I’ll go first- Hi, I'm Melissa!
Growing up as an undiagnosed dyslexic child with ADHD, I took on so much of the messaging about what was WRONG with me rather than what was right. Once I became an educator and then a parent to two neurodivergent children, I decided that it was time to get involved and change the narrative in this community to a strengths-based one. By pursuing my Masters in Cognitive Diversity in Education, becoming a Strength-Based Consultant for Neurodivergent Learners, and hosting my podcast Reframing Neurodiversity, I’ve had the opportunity to be on the front lines of change- which is why I am here for you, the mom, now.
Why I’m here in this community
With so many women in particular becoming aware of their neurodivergence later in life, it can be a lot to juggle, dive into, tease apart and support ourselves in while we're supporting so many other people who are dependent upon us.
So in this space I shine a light on that experience and recognize that it's real and it’s hard while also sharing what I’m doing to make it easier.
One of those foundational pieces being: creating a sense of community.
I know how much it can literally shift our nervous system and our feelings of safety, especially as ADHDers who: when the stresses and demands increase, we become more symptomatic.
So the actions we take when we feel seen, valued, connected and a sense of belonging with others who are walking a similar path, is life changing.
Because if we don't feel safe:
We cannot learn new skills
We cannot step into a new way of being
We are not open and receptive to even learning the strategies if we don't feel safe in our bodies.
And this safety really comes from this feeling of co-regulation with other adults who feel safe, who get it, who are speaking your language and are compassionate to what you're going through.
I'm trying to streamline this in a way that is an easy lift, that makes sense, that feels calming to our nervous system and where we're receiving the meat of what is the needle moving element of being in a community.
Introduce yourself
