Why Is Finishing So Hard? Helping Neurodivergent Kids Cross the Finish Line

Let’s be honest: if your kiddos leave a trail of half-finished projects, open browser tabs, and idea explosions in their wake, you are SO not alone. Neurodivergent kids (and their amazing, multitasking moms!) can struggle with seeing things through—not because they’re lazy or unmotivated, but because the finish line often feels fuzzy, overwhelming, or just plain boring.

In this week’s episode, we're unpacking:

• Why finishing is tough for neurodivergent kiddos, whether it’s next-step anxiety, perfectionism, time blindness, or working memory hurdles.
• The power of “done statements”—specific, clear criteria for what finished actually looks like. (Think: “This is done when you’ve done 10 math problems with all steps shown” or “Laundry is done when it’s in the drawer and the basket is empty.”)
• Works-in-progress (WIP) limits – One “now” and one “next,” with everything else safely parked and waiting. (Idea overload, be gone!)
• Quick wins and tiny products: Get something DONE in a day with a postcard summary, a 3-slide deck, or a 60-second voice memo.
• Saving progress rituals: So nothing gets lost, and future-you can jump right back in—next steps, photos, and all.
• Keeping motivation up: Dopamine logs, gallery walls, and flexible closure routines—because DONE is more important than PERFECT.

Lots of love for all our creative, innovative kids (gifted, 2e, ADHD, autistic, and more). Remember—these strategies are for real families, with real kids, and I promise you, they WORK.

 

Links and Resources from Today’s Episode

Thank you to our sponsor:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

• The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos
• The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
• Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom’s Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family
• The Anxiety Toolkit
• Executive Function Struggles in Homeschooling: Why Smart Kids Can’t Find Their Shoes (and What to Do About It)
• How Adventuring Together Grows Confidence, Curiosity, and Executive Function
• Understanding Executive Function Skills in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children
• Strengthening Executive Function Skills: A Conversation with Sarah Collins
• Strengthen Executive Function Skills
• The Best Books for Teaching About Executive Functions Skills
• 7 Executive Functioning Activities for Small Children
• RLL #84: Exploring Education and Executive Function with Seth Perler
• The Unmeasured Executive Functioning Issue
• Why Typical Organization Systems Fail Neurodivergent Homeschoolers and What Works Instead
• When Working Memory Looks Like Defiance
• Finding Your People | Why Community Matters for Homeschoolers of Neurodivergent Kids
• Building Flexible Thinking Skills in Your Neurodivergent Child
• Why Decision Making Feels Overwhelming for Neurodivergent Kids and How to Help