We’ve all seen it. The student who inadvertently cuts off their friend mid-sentence because they have something they really, really want to say. The student who is excited and enthusiastic about today’s lesson and can’t help but blurt out responses. With patience and a few tried-and-true strategies, you can help...
Key takeaways for caregivers: It is good for children to identify the emotions of others in conversations with caregivers because it scaffolds their ability to identify others’ emotions on their own. Children who use more emotion talk in parent-child conversations about emotions are more likely to have higher emotion knowledge...
When I was born in 1933, neurodivergence (along with jet aircraft, the atom bomb, and plastic bags) had yet to be. If a child’s behavior did not comply with the norms of the time, as was the case for me, it resulted in punishment, not psychoanalysis. And so I grew...
What if dancing, coloring, and painting could be part of the parenting toolkit you use to regulate your child’s big, intense emotions? For children with ADHD who have challenges with emotional dysregulation – everything from meltdowns to overwhelming feelings – creative expression can serve as an effective outlet for powerful...
February 22, 2024 I apprehensively open my prescription bottle and peer in. I pour its contents into my hand, double and triple checking my count of its contents. Dread washes over me; it’s time to get a medication refill. The ADHD medication shortage that started in late 2022 – and...
Twelve years ago, I embarked on a transformative psychedelics journey that opened my eyes to my true self. I did not know then that this trip into my subconscious would completely change my perception of the world, make my then-undiagnosed ADHD more manageable, and lead me to help others experience...
White rice, white bread, ground beef, chicken fingers, French fries, and pepperoni pizza — for most of my life — and with very few exceptions — these were the only foods I ate. From a young age, trying any food outside of this short list was a struggle like no...
For a good chunk of my life, I suffered greatly in the friendship department. The feeling of being hopelessly abnormal started in elementary school, where, as a child with ADHD, I struggled to sit still like the other kids, feared getting called on by my teachers, nervously solved math problems...
Does the idea of amicably communicating with your ex have you laughing hysterically or head-banging into your pillow? You are not alone. One of the biggest challenges of shared parenting is being able to communicate with an ex you can’t stand Note: This article isn’t about criticising our exes. It’s...
I’ve never been one to shy away from the spotlight. As a child, I was known to “sermonize” from the pulpit in church, and I’d always volunteer to read out loud in class. I relished every opportunity to say something funny or personally meaningful in front of a crowd. In...
The longer I do this job, the more I’m convinced that being a parent is the world’s toughest gig; most especially if you have to discipline your kids when you’re exhausted. For those with a partner and a strong support system, sharing the parenting load is easier. However, for single...
Key takeaways for caregivers Ask your children to remember what they did at school, other times they were away from you, or when you went on a special outing. If children cannot think of anything to say, ask more specific questions. Listen to what your children tell you. Ask follow-up...
I’ve always been long-winded. As a chatty kid, I saw myself (I’m embarrassed to say) in Donkey, the talkative motor-mouth and sometimes annoying character from Shrek who could not and would not shut up. I suppose the rest of my family and friends, to my chagrin, also saw the uncanny...
Death is terrifying, in part, because it’s impossible to imagine ‘nothing.’ Instinctually, our brains and bodies actively reject the unknown. I suspect this is why so many cultures and religions have formed beliefs and stories about the afterlife — to give death some boundaries, some purpose, and some meaning. Still,...
At the dawn of each new year, we set ambitious goals, buoyed by the feeling we can tackle anything — and now is the time to do it. Then the daily grind sets in, our initial enthusiasm wanes, and the novelty of new goals fades. Or we miss a goal,...
Woke up on the wrong side of the bed? We all have bad days. Sometimes our day starts on a sour note when we wake up late and have to rush to school or work. From there, daily obligations only seem to push the day tumbling downhill. Mix in stress...
Every day, I find myself staring at a giant mountain of things I need to do. Oddly, only some of what’s on the so-called mountain is real, important, and valuable. Most of it is a lot of airy nothing, the result of funky thinking on my part. Before I start...
Key takeaways for caregivers Young teenagers were more likely to use some drugs (e-cigs, prescription drugs, inhalants) during the first year of the pandemic than before the pandemic. Teens with more pre-existing difficulties or in families with fewer resources used the most substances. Parents can support teens in avoiding drug...
I recall attending a school 504 meeting, as a single parent of a child with inattentive ADHD, where a panel of teachers, counselors, and administrators all sat across from me. I had a sinking sense that I was being judged for my child’s behavior and struggles. I felt like I...
You’re running late (again). As you rush to leave, you scan your mental checklist: “Okay, I have my keys. Now, where are my sunglasses? Oh, they’re on my head. Good. Wallet? Check. Hold on – is my ID in my wallet? Is the other ID I need in here? What...
