Being nice and being positive aren't the same thing—and if you're parenting a complex kid, that distinction matters. In this episode, Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster dig into the second Sanity School® cornerstone: positivity and communication. They cover why resilience more than intelligence influences success, what the "independence pyramid" is built on, and how the way you talk to your kid (and to yourself) shapes everything from relationships to self-regulation. It's part two of a four-part series. You can catch up on the first episode about activating your child’s brain and follow along so you don't miss the rest.

What to expect in this episode:

• Why being positive isn't the same as being nice, and why that distinction matters for parenting complex kids
• Why resilience, not intelligence, is the biggest predictor of a kid's long-term success, and how to build it
• What the "independence pyramid" is, and why relationship, trust, and communication have to come in that order
• How tone, timing, and what your kid actually hears (versus what you meant) shape every conversation
• Why self-talk is a form of self-care, and how changing your own internal dialogue changes how you show up for your kid

Download free guide: Top 12 Tips To Help Your Complex Kids

Connect with ImpactParents:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Substack

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:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Substack

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

What if behaviors that look defiant are actually signs of a nervous system under threat? In this episode, Rabbi Shoshana unpacks PDA, also known as Pathological Demand Avoidance or Pervasive Drive for Autonomy, and explains how nervous system sensitivity, autonomy, and co-regulation shape behavior in neurodivergent kids. She explores why traditional approaches often fail, how aspects of modern life intensify dysregulation, and what it means to truly trust a child rather than assume oppositional intent. Get ready to rethink “difficult behavior,” understand what may be happening beneath the surface, and walk away with a more compassionate, nervous-system-informed approach to supporting your family.

What to expect in this episode:

• The connection between nervous system sensitivity, autonomy, and emotional regulation
• PDA behaviors that are commonly mistaken for defiance or manipulation
• Modern school and family expectations that can push sensitive nervous systems into overload
• A breakdown of the “safe circle” metaphor and what it says about threat response
• Meaningful, real-life tasks that naturally lower resistance and increase cooperation

About Rabbi Shoshana

Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman is a PDA Autistic woman and creator of The PDA Safe Circle™, a transformative online community for PDAers and their loved ones that centers her strengths-based PDA Safe Circle® Approach. Rabbi Shoshana is known for her in-depth content on PDA that helps PDAers of all ages to thrive within the constraints of their vulnerable nervous system. After a previous career in Jewish congregational leadership and climate activism, she is now a sought-after coach and trainer for PDA adults, parents, and allied clinicians. Her writing has been published in many venues, including The New York Times and Psychotherapy Networker magazine, and she is the author of two children’s books.

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Connect with Rabbi

• Website: The PDA Safe Circle
• Instagram: @rabbishoshana

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

Feeling isolated or overwhelmed? Unsure why some parenting support spaces help, while others leave you feeling even more stuck? In this episode, Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster break down the differences between support groups, coaching groups, learning communities, and live Q&A spaces, and why the right kind of support can completely change your experience as the parent of a complex kid. They explore how feeling truly understood and supported can reduce isolation, why coaching creates deeper change than information alone, and how shared experiences help parents move from overwhelm into action. Discover how choosing the right kind of support can help you feel less alone, make real progress, and create the kind of change your family has been needing.

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What to expect in this episode:

• The key differences between support groups, coaching groups, and learning communities
• How feeling understood by other parents can ease feelings of shame and isolation
• What parents can learn by observing others work through their own challenges in coaching
• Why real change happens when support moves beyond information into action
• How understanding your needs can help you choose the right kind of support

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