ADHD is so much more than a behavioral challenge. It's a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how children learn, respond, and navigate everyday life. As both a mom and an educator, I'm learning to look beyond the behavior, recognize the struggles we don't always see, and balance expectations with understanding, patience, and a whole lot of grace.
Category: Neurodiversity and Learning
Parenting and supporting children with different learning and developmental needs.
When Struggling Doesn’t Look Like Struggling: What Dyslexia Taught Me
Dyslexia has changed the way I see learning struggles, both as a mom and an educator. After waiting ten years for answers with our daughter, we are now facing new questions with our son, and this time, I am not waiting. This is what our journey has taught me about looking beyond the grades, recognizing the signs, and advocating for our kids sooner.
Self Regulation: The Valentines We Don’t See
Valentine’s week often highlights kindness and connection, yet it can be one of the hardest weeks for children who are overwhelmed or dysregulated. This post looks at self regulation as love in action, offering insight for parents and teachers on how safety, connection, and faith shape behavior long before kindness shows up.
The Beautiful Complications of Siblinghood
Our home is complicated, filled with appointments, medications, and more acronyms than I ever expected to know. But beneath it all is a love that runs deep. Through headaches, allergies, and ADHD, my children have learned patience, compassion, and the kind of empathy that only grows through shared struggle. This post is about finding grace in the middle of that complexity and seeing God’s goodness in the love that holds us together.
504 vs. IEP: What Parents Need to Know (From a Mom Who Has Sat on Every Side of the Table)
If your child is struggling in school and you are not sure whether they need a 504 Plan or an IEP, you are not alone. I have sat in these meetings as a teacher, a sister, and now a mother, and I know how confusing the process can feel. The good news is that you can initiate support, and you do not have to wait for the school to take the lead.
Ten Years to Dyslexia: The Diagnosis We Shouldn’t Have Had to Wait For
For ten years, our daughter struggled with reading, headaches, and exhaustion while everyone insisted she was “fine.” It was not until junior year that we finally uncovered the truth: visual dyslexia. If you have ever questioned your child’s struggles, trust your gut.
Helping Children Thrive: Understanding Social-Emotional Screening Tools
It can be hard to know when a child’s big emotions are part of normal development and when they may signal a deeper need for support. In this post, I share my own journey of learning to understand those feelings, how social-emotional screening tools can help, and why they matter for both parents and teachers. These tools bring clarity, connection, and compassion to the children we love and teach.
Supporting Families Through the Evaluation Process
The evaluation process can feel overwhelming for families, but it is one of the most powerful tools we have to help children thrive. From early intervention to school-based services, knowing where to start and how to navigate next steps matters. As educators and parents, we are called to encourage, advocate, and walk alongside families so they never feel alone in the process.
Understanding Early Intervention Services
Early Intervention services give young children the tools they need to thrive, from speech and motor skills to behavior and emotional support. In this post, I share our family’s experience, explain what Early Intervention really is, and show how parents and educators can work together to create the best possible learning environment.
Preschool Milestones and the Power of Support
Every child develops at their own pace, but sometimes missed milestones can signal that extra support is needed. I know this firsthand from growing up with my sister, who was born with 22Q Deletion Syndrome, and watching the way therapists and educators came alongside our family to help her thrive. It takes a village to raise children into the people God designed them to be, and as parents and educators our role is to encourage, not shame.
