ADHD Essentials

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.

The ADHD Parenting groups are filling up!  Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Twice a week, for six weeks, we’ll be looking at ADHD parenting through the themes of structure and systems, communication, emotions, self-care, connection, and questions. We’ll strategize ways to make mornings smoother,  compliance easier, and conversations deeper. Space is limited! Email me today to save a spot!  Brendan@ADHDessentials.com  My Guest today is Ryan McRae.  The ADHD Nerd! Ryan is a former residence director, and taught freshmen how to succeed in college.  With so many kids getting ready to take that step, I thought we’d get out ahead of it!  But don’t be fooled. The tips in today’s episode apply to all ages, elementary school through adulthood! We talk about why high school is a restaurant and college is a buffet, strategies for organizing a calendar, how to get more reading in, and the value of an emergency productivity kit! Ryan can be found at his blog, www.theADHDnerd.com, dedicated to helping people be more productive, successful and happy.  And if you go to www.theADHDnerd.com/essentials, you’ll find a free book waiting for you: 4 Apps to Help You Focus.

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.

Rich Shramm is a dad who has ADHD, whose kids also have ADHD.  Turns out, there's an app for that.  Because Rich created the iGotThis app.  As Rich says, "iGotThis is a task-focused, life management solution".  It helps kids build their self-esteem by supporting their success. And, helps parents monitor and support their kids through life’s daily productivity challenges.     We discuss how the app supports kids in staying on track, and helps parents keep track of things. (It can even help you plan for things that are a year away!)  But this episode is about more than the app.  We also discuss the emotional impact ADHD can have on those who have it (even if we don’t call it the Wall of Awful), how small failures can lock up our kids’ potential, and how breaking tasks into smaller chunks supports success. This is not a commerical.  I was not compensated in any way for this episode.  I just wanted to share an exciting new tool with you. Learn more about iGot This by going to their website, https://www.iGotThis.com/  If you dig it, sign up for a FREE 15 day trial at https://www.iGotThis.com/signup. Once you've signed up , you can download the free app from the Apple app store or Google Play store and sign in with your newly created account. And, as usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com.   Let me know what you thnk of today's episode 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!  

Chandler Creedon is a veteran educator with over 40 years of experience, working as a school psychologist, counselor, and college professor. He’s also a former professor of mine, and one of my mentors.  It was an honor to have him on the show. Learn more about today's show at http://www.adhdessentials.com/whats-skill-set-thats-missing/ I'm going to be launching ADHD parent coaching groups soon. If you're interested, email me here: Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. And, as usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com. 

It was great to get to talk to my friend Kate Barrett again.  I know her from the ADHD coaching world.  She's the founding coach of Coaching CVilleout of Charlottesville, VA, as well as the mother of sons and the wife of a husband who have ADHD.  Her love for her family really shines through in this episode, and her coaching skills do as well. If you're in the Charlottesville, VA area, and need a coach, I encourage you to reach out to Kate.  In today's episode, she shares only shares a few of her coaching strategies, but I'm sure they'll be a huge help.  We talk about treating ADHD issues as a symptom of a problem, rather than a problem in themselves, the value of ownership, and how to manage your non-ADHD kid, if the kid with ADHD tends to get more of the focus.   Kate can be found at https://coachingcville.com. As usual, fee free to email me at brendan@ADHDessentials.com. And the website is www.ADHDessentials.com. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, I'm talking exercise and fitness, while battlnig a cold!  Gabriel Villarreal is the owner of ADHD Counseling in the Roanoke Valley, as well as a strenth and conditioning coach.  It's that latter bit that we focus on in the episode.  We talk about the importance of struggling, growth from failure, and the neurological benefits of exercise for the ADHD brain.  (Though, that doesn't coem unitl the end.) Gabriel was great to talk to, and you can be sure he's going to come back.  Both on and off the air we noticed that there were many intersting places for us to go in futire episodes.  I expect he'll become a "friend of the show".   Learn more about Gabriel at www.RoanokeADHD.com. Or find him on his Facebook page. Or just email him at gabriel@roanokeadhd.com.   And as usual, I can be reached at Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. And the episode website is http://www.adhdessentials.com/podcast-16-struggle-makes-us-stronger-gabriel-villarreal-strength-condition-coach-mental-health-counselor-specialized-adhd/ Enjoy the show!  

Marina Darlow from Vision Framework visits us to talk about how creating systems can benefit families affected by ADHD, as well as what makes for a good system. We aslo discuss wanting to do good by your family, the characteristics of a good system, the benefits of having good systems, managing time vs. managing energy, and the value of transition rituals. You can learn more about Marina at www.vision-framework.com or at the following social media links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisionFramework/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VisionFramework/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinadarlow/ Find more indepth show notes, and some free gifts from Maria, here:http://www.adhdessentials.com/podcast-15-adhd-friendly-systems-household/ And as usual, I can be reached at Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. Enjoy the show!  

In today's episode, I get to talk to Denielle Stasa, a middle school English teacher, and former co-worker of mine.  Denielle has flipped her classroom.  Her students watch instructional videos she’s created for them at home for homework, and then apply the lessons by doing the work in class with her where she can better support them, and monitor their progress.   We talka bout how she flipped her classroom, the benefit of focusing on the process, and how success in writing leads to success in reading for her students.  There's lots of important ideas in here that can be readily applied both at home and at school. Oh, and I finally describe the Wall of Awful. I'm going to be launching ADHD parent coaching groups soon. If you're interested, email me here: Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. And, as usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com. 

Kimberly has a son diagnosed with ADHD, and she sees that diagnosis as a manual to help her better understand how to help him succeed.  Over the course of the interview, she shares her son's passions and struggles, as well as the things she has learned as a result of their family's journey.Kimberly has some amazing stories about her son, including the challenge of her son's Geography test, his misadventures with his grandfather, and the various entrepreneurial ventures he's been pursuing in his quest for a Tesla. Let me know what you think of today's episode by emailing me at Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. And, as usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com.    P.S. You can find The Jordan Harbinger Show here.

Today's episode is a bit different.  Due to the recent snow storms, and an exceptionally busy month, I don't have the 6-8 hours needed to edit a full interview.  In today's episode, I go back to my English teacher roots, and blend them with my ADHD coach skills to create something short, sweet, and actionable.  I hope you enjoy it.We're looking at the struggle that comes about for those of us with ADHD when the "barrier for entry" is too high, and thinking about how we can reduce those barriers.  Oh, and I read an original poem.  (I promise it all makes sense.) Let me know about your expereicnes/struggles with barriers to entry, and how you're overcome them at  Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. And, as usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com.  A copy of the poem in today's episode can be found here: http://www.adhdessentials.com/barriertoentrypoem/  

In today’s episode, I talk to Jessica. She ahs ADHD, her husband ahs ADHD, and one of her two sons also has ADHD. Like many good ADHDers, Jessica has thrown out the rulebook for how things are “supposed to be done”, and is doing what works instead. As a family, they’ve built a foundation of mutual respect, and they address problems head on. They don’t play games, or hold grudges, and it’s clearly working for them.  We talk about ADHD at home, in school, and in sewing class. And Jessica shares stories about her dad’s lack of a filter, her own time in high school, and why little boys and living plants don’t mix. Let me know what you think of today's episode by emailing me at Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. And, as usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com. Show Notes:http://www.adhdessentials.com/podcast-11-building-foundation-respect-jessica-adhd-mom/  

Today’s episode is a conversation with my friend Eric Tivers. Eric is an ADHD coach, and licensed clinical social worker. He’s the host of the ADHD reWired podcast, and runs the ADHD reWired adult coaching groups. But in this episode, he’s talking as a dad who has ADHD, parenting a thrice-exceptional child who is gifted, and who has autism and ADHD. We discuss the challenges of transferring skills from work to home, the role sensory stimulation plays in his life, including how overwhelming it can be, and he tells the epic tale of cleaning crayons out of his dryer.   Eric can be found at www.ADHDreWired.com. You can learn more about his coaching groups at www.coachingreWired.com. And the reWired podcast can be found at www.ADHDreWired.com/podcast Let me know what you think of today's episode by emailing me at Brendan@ADHDessentials.com. As usual, I can be found at www.ADHDessentials.com.    Show Notes   2:03    Hardest job he’s ever had 3:15    Son doesn’t know why he did, Dad doesn’t know why he didn’t 3:43    Planning and being “on” as dad 3:59    Son has always needed/gotten less sleep 4:34    Transitioning is hard because Eric is “state-based” 6:05    Getting home after son is in bed 6:44    Working on shifting gears 6:54    Adulting is hard 7:10    Making a dentist appointment 7:32    “ADHD is frustrating and comical at the same time.” 7:43    “…and I’m responsible for a life!” 8:13    Eric is grateful for wife and her acceptance of his ADHD 9:09    “Acceptance grows when gratitude shows up.” 9:23    Phone calls are hard 10:29  Supportive spouses supplying strategies 11:09  Filling tires and taking Adderall 11:55  The struggle to bring successful work strategies home 12:12  Environmentally-based to-do lists 12:37 Dad needs checklists and reminders for homework, too! 13:09  On the transfer of concepts from one environment to another 14:02  Generalization of concepts 14:11 Stepping back professionally from Autism work 15:24  Uncarved pumpkins 16:04  Needing a plan at home as well as at work 16:38  On trying to remember names 17:29  How to fake it when you forget a teacher’s name 18:23  Wild wife memory skills 19:00  Eric the hippy 19:21 Never enough time 20:10  Fluff only after 8pm 21:12  “Dishwasher moments” 22:04  Wandering assumptions 22:32  Undermined at the gym 23:12  Father and son podcasts and projects 23:46  Creating space for son to “let him be him” 24:05 Potty humor 24:33 Son is linguistically gifted 26:13  On Pokemon 28:05  On wrestling and rough play 28:40  Activate Zerbert-Tron 29:21  Teaching boundaries and body respect 30:13  The power and challenge of reassuring hugs 30:55  Eric opens his parenting toolbox 31:05  The row your boat strategy 31:29  Developing cues to breathe deeply 32:36 Meet them where they are, and start with sensory needs 33:40  Teach self-regulation strategies 34:45  Give Feedback with self-esteem in mind 35:42  X-Ray blankets and dentist nerves 36:14  Family visits and sensory overwhelm 37:45  Ending Essentials 38:46  Eric’s not-so proud parenting moments 42:37  Wrap-up