Parenting with Impact

Your brilliant kid can't get out the door in the morning, falls apart over homework, and goes from fine to completely overwhelmed in seconds. You want to help them out, but it feels like you've tried everything and nothing sticks. In this episode of Parenting with Impact, Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster break down what's actually happening in your child's brain, and why executive function, emotional regulation, and motivation are the three most important things every parent of a neurodiverse kid needs to understand. This is part one of a four-episode series built on the framework ImpactParents has been teaching with their Sanity School® program for 15 years. If you're tired of jumping from strategy to strategy without meaningful progress, this episode gives you a powerful place to start. Hit follow so you don't miss what's coming next.
What to expect in this episode:
Why "activating the brain" is the foundation for everything else you'll do as a parent of a complex or neurodiverse kid—and what it actually means day-to-day
The real reason your brilliant child struggles to organize, plan, or follow through (it has nothing to do with how smart they are, it just requires a completely different part of the brain)
What executive function looks like in daily life, and how Dr. Thomas E. Brown's six-area model helps you pinpoint exactly where your child needs support
Why your child probably isn't really going from "zero to a hundred"—and what's actually happening in their nervous system before the meltdown
Why your child isn't unmotivated — they're differently wired, and understanding that changes everything about how you show up for them
Download free guide: Top 12 Tips To Help Your Complex Kids

Connect with ImpactParents: 
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When rewards, punishments, and consequences aren’t working, it may be time to ask new questions. In this episode, Dr. Ross Greene explains why challenging behavior isn’t usually a sign of defiance or poor motivation, but a signal that a child is struggling with expectations they cannot yet meet. He introduces the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions mode and explains how shifting from behavior management to collaborative problem solving can reduce conflict, strengthen relationships, and help kids build the skills they need to succeed. Discover how changing the way you see challenging behavior can transform the way you support your child.

What to expect in this episode:
Why challenging behavior is often signals a struggle with skills rather than defiance
The difference between managing behaviors and addressing the causes behind them
The role of collaboration in helping kids build problem-solving skills
How proactive conversations can reduce power struggles and emotional blowups
What schools and families can do differently to better support complex kids

About Dr. Ross Greene
Ross is the originator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, as described in his influential books The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Lost & Found, and Raising Human Beings, and the forthcoming The Kids Who Aren't Okay: The Urgent Case for Reimagining Support, Belonging, and Hope in Schools. He served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years, and is now an adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech and in the Faculty of Science at The University of Technology Sydney in Australia. He is deeply involved in fundraising efforts at Lives in the Balance, CPS model projects, and Lives in the Balance documentaries and mini-documentaries.
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Connect with Dr. Ross
Website: Lives in the Balance
Instagram: @livesinthebalance
YouTube: Lives in the Balance (Dr. Ross Greene)
Book: The Explosive Child by Greene, Ross W. | The Explosive Child by Ross Greene
The Explosive Child [Sixth Edition] by Greene PhD, Ross W. 
The Kids Who Aren't Okay by Ross W. Greene Ph.D. 

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/gift.
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Connect with Impact Parents:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

Getting your child through school should not feel like navigating a maze, but for many parents, it does. When learning differences, executive function challenges, or other school struggles are a factor, it can be hard to know which supports will actually work and how to find ones that will be a good fit. In this episode, educational therapist Jenny Drennan unpacks the differences among tutors, coaches, educational therapists, advocates, and other specialists, and shares what parents need to know before investing their time, energy, and resources. Get ready to cut through the confusion and discover how finding the right support can strengthen not only your child's growth, but your relationship with them.

What to expect in this episode:
The differences between tutoring, educational therapy, coaching, and school-based supports
What cognitive assessments reveal about how a child learns and struggles
Why executive function support requires more than just organizational tools
The role of authentic buy-in in determining a support’s success
How the parent-child relationship impacts learning and growth

About Jenny Drennan
Jenny Drennan is a Board-Certified Educational Therapist, Founder of WeThrive Learning, and a featured speaker. Her private practice specializes in supporting students with ADHD and math and language processing challenges. Drawing on best practices and the latest research, WeThrive Learning provides 1-1 tailored support for students and parents globally, taking into account their complex learning profiles. She is certified by ImpactParents as a Sanity School® behavior therapy program trainer. Her passion, work, and insights have earned her recognition as one of the top 10 most influential educators by MSN. Her contributions and presentations have also been featured on numerous podcasts, in organizations, at workshops, and in parent groups.
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Connect with Jenny
Website: WeThrive Learning 
Podcast: WeThrive Learning 
Facebook Group: Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence! 
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Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/gift.
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Connect with Impact Parents:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

What happens when years of overwhelm, self-doubt, and burnout finally start to make sense? For many women, ADHD goes undiagnosed for decades, leaving them navigating impossible expectations and blaming themselves for struggles they never understood. In this episode, Liz Lewis explores how a late diagnosis can change how you see your past, your relationships, and yourself, while reminding us that ADHD is only one part of the story. Take this conversation as an opportunity to slow down, question old narratives, and create a version of success that actually fits your life.

What to expect in this episode:
The reality of growing up with ADHD before we understood how it shows up in girls and women
Why many women discover ADHD through parenting, burnout, or major life transitions
The hidden ways unrealistic expectations and gender roles amplify ADHD overwhelm
What happens when an ADHD diagnosis becomes self-understanding instead of self-definition
Why hitting pause after diagnosis can stop you from turning self-discovery into self-destruction

About Liz Lewis
Liz Lewis is a writer, coach, researcher, and self-described chronic overthinker who helps ADHD women navigate motherhood, mental health, and midlife burnout with more clarity and self-compassion. Through her work at HealthyADHD LLC, as well as through coaching, speaking, and her Substack, Liz offers practical, relatable support grounded in lived experience and research. She has facilitated peer support groups for ADDA, spoken at national conferences, and written for publications including HuffPost, Attention Magazine, and ADDitude Magazine. Her first book, You Are Not the Problem, is a gentle guide for late-diagnosed ADHD women that blends personal stories, science, and midlife humor. When she’s not overthinking life and writing about it, she enjoys reading, volunteering, and spending time with her husband, son, and their very opinionated dog.
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Connect with Liz
Website: Liz Lewis | Healthy ADHD | 
Substack: Liz Lewis 
Instagram: @lizlewisliterary 
Celebrate the launch of Liz Lewis’ new book, You Are Not the Problem: Late Diagnosed Women and the Invisible Forces That Shape Us! Grab your copy and use code NotTheProb20 to get 20% OFF. Don’t miss this empowering read for late-diagnosed women navigating identity, ADHD, and the invisible forces shaping their lives.

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/gift.
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Connect with Impact Parents:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

Wanting to support your growing ADHD kid and knowing how to support them are often two very different things. As teens and young adults push for independence, even well-meaning advice can feel controlling, creating more resistance and disconnection. In this episode, Dr. Zach Gershon explains why peer support and community can be life-changing for young adults with ADHD, and how parents can shift from managing their child to becoming a trusted source of support. Press play to discover how connection, autonomy, and small wins can help young adults build confidence and move forward on their own terms.

What to expect in this episode:
Why peer support groups can feel safer and more relatable than parent advice
How “asking instead of telling” changes parent-child dynamics
What ADHD teens and young adults really want from their parents during transition years
The role of community in reducing shame and isolation for ADHD young adults
Why support works best when young adults feel ownership and autonomy
About Dr. Zachary Gershon
Dr. Zachary Gershon is a twice-exceptional neuroscientist based in New York City whose work explores the intersection of neurodiversity, cognition, and human behavior. He earned his PhD from The Rockefeller University, where his research focused on neuroscience and brain function. Drawing from both scientific expertise and lived experience as a twice-exceptional individual, Dr. Gershon is passionate about advancing conversations around neurodivergence, learning differences, giftedness, and mental performance through research, speaking, and advocacy.
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Connect with Dr. Zachary
Website: ADHD Support Group for Young Adults | ADDA 

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/gift.
​
Connect with Impact Parents:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com