May 18
Raising a strong-willed ADHD child when you have ADHD yourself is a specific challenge that connects so many of us, including my guest this episode, author Katherine Ellison. Too often as parents we can find ourselves in power struggles over things that ultimately don’t matter and only serve to damage our relationships, which is why Katherine is here to tell us that when we’re in those power tug-of-wars with our children, it’s our job to drop the rope.
Katherine is the author of the brilliant book, Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention, where she details her experiences raising a spirited ADHD child and the lessons she learned about how to support him best. “You can't be the person, as the mother, having the power struggles with them and teaching them what they need to know. You just have to love them. They're getting so much negativity from the rest of the world that they need you to be their solid ally.”
Join me and the extraordinary Katherine Ellison as we dive into the ups and downs of raising spirited ADHD children, ways to take a step back when you notice a power struggle starting, the importance of identifying our childrens’ strengths and areas of brilliance, and the absolute necessity of creating a loving and supportive environment where that brilliance can flourish.
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"I think having that ADHD label, one of the fantastic things about it is it allows you to learn more about your particular brain, and that can be really a gift if you look at it that way."
- Katherine Ellison
"One of my biggest learnings from this experience is, you have to find their strengths and then fan them like a flame. I mean, whatever they're good at. My son had an interest in the world and languages, and I wish I'd really fanned that flame early on because the more they're in a position to get a positive reaction from the world, the more they thrive. So if it's just one thing, you have to figure out what that thing is."
- Katherine Ellison
"I think having the ADHD diagnosis is a license to understand your own brain that not a lot of people get. So in that way, it really is a gift, right? If you can get it early you kind of have a map of your own brain."
- Katherine Ellison
- Katherine discusses her book "Buzz: A Year of Humor, Healing, and Happiness" and how it relates to her personal experience raising a child with ADHD and dyslexia.
- Katherine and her son struggled with dyslexia, leading to academic struggles and eventual success through self-directed learning.
- Katherine discusses how ADHD affects women, including delayed diagnosis, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression.
[24:29 - 43:47] ADHD, journalism career, and personal struggles
- Katherine recounts being sued for $11 million for libel after implicating a woman in a murder case in her reporting.
- Katherine discusses her experience with ADHD and how it has impacted her life, including her career as a writer and her relationship with her children.
- Katherine finds ADHD diagnosis helpful in understanding her own brain and its unique symptoms.
- Katherine highlights her son's strengths, such as curiosity and enthusiasm, while also acknowledging his challenges with setting boundaries.
- Katherine attributes her success to her ability to think outside the box and her tremendous energy for things she's interested in, despite feeling overwhelmed by ideas and having limited inhibition.
- Katherine's ADHD workarounds include exercising in the morning and being easier on herself, as well as meditating before public appearances to calm down.
Website: www.katherineellison.com
Book: BUZZ: A Year of Paying Attention
Facebook: Katherine Ellison official
