World
More than 11 years ago, we adopted a newborn boy. At 18 months, his behaviors became volatile and out of control. I can only describe the next few years as hell on earth. It was the most:
- Humiliating,
- Isolating,
- Humbling
Experience of my life. And yet it radically transformed me as a mom and educator.
That was when MY EYES WERE OPENED to the world of hidden disability, neurodiversity, and the impact of complex trauma. This is why A Heart for All Students exists.
Adoption Led to Humility
Once he hit 18 months, our son stopped sleeping, started screaming bloody murder all day long, and destroyed EVERYTHING. There was NOTHING he couldn’t get to. We were all miserable and it felt like we were under attack.
His dangerous behaviors nearly sent me to the ER for a heart attack. We lived in a state of chaos, anxiety, and stress every day for years.
- He intentionally ran into the street because he saw a car heading towards us.
- Escaped the house.
- (Installing chain locks on all the doors worked until he learned how to use a broom handle to unhitch the chain.)
- (Installing chain locks on all the doors worked until he learned how to use a broom handle to unhitch the chain.)
- Hung from a two-story balcony.
- Hit, spit, and kicked at the slightest provocation.
- Oh… did I mention he stopped sleeping? No joke.
Homeschooling An ADHD Brain?
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Traditional Parenting Fails Neurodiversity
As a homeschooling mom seeped in fundamentalist Christianity, I tried everything. I desperately wanted to do the right thing. However, nothing I knew to do as a “good Christian momma” worked. Those strategies backfired.
The isolation, judgment, and shame were all-consuming. But not anymore.
Neurodivergent Parenting Requires an Outside-the-Box Approach
My search for answers forced me to continue learning. I had to learn more about the brain and learning than I ever did in graduate school. My years of study, research, and in-depth interviews with the best pediatric specialists taught me this.
- Cognitive differences (whatever the cause) impact the way we receive and process information.
This, my friend, impacts outward behavior.
Our kids are ALWAYS learning from us.
We should always be learning from them.
We’re all teachers.
And we’re all students.
How we communicate and teach matters.
Teaching is More than Academics
Teaching not only includes academic information. It refers to what we want to impart to our kids.
- How to behave,
- Communicate big thoughts and feelings,
- And how to love themselves and others well.
My Greatest Parenting Change
The most influential change I made in this parenting journey? My perspective and my behavior.
I had to examine the traditional parenting and teaching approaches.
Then I had to drop them in favor of equipping my son well.
ADHD and Autism in Our Homeschool Family
Aside from my chill hubby, the rest of us are all ADHDers. (Honestly, I had no idea I was an ADHD woman until recently. I killed it in school and love to learn. Who knew?)
We’ve got a little Auditory Processing Disorder and language processing issues. Sprinkle in a little anxiety, autism, dyslexia, and we’ve got a pretty amazing neurodivergent family.
Quick ADHD Teaching Tip!
An Important Lesson
Investing in my kids and so many others has taught me an important lesson:
For kids to succeed as THEMSELVES,
- Parents and educators must be willing to work with the grain of a child’s learning style, capacity, and interests.
Friend, our kids aren’t broken. It’s our system of education and parenting that’s broken.
Changing the Narrative of ADHD, Autism, & Anxiety
I believe that together, one mom at a time, we can change the narrative for neurodivergent kids and families.
Together, we can:
- Think outside the box as we homeschool and parent the children we have.
- (Rather than the one based on benchmark expectations.)
- Support one another as we say NO to the status quo in favor of equipping our kids based on
- Who they are,
- How they’re wired,
- Their specific needs,
- and God-given interests
Doing so allows them to thrive with confidence and purpose.
Never Would Have Believed It
When I think back to where we were, I wouldn’t have believed that this memory (above) would be possible. But I’m sharing this with the JOY and HOPE that has come. I am confident that you and your family can experience this too!
Parenting & Homeschooling ADHD & Autism Featured Contributor
Take a look around the blog and be encouraged, Sweet Momma. Your child is a gift to this world, and I can’t wait to know you more.
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Can’t wait to know you more, Friend. We’re in this together! Get Started Here.
P.S. Reach out to me with any specific questions. lindsay@aheartforallstudents.com
Homeschooling An ADHD Brain?
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