ADHD Essentials

Disclaimer:   Part of today’s show includes our guest sharing a time of struggle, when she considered ending her life.  Obviously she didn’t, and we spend the majority of the episode on other topics, including some of the strategies she used to move past that stage, and being a mom with ADHD.  But I want to be mindful of my listeners, so I’m telling you in advance.  That said, I also recognize that shying away from such topics doesn’t help anyone. People consider suicide when their emotional pain overwhelms their coping resources, often when they are in the depths of depression. If you, or someone you know, is considering suicide: Please call the national suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255.   Text “HOME” to 741741 Or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org   This is episode 29. Today, I’m talking to talking my friend, Kat. Kat is a single mother with ADHD, whose child is neurotypical.  She is among the strongest people I know. In this episode, Kat tells us about her journey with ADHD and depression.  Along the way, she’ll share why she initially found her ADHD diagnosis to be so devastating, her 3 Ts of Thought, tips on co-parenting, and, of course, her love for her son.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Kat’s Journey with ADHD & Depression Kat’s Three Ts of Thought and how they have helped her Getting help for suicidal ideation The moralization of ADHD and how it impacts ADHDers Divorce How shame can affect friendships The wrong way to tell your kids they have ADHD Being a mom with ADHD of a neurotypical son The Cult of Being Busy  

In this episode, I talk to talking to Katelynn Shea and Stephanie Kozlowski of Dynamy Internship Year. Katelynn is the Director of Admissions at Dynamy, and Stephanie is the Business Manager and Onsite Coordinator for USA Gap Year Fairs.     In Today’s Episode We Discuss: What is a Gap Year? The benefits of taking a Gap Year for kids with ADHD How Dynamy develops executive function skills Navigating the area between structure and independence The value of natural consequences The value of participating in an internship (perhaps one in blacksmithing?) How Gap Years help kids who are college bound, but not college ready Why colleges like kids who take Gap Years How Gap Years help students make better career choices Finding a good Gap Program with Gap Matcher The USA Gap Year Fairs   Links and Such: Learn more about USA Gap Year Fairs here: www.USAGapYearFairs.org Learn more about Dynamy here: www.dynamy.org Take the Gap Matcher Quiz here: https://gapmatcher.com Contact Katelynn Shea at SheaK@youinc.org Contact Katelynn Kozlowski at KozlowskiS@youinc.org   And, as always, you can learn more about ADHD Essentials at: www.ADHDessentials.com. Contact me at Brendan@ADHDessentials.com.    

Episode 27 features Richard Podgur.  Richard is a music teacher in private practice. He teaches all ages, toddlers on adulthood, but specializes in teaching kids with ADHD.  As I spoke to him I was struck by just how much Richard’s approach to teaching and managing kids with ADHD applied to situations beyond the teaching of music.  I think you’ll find many of the ideas discussed in today’s episode useful at home. In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Getting kids to practice Time as the great limiting factor Shame and ADHD Taking in the view from a mile up Why ukuleles are better than guitars The importance of creativity and imagination Why kids with ADHD love music Ways to manage kids with ADHD How to help kids struggle through the early learning stages   As usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com. Email any questions you have to brendan@ADHDessentiasl.com.

Today's episode is a bit different.  The kids are home from school, I'm launching my first coaching groups, and I get to spend all day Friday driving out of state to visit the in-laws.  So, time has been limited this week.  As a result, rather than posting an interview, I'd discussing the challenges of ADHD as it relates to time.  I hope you enjoy it.   We will return to our ususal interview format next week!   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: The difficulty folks with ADHD have with time awareness The role shortened time horizons play in goal setting and doing things last minute How long it takes your humble host to mow his lawn And why he timed it to find out.

In today’s episode, we’re talking to Jack Gantos.  Jack is the author of the Joey Pigza book series, about a boy who has ADHD.  The first book of which, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, is a National Book Award Finalist, and celebrates it’s 20thanniversary this year. Learn more about Jack, and all of his books at http://www.jackgantos.com.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: A spolier-free overview of the Joey Pigza books. Why writing the books was a labor of love for Jack. How things have changed for kids with ADHD over the past 20 years. Rambling childhoods. The value of Audiobooks.   Registration for the ADHD Parenting groups closes on Monday, June 25th! To learn more,and get on the registration list, go to www.ADHDessentials/parentgroups.

In today’s episode, we get to learn from James Garrett of Brain By Design.  James has been studying and teaching about the brain for over a decade. He’s passionate about turning this academic knowledge about the brain into practical tools that anyone can use.  And today, he’s doing it through the lens on ADHD! In Today’s Episode: The Four Qualities of restorative activities. The important role that resting (and recess!) plays in performance. Why tablets, phones, & TV exhaust our mental resources. Managing the pull of our phones. And nutrient rich boredom.   James can be found at https://www.brainbydesign.com. Also,Stephanie Letourneau from episode 8 is trying to build a curriculum on Mindfulness for her third grade classroom. Click Here for her Donors Choose page. And, if you're interested in the upcoming ADHD Essentials Parent Coaching Groups, registration closes on June 25th.  So now's the time to register.  Here's a link to the ADHD Essentials Parent Coaching Groups information page if you want to know more.

Meg is surrounded by ADHD! But she works in the theater, so she can handle it. In today’s episode, we discuss: Why extended family dinners make it hard for kids to eat How to get younger kids to eat a more varied diet How letting go of control can help you maintain it Why theater is a good choice for middle and high school kids with ADHD Skills kids learn doing theater And transitions   Want to learn more aobut the ADHD Essentials parent coaching groups?  Go to www.ADHDessentials.com/parentgroups. Or join by emailing me at Brendan@ADHDessentials.com.   Registration for the Parent Coaching Groups closes on Monday, June 25th.

Ryan McRae, the ADHD Nerd, shares college success tips applicable to all ages. Topics covered include building your own structure in college, the importance of bringing books everywhere, exploring college opportunities, connecting with others through shared interests, and concluding thoughts and reminders.

This might be a controversial one!  We’re talking homeschooling.  As you know, I’m a proponent of the public schools.  But that doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore the segment of the population that feels homeschooling is a better option for their kids with ADHD.  To that end, in this episode, I am talking to Samatha MacLeod. Samantha is the mother of five kids, three of whom have ADHD.  Which, as you will learn in the episode, is part of what led her to homeschooling.  Samantha’s story is a compelling one.  She describes the various trials and tribulations her family has faced in recent years, and how they confronted each with support for each other, a thirst for knowledge, and a great deal of resilience. She also talks about the missteps and false starts that she took on her road to learning how best to serve her kids by homeschooling.  And how she managed to overcome them, and give her kids the support they needed in order to succeed.   Samantha can be found on YouTube at Creatively Misaligned Homeschool where she vlogs about her experiences parenting and homeschooling her kids with ADHD and Dyslexia. When not engaged in running a business, politics, her community, vlogging or homeschooling, Samantha also knits and makes mead.  She lives in Calgary Alberta, with her spouse, 5 kids (ages 15, 12, 12, 7, and 5),and 2 dogs.   Samantha’sYouTube channel, Creatively Misaligned, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlARNCwbn5xvG3VyDoG0EA?view_as=subscriber   Samantha is a scheduled speaker at Inspired Calgary in September, 2018:  http://inspiredcalgary.com/speakers/   Want to join the ADHD Essentials Parent Coaching Groups?  Registration opened this week! Email me at brendan@ADHDessentials.com to learn more!   And as usual, you can find me at www.ADHDessentials.com.  Drop on by!  

We've all gotten stuck in the pattern of speaking to our kids in a way that is loud and too fast.  Especailly when the frustration and anxiety spike.  In this episode, voice coach Tracy Goodwin talks to us about how to break that cycle, and teaches us new ways to think about using our voice as a pareting tool so we can move beyond yelling. Tracy Goodwin is a voice coach and owner of Captivate the Room.  Over the last 25 plus years Tracy has coached hundreds of people around the globe on how to step into their voice power, sound more confident, heal their voice story, free their voice and make an impact with their message.  Parents included. Tracy can be found at www.captivatetheroom.com. And, as usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com.   Let me know how you're using your voice by emailing me at Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. And if you'd like to be in the upcoming coaching groups, the email above is good for that too!  Regitration starts this Monday, 5/21/18.