Like many others, I learned that Alysa Liu had ADHD after her captivating, joyful free skate performance at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics that earned her gold. Better yet, I learned that she’s really open about her diagnosis. She told ESPN: “I have ADHD, and I love situations that I’m not expecting. It gives me […]
Raising not one, but two children with ADHD should be easy for me. I’m a special education teacher and I have ADHD myself. I also have a deep well of strategies, research, and professional experience to draw from. Sometimes, all of that helps. Often, it doesn’t. Having knowledge doesn’t mean that I have endless patience […]
A wave of intense shame pours over me as a familiar thought enters my head: What in the name of God am I doing with my life? And how did I end up here? Let me set the scene for you: I’m sitting at home, wearing a headset, taking calls for a psychic helpline. Yes, […]
Some mornings, I can tell before he even speaks. The air feels charged, as if the world inside his head has woken early. My son moves fast, talks faster, and forgets things just as quickly. I whisper, “Slow down,” even though I know that phrase has never worked for either of us. He is my […]
Shame — that deep sense of inadequacy and unworthiness — has the unique ability to travel across time, informing our present and our future. While the work of rebuilding self-worth happens in the now, it also often requires a trip to the past. If shame weighs on you, loosen its grip by incorporating these two […]
Almost without exception, parents tell me the same story: Meltdowns, yelling, and door-slamming the moment their teen is forced to quit their video game, log off TikTok, or otherwise disengage with their preferred form of “brain rot.” The explosive reactions happen again and again, even after conversations and apologies for past transgressions. This behavior may […]
Warning: this strategy is going to fly in the face of traditional recommendations to parents! If we learned anything from the 2020 pandemic, when school and home began to merge as one, it’s that we have to be open to new and different ways of doing what we’ve always done. Article continues below… Want to […]
There is so much “news” about ADHD these days. And often, the media is just trying to stoke parents’ worst ADHD fears. So, today, I’m offering two tips. Article continues below… Want to Motivate Kids? Download a free tipsheet “The Parent’s Guide to Motivating Your Complex Kid” to help your child find the motivation to […]
Does your child with ADHD – and other types of neurodivergence — struggle with sleep? Here are expert sleep tips — for them and for you. Article continues below… Minimize Meltdowns! Download a free tipsheet “Top 10 Ways to Stop Meltdowns in Their Tracks” to stop yelling and tantrums from everyone! Find Out How Discover […]
I finally got into Stranger Things. Not because of the terror and gore, but because the show, to my surprise, lays out perfect metaphors for ADHD. Like me, its characters know a great deal about what it means to contend with an invisible force, seemingly of another dimension. The Upside Down Is My Normal When […]
Does parenting sometimes feel overwhelming or chaotic? In this episode, Dr Chris Willard shares how mindfulness, humor, and small daily practices can shift the tone of your home and build resilience for kids. He explains why calm begins with you and how presence matters more than perfection. Listen now to discover one simple shift that […]
We all have childhood memories of upsetting an adult — of knowing we’re in trouble for disappointing a grown-up in one way or another. We remember the weight of our guilt and feeling like we were bad to the core. As much as we remember the sighs, yells, and criticisms, we also remember the moments […]
