Constant Chaos Podcast

25/10/2021

If you are struggling to build a support system for you or your child with , don't worry! There is a lot of help out there, and this podcast can help you get started. I discuss the many options for building your support team with Constant Chaos Podcast.

Listen here! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-challenge-of-getting-support-for-adhd-with/id1481906252?i=1000539350369

23/10/2021

Great article in Stanford Scope about how ADHD kids fail to get the best treatment.

https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2021/10/19/youngsters-with-adhd-often-dont-receive-best-treatment/?fbclid=IwAR2HvFQqKBhMrQ9zSKGqe0VCP8m1QAkZxsNT78XM0TrDDAO9NzcPvaw52jk

Families of young kids with ADHD should get parenting-skills therapy before other treatments, but this happens infrequently, a study found.

22/10/2021

Well, its been awhile because life got in the way...you know, constant chaos. But we are back with a new episode with Dr. Sarah Cheyette that you don't want to miss. We talk about how the challenges of getting support for ADHD go back to the stigma of ADHD (ie bad morals, bad parenting) BUT today there are many options where to start. Listen in for this great discussion!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-challenge-of-getting-support-for-adhd-with/id1481906252?i=1000539350369

‎Show Constant Chaos Podcast, Ep The Challenge of Getting Support for ADHD with Dr. Sarah Cheyette - Oct 21, 2021

25/07/2021

Sorry for the delay in posting. For those of you that haven’t heard, The Cate Family (Christie) dove off the hamster wheel and moved to Paso Robles California. Our family just needed a different pace and a new environment. We will be keeping our day jobs and starting a farm and winery.

We switched our ups and downs to building a family business and spending more time in nature. If you are interested in seeing the good and bad you can follow us Zobeto Winery

We will release our next podcast this week and will be back at it again more regularly soon! Happiest summer!

02/07/2021

Fun to be a guest on the On Boys podcast and sharing the chaos of raising kids with ADHD.

https://www.on-boys-podcast.com/constant-chaos-parenting-with-adhd/

Parenting a child with ADHD is challenging - esp. if you also have ADHD! Rachel Blatt, co-host of Constant Chaos podcast, describes how she manages chaos

17/06/2021

Leslie joins Rachel and Christie on the Constant Chaos podcast to discuss her new book How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done. Procrastination is a key challenge for all students and even more so for students with ADHD. Listen in as they discuss chall

30/05/2021

If you are looking for affordable support as you navigate your child’s ADHD diagnosis, the ADHD dude is your answer. Ryan offers straight forward strategies that make sense.

What parents have shared with me (over the past school year) that a paid licensed mental health professionals told them:
❌ "He's in denial about his issues."
❌ "ADHD medications are a way for schools to chemically control kids."
❌ "We're still getting to know each other." (After 3 months of weekly $175/hr sessions)
❌ "Taking one pill to treat ADHD will change his brain chemistry for the rest of his life."
❌ "He screams at you when you tell him to get off video games because he's angry that he was adopted at birth."
❌ "He's not opening up about his feelings, so I can't help him."
❌ "He may be on his way to developing anti-social personality disorder."
❌ "He has the diagnosis rejection sensitive dysphoria and needs to be medicated to treat it."

👉 Here's what I hear in these comments:
Misinformation, a conspiracy theory, pathologizing kids due to a lack of understanding of ADHD and (uninformed) opinions.

I don't believe parents should be paying a licensed professional to hear these things.
I do believe that truly effective help for families of kids with ADHD should be affordable, because all families deserve access to effective help.

The ADHD Dude Membership Site will cost $20 per month (or $210 per year if paid annually) and include access to all current & upcoming webinars, as well as monthly "office hours" where I'll be answering members questions. New content will be added regularly.

❌ No sales gimmicks
❌ No promises of miracles
❌ No "fluffy stuff" or academic speak

Effective solutions to address the most common executive function and behavior issues experienced by parents of kids with ADHD. Based on the treatment guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics treatment recommendations.

Sign up for priority registration for when membership site launches this week: www.kidswithadhd.net

24/05/2021

Beautiful article about Rene Brooks who was a guest a few months ago.

Social media creators are helping women and people of color identify possible symptoms of A.D.H.D., a disorder most often diagnosed in white boys.

21/05/2021

We are back at it with a great discussion with Leslie Josel about procrastination. Leslie literally wrote the book about it - How to do it Now Because its Not Going Away. We hope you give it a listen and let us know what you think!

https://anchor.fm/constantchaospodcast/episodes/Renowned-ADHD-guru--Leslie-Josel-discusses-Procrastination-e11985j

Rachel & Christie talk with ADHD coach, writer and entrepreneur, Leslie Josel, about her new book How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done. Procrastination is a key challenge for all students and even more so for students with ADHD. Listen in as we discus...

17/04/2021

Powerful video by my boys' favorite youtuber and science teacher, Mark Rober, about his son's autism. Excited for the benefit- Color the Spectrum- he and Jimmy Kimmel are hosting along with a full slate of youtubers my kids love and people I've heard of to support autism.

Give it a watch and try not to cry.

https://twitter.com/MarkRober/status/1383112914798727170?s=20

“Here it is: https://t.co/QbRYz59i8J”

02/04/2021

Rachel and Christie talk with Emily Holl of the Sibling Support Network about the challenges for siblings of kids with disabilities both visible and invisible. Emily talks about SibShops, a worldwide program, that offers support to siblings of kids with special needs. Emily also offers tips on how p...

02/04/2021

This is a great article to get you thinking about your non ADHD kiddos. If you haven’t already, head to our latest episode to hear about Sibshops!

Being the brother or sister of someone with ADHD can be difficult and potentially frustrating for a child. Here are tips for helping them cope.

26/03/2021

One of the many issues not addressed enough with kids with special needs is the effect on their siblings. In our new episode, Rachel and Christie talk to Emily Holl from the Sibling Support Network about the challenges, risks and opportunities for these kids. Emily is Director of the Sibling Support Project the first national program dedicated to the life-long and ever-changing concerns of millions of brothers and sisters of people with special health, developmental, and mental health concerns.

https://anchor.fm/constantchaospodcast/episodes/Emily-Holl-of-the-Sibling-Support-Project-etgob9

Rachel and Christie talk with Emily Holl of the Sibling Support Network about the challenges for siblings of kids with disabilities both visible and invisible. Emily talks about SibShops, a worldwide program, that offers support to siblings of kids with special needs. Emily also offers tips on how p...

17/03/2021

Always good reminders.

Feeling judged and misunderstood makes a raising a child with ADHD all the more difficult. One mom shares what she wishes other people knew.

05/02/2021

For our 20th episode, big thank you to HR Mom for talking about raising our ADHD kids to be adults. Listen in as she discusses using her background in HR to create systems and supports for her family and more.

http://bit.ly/3jm4n6Q

Rachel and Christie talk to the HR Mom, Melissa Griffin, about how to raise ADHD kids to be adults. Using her experience as an HR executive, Melissa talks tricks, tips and tools on bringing up children to be functioning adults who can succeed in life and the workplace. Listen in to hear about how Me...

05/02/2021

February is Black History Month. I wouldn't be Black Girl Lost Keys if I didn't highlight Black American ADHDers (or neurodivergent family). Keep an eye out throughout the month. There may be some names that surprise you. Happy Celebrating!

29/01/2021

Love love love this!! Thank you Holderness Family for giving voice to what its like to have ADHD.

https://fb.watch/3j6MspiKoA/

23/01/2021

Highly recommend HR Mom. Great tips on parenting and finding your stride in what works for you!

I say it all the time, “There are a thousand ways to do it right.” So why do we compare parenting choices and feel the deep need to defend our own?

Why can’t we read parenting advice and just “eat the fish and spit out the bones?” What makes us defensive and fearful that we might be doing it wrong?

Let’s unpack that for a bit.

Planning to go live SUNDAY 1/24 @ 3:30pm CST in the HR Mom Parenting Focus Group to discuss OWNING and walking confidently in your own parenting choices.

As always, I’ll stick around for open Q&A as well!

{To join the group for just $5/month, see comments!}

20/01/2021

Reposted from ADHD Magazine by ADHD Editorial Board.

19/01/2021

18/01/2021

And ruin my day!

08/12/2020

Wow - this may be one of the most impactful episodes we have had yet. René Brooks, of Black Girl Lost Keys, gets real about growing up with ADHD, and so much more. If you ever wonder what it feels like for your ADHD child, listen in and try not to cry. We did.

In this not-to-be-missed episode, Rachel & Christie talk to the amazing René Brooks, creator of Black Girl Lost Keys talks about growing up with ADHD and finally be diagnosed as an adult. Want to understand what it's like for your child when you make them sit down until all their homework is done? ...

02/12/2020

Question in my e-mail inbox yesterday:

"How do I get my ADHD son (age 14) to close cabinet doors and drawers behind him? I need him to PAY ATTENTION! I know he can't help it, but it drives me absolutely crazy. How many times am I going to remind him before it finally sticks?"

She's asking me because I have ADHD. She knows I have a son her son's age who has ADHD. I'm very open about both the joys and challenges it brings our family.

As soon as I read the message, I looked up from my recliner, smiled, and snapped this picture of my kitchen.

I'm 41 years old. Do I always leave cabinet doors open? Definitely not. Why do I remember sometimes, but not others? Well, sometimes as I'm grabbing a plate, my mind has moved on to the next steps of the meal prep process before I think to close it. Sometimes I remembered something really funny. Sometimes the microwave has just beeped. Sometimes I'm on the phone. Yet, other times, I'm fully engaged in the present and will remember to close the doors and turn out the lights. It just depends, and it is almost impossible to predict.

My advice to this Mom is as follows:

"I know it is exhausting, but it will serve you well to embrace the fact that your ADHD child will likely NEVER stop leaving cabinet drawers and doors open. They may never remember to take their medicine every single day. No amount of reminders or consequences will afford them the ability to remember ANYthing every single time.

With ADHD, 100% consistency can never be the goal; there is no fool-proof method that will yield 100% success when it comes to their memory. If there was, it would be called a cure. ;)

Telling them every time they leave a cabinet door open, or they've forgotten something - is not "reminding them"... it's simply pointing out yet another failure or shortcoming. Pointing out a forgotten task after the fact rarely works to prevent them from doing it the next time. It's not a matter of being inconsiderate; it is a matter of neurology.

If a task is truly important (remembering to lock doors, close the freezer, turn off the oven...), we can help them develop more consistent routines and life hacks to prevent these things from happening as often. We can install a freezer alarm, smart locks, teach them to set timers, help them brainstorm new "mind tricks" to encourage reliable habits. This must be done with a spirit of teamwork and support, not one of shame or punishment.

Preserving their dignity and strengthening the parent-child relationship must always be more important than the fixing these day-to-day behaviors. Trust me, the world will "remind them" a hundred times a week that they've fallen short in some small way. They don't need to hear it from their parents too. We must reallocate this time and energy to helping them recognize their gifts, strengths, and inherent self-worth.

I just love all of these ADHD kids I've never met... because I truly feel for them. One of the most important things I've done to support my own healing from my undiagnosed ADHD childhood is to parent my kiddo the way I wish I was parented. I get to say things to my son that I desperately wish someone had said to me.

Take heart: Your ADHD kids will make incredible leaders/partners/parents/employees in adulthood. If you treat them with respect and dignity now, they will be less likely to settle for a partner who constantly points out their shortcomings and failures as adults. Treating them as if they're broken now could cause them to grow up and settle for less than they deserve in life.

May we all just smile when we see our ADHD kids' open cabinet doors and forgotten items. Instead of slamming a door in frustration or voicing irritation, may we instead choose to imagine that they were interrupted by a wildly creative, funny, or sensitive thought... and choose to just close it for them. It's one of the easiest things we can do to meet our ADHD kids right where they are.





P.S. I'm going live Wednesday to share my full ADHD story (signs missed in childhood, diagnosis at age 27...) in the HR Mom Parenting Focus Group. See comments for how to join!

13/11/2020

Super excited to share our latest episode - w discussed "What is normal?" with locally-famous developmental pediatrician, Dr. Brad Berman. Give it a listen and we promise it will change your outlook.

https://anchor.fm/constantchaospodcast/episodes/What-is-NORMAL--with-Dr--Brad-Berman-emd36a

Dr. Brad Berman speaks with Rachel and Christie about defining normal in today's world. Listen in for a thought-provoking discussion that might change your views of "dis-ability". Dr. Berman is board certified in both General Pediatrics and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. He is on the medical s...

14/10/2020

Hi followers - we are so excited to be talking to the locally-famous developmental pediatrician, Dr. Brad Berman next week. We are going to be talking about what is normal - would love your thoughts and questions on this subject. Share with us here on via DM and will include in our interview- thanks!

14/10/2020

The new episode is available! Check out Peter Johnson...

https://anchor.fm/constantchaospodcast/episodes/Peter-Johnson--Black-Belt--Tae-Bo-master-talks-goal-setting-and-connection-ekv8uf

Rachel and Christie have a powerful chat with co-writer of ADHD and the Focused Mind, Peter Johnson. Peter a super Black Belt and Tae Bo master and talks with Christie and Rachel about connection, goal setting and coaching your child to success. Using the tools of elite athletes, Peter discusses how...

10/10/2020

Amen

08/10/2020

Coming out soon - powerful chat with co-writer of ADHD and the Focused Mind, Peter Johnson. Peter a super Black Belt and Tae Bo master and talks with with Christie and Rachel about connection, goal setting and coaching your child to success.

05/10/2020

Some fun from a photo shoot for our new logo and website. Thanks Craig Isaacs who is doing these porch photo shoots as a benefit for Monument Crisis Center.

29/09/2020

Our new episode is up with Roberta Savage, special ed attorney and all around great person! Check out, “When it’s time to get an attorney!”
http://www.robertasavagelaw.com/