ADHD Essentials

Lauren Mahan is a fourth-grade teacher in Massachusetts, and my sister! That’s right, I’m celebrating the anniversary of the pod with family!  And since Nathan and Gavin are in fourth grade this year, and Lauren is their aunt, we had them sit in on the interview, and contribute their thoughts.  You’ll hear about 4th grade from both sides of the teacher desk.  (As well as on top of it!)  In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Why teaching every kid like they have ADHD works How costumes affect the classroom The influence of Ms. Frizzle Showing your work "Sideways Stories from Wayside School" Writing on desks in math Teaching on tables ADHD is more than one fire to put out Teaching sarcasm and fidgets The importance of recess The power of class pets ADHD & Anxiety If the kids didn't learn it, you didn't teach it   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

In today's episode, I walk us through how I'm setting my goals for 2019.  I think you'll find it useful.  In fact, this is probably a good one to share with your middle school and older kids.   Shameless Plugs:   Join Our Facebook Community Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups! Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/. Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Intentions vs. Resolutions Setting goals with emotions in mind SMART Goals Pre-Mortems Brendan's quest for a Black Belt The role shame plays in derailing us from our goals Using accountability & scheduling to keep our goals on track Alexa as a reminder tool The power of being a role model for our kids as a motivation tool Happy New Year! ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Kids with both ADHD and giftedness, and often referred too as "Twice Exceptional".  Today, we're talking about them.  (But not behind they're back.  They're welcome to listen in.)Our guest for today's episode is Dr. Robert Gruberman. Robert is the director of his school district’s gifted and talented program.  He has been assessing and teaching gifted children in his district for nearly two decades, and has been a public educator for even longer. In today’s episode, we discuss ADHD and giftedness through the lens of an academic expert in the field.  We talk about the various components of giftedness, and where they overlap with ADHD, the social emotional side of giftedness, how twice exceptional kids are affected by having both ADHD and giftedness, and how to help kids with ADHD, giftedness, or both, manage the challenges they face.   Shameless Plugs:   Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups! Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/. Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: The various components of Giftedness The Social-Emotional side of Giftedness Models of the solar system upsetting a 4-year-old The overlap between ADHD & Giftedness Giftedness & ADHD are not two sides of the same coin Shared characteristics, arrived at differently But there’s lots of crossover Giftedness and ADHD can exacerbate each other when they co-occur. When school challenges become home challenges Work in short bursts toward small, manageable goals The importance of getting kids invested The power of choice Peer support “All Summer in A Day” Don’t rush to judgement ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, we’re talking to Aurora Remember Holtzman. Aurora is a school psychologist, host of the “Embracing Intensity” podcast, and a twice exceptional mother of a twice exceptional son. They both have ADHD and giftedness.  In today’s episode, we’re talking ADHD and giftedness through the lens of someone who’s living it.  We explore growing up gifted, impulsiveness vs impulsiveness, the value of teachers who “get” your kid, and the importance of learning to self-regulate as a parent.   Guest Links: Aurora's Website: http://www.auroraremember.com Embracing Intensity Podcast:  http://www.auroraremember.com/embracing-intensity    Shameless Plugs:   Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers. Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups! Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/ Join the ADHD Essentials Facebook Community   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Growing up Gifted with ADHD High achievers will achieve regardless of supports Gifted kids struggling with Executive Function of Social Skills need support The value of growing up with a foundation of acceptance and love Adulting can be a challenge Aurora’s son being too distractible to nurse The effects of missing meds Missing meds is not an excuse for poor behavior Looking for the off-kilter reasons for behavior Compulsive or Impulsive? Looking at behavior through the lens of Dopamine Relationships with teachers affects engagement Exponential reactions to stressors “Self Reg” by Stuart Shanker It's hard to not escalate when your kid is melting down The importance of learning to self-regulate as a parent Weaknesses as the flipside of a strengths  

We made it to 50 episodes!!  Thanks for being a part of it !! You might want to preview this if you tend to listen with your kids, because in this episode, we're discussing how to talk to our kids about sex.  Today, Erika Miley guides us through talking to our kids about sex.  We start with talking to younger kids about sex, and the move on to older kids as the episode progresses.  Regardless of the age of your child, there should be something in this episode that you find useful. You can find Erika at www.ErikaMiley.com.   Shameless Plugs:   I’m offering 3 sessions of the ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups.  They’ll start the week of Jnaiuary 20th.  One session will be at noon on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Another at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the final session will be Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm.  Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers. Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups! Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/. Registration closes next Friday, December 21st.   Guest Links: You can find Erika at www.ErikaMiley.com.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Kids can learn about it from you, or from the internet.  Your choice. When to start talking to kids about sex Where to begin when talking about sex.  (Hint: It’s not intercourse.) Typical developmental behavior Helping kids understand consent You don’t need to tell the about everything at once. The importance of really listening Times to talk to kids about sexual safety Why we shouldn’t use cutesy names for genitalia Sex talk with older kids The importance of open-ended questions Ask the question, shut your mouth “Let me give you context.” It’s okay to say, “You don’t want to know.” Working as a parenting team Porn will come to your kids And it’s performance.  Not reality Where to get better sex info Scarleteen.com Every question is an opportunity Give the gift of curiosity Our context is not their context Kids talk above their heads Dopamine seeking behavior & playing with sexual language  Framing sex conversations around family values Relationships > Sex

Today, we’re talking to Cindy Jobs. Cindy is a professional organizer and ADHD coach who I met at last month’s ADHD conference.  And I’m really glad I did, because organization is a thing we ADHD folks tend to struggle with. In today’s episode, we talk about organization as a balance between space and stuff, the clutter/anxiety connection, and making holiday kits.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Why Cindy enjoys working with ADHD folks The benefits of having a "Why" Organization takes time Brendan's two organizational insights (that came to him really late in life) Clutter correlating with anxiety Closet drama Getting rid of duplicates  Looking at space like real estate Storing like things together Organizing through kits The geography of organization Reducing the barrier to entry Reducing the barrier to completion Organizational consent   Guest Links: Cindy's Website: https://www.cindyjobs.com ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Jon and his wife Monica run Connect ADHD out of Australia.  Jon’s a brilliant guy, and we go deep on multiple topics related to ADHD.  In today’s episode, we talk about how ADHD leads to our kids’ behavioral explosions, how environment affects our ADHD, the importance of science in ADHD. I got to spend time with Jon (and Monica. Her workshop was excellent!) at this year's ADHD conference, and editing the show this week felt like I was reuniting with him. I look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.   Guest Links: Jon’s Website: http://www.connectadhd.com   Shameless Plugs:   Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers. Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups! Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Jon’s ADHD Origin Story ADHD Coaches as the Missing Link for Big Pharma How Jon works with his clients ADHD & Potential Why Scientific Studies spoke to Jon ADHD & moments of connection How & Why Brendan does his first sessions. ADHD Explosions:  The Neurochemistry, and recovering afterward Fight, Flight, Freeze, (Fib) Forgiving & Fixing The Underpinning of “We’re all good people” Russell Barkley’s Extended Phenotype model of ADHD Brendan’s Executive Function Algebra Jon’s Performance Influences Model for Executive Function The  Myths of ADHD Monitoring your inner voice Using Monitoring, Referencing, and Self-Direction to manage ADHD ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, we’re talking to Richard Kelley! I've received excellent feedback on past episodes that looked at the history of ADHD through a personal lens.  So, I decided to bring in my friend Richard Kelley.  Rich is an Assistant Executive Director with the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA).  And he has been working in education for longer than I've ben alive.  (Admittedly, only by a year.)(Side note:  I erroneously identify Rich as the President of MSAA during the interview.  Thankfully, he corrected me.  Sometimes the ADHD wins.)  In today’s episode, Rich shares his experience as an educator for over 42 years, and how he’s seen the approach to ADHD at school change over the decades.  It's an interesting conversation.  I hope you enjoy it!    ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, we’re talking to Keith Griffin! Keith is an ADHD coach, and host of “This ADHD Life” on YouTube.  He’s also got a webinar on surviving the holidays with ADHD coming up through the Attention Deficit Disorder Association.   Keith can be found at ThisADHDLife.com.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Information Overload How music can help our morning routines No screens in the bedroom Productivity Tips Tragic Stories How to Positivify Brendan's "Today's Awesome" gimmick on FB The difference between eating watermelon and eating grapes Self advocacy And doing less   Shameless Self Promotion: Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups! Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/. Don't forget to give us a 5-Star rating & review on iTunes!  Thanks!

I'm at the International Conference on ADHD.  Here is a brief episode where I share a few takeaways.  

Today, we’re talking to Tamara Roseer.  Tamara is the president of the ADHD Coaches Organization, the co-founder of Acorn Leadership, and the founder of the ADHD Center of West Michigan. In today’s episode, we talk about parenting as leadership, developing core values in our kids, ways to avoid passing anxiety on to our kids, and the importance of being authentic when we parent.   Guest Links: ADHD Coaches Organization   https://www.adhdcoaches.org ADHD Center of West Michigan  http://www.miadhd.com   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community  

Today, we’re talking to Mindy Katz.   When Mindy learned that she and her daughter had ADHD, it led to her becoming an ADHD coach, and eventually a Social Worker. She’s a big proponent of positive psychology, and developing resiliency in our kids.    In today’s episode, we talk about how to manage our sabotaging thoughts,  upward spirals of emotion, and the power of curiosity.     Alright, let’s get rolling.       Shameless Plugs:     Go tohttps://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers. Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups! Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/.   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Being calendar challenged Why no two people with ADHD have the same challenges Managing self-sabotaging thoughts Positive Psychology Growth vs. Fixed Mindset Valuing the process more than the results Resilience How perfectionism undermines our efforts Upward Spirals of Emotion Positive Paper Chains How hard it is to talk about what’s going well Using curiosity to celebrate good news Kids want to succeed.  If they aren’t, something is wrong with the process Coach training & social work Going back to work as a grey-haired adult Alan Brown’s See-Saw Visual   Guest Links: Mindy’s Website: http://mindyschwartzkatz.com     ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, we’re talking to Rene Brooks from Black Girl, Lost Keys. I always enjoy it when I talk get to talk to someone for the first time, but it feels like they’re already a good friend. Talking to Rene was one of those times, and it was a pleasure.   With to her clear memory of childhood, and her thorough understanding of ADHD, she makes the experience of having the ADHD both understandable and relatable. In today’s episode, we discuss all kinds of things.  From Rene’s journey with ADHD, to the extra scrutiny African American children experience in school and how that affects the ADHD diagnosis, to the importance of going with the flow of ADHD.  We even delve into the controversial land of whether or not ADHD is a superpower.  (But you’ll have to listen to find out how we fall on it.) Shameless Plugs: Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers. Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups here!   In Today’s Episode We Discuss: Rene's Journey with ADHD The origin of Black Girl, Lost Keys The importance of common ground ADHD & "Laziness" How African American kids being more heavily scrutinized affects ADHD diagnosis ADHD & the Age of Distraction Time Blindess Fixed vs. Growth Mindset School as a Self-Esteem Shaper Navigating the fear of failure The Importance of Early Diagnosis   Guest Links: Rene’s Website:  http://blackgirllostkeys.com Rene’s Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/blackgirllostkeys/   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

In today’s episode, we’re talking to Mr. Kayerrrook.  He’s an old friend of mine, and a veteran high school English teacher. I really enjoyed our wide-ranging conversation, both when we had it, and when I listened to it again during the editing process.   We get into some interesting corners of both ADHD, and education.  talk about everything from the interplay between ADHD and poverty, to the various red flags teachers keep an eye out for, teachers face, to the ways teachers work to address the unmet needs of their students when those red flags are spotted.  Mr. Kayerrook even shares some stories about his students.  Including a school shooting threat that ended up being a prank, and how he used a failed test to help a student find success.    Shameless Plugs:   The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups winter session has a special discount if you register in October! Go to https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/to sign up for a free 15-20 minute prescreening call to see if the groups are right for you! Or go to https://www.adhdessentials.com/parentgroups/ for more information.   Also,the 9thAnnual Online ADHD Awareness Expo is going on now.  I’m a part of it.  My topic - 3 Ways to Communicate with Your ADHD Child Besides Talking.  Register at https://www.adhdexpo.com/adhdessentials to let them know I sent you.   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

For today's episode, I decided to celebrate ADHD Awareness Month by looking at those very things.  ADHD and awareness.  It's a quick one, but a good one! I look at them through three lenses: My 3 A's of ADHD Management - Awareness, Acceptance & Action How ADHD Awareness differs from Neorotypical Awareness The signs that make me aware that my ADHD may be about to go on the fritz   Share your signs that your ADHD is about to go on the fritz, and get valuable ADHD resources in the ADHD Essentials Facebook Community!  Click the link to sign up.   Further celebrating ADHD Awarenss Month:  Early registration for the January Session of the ADHD Parent Coaching Groups is open this month!  Sign-up during October, and get one entire month of the program for free!Learn more at: https://www.adhdessentials.com/parentgroups/Sign-Up for a pre-registration call at: https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/