Everyone Gets a Juice Box: For Parents of Neurodivergent Kids

First-gen parents, neurodivergent kids, and redefining excellence

Alison Cho grew up in a tight-knit Korean American family where Harvard and medical school weren’t just dreams, they were expectations. Alison had undiagnosed ADHD and autism, and she often felt like she was letting her parents down. Now she’s raising two neurodivergent kids of her own. And she’s navigating the same cultural expectations she grew up with, this time as the parent. In this funny and tender interview, Alison explores what she wants to keep from her upbringing — and what she wants to leave behind. For more on this topic * Listen: Meltdowns, mysteries, and multiple diagnoses [https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/everyone-gets-a-juice-box/managing-multiple-diagnoses] * Watch: We didn’t know we had ADHD. Then motherhood hit. [https://youtu.be/7ggyZQlENbE?si=2oxpTfvkXk5av9c0] For a transcript and more resources, visit Everyone Gets a Juice Box on Understood.org [https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/everyone-gets-a-juice-box/first-generation-neurodivergent-parenting]. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give [https://www.understood.org/en/donate?sc=EGAJB0126AUD&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-aud-egajb&utm_content=episode] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We didn’t know we had ADHD. Then motherhood hit.

Two experts in ADHD went decades without realizing they had it themselves. Katie Severson, a speech pathologist, and Lori Long, a child psychologist, co-run The Childhood Collective and host the Shining With ADHD podcast. But both received their own ADHD diagnoses only after becoming mothers. They talk about late diagnosis, the shame that came before it, and how it shapes their parenting.   For more on this topic * Listen: Shining With ADHD [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shining-with-adhd-by-the-childhood-collective/id1669863601] * Watch: I’m an ADHD expert. My kid still can’t get help. [https://youtu.be/6v6_xDUazDE?si=tf0WeXM70GbKoVcy] For a transcript and more resources, visit Everyone Gets a Juice Box on Understood.org [https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/everyone-gets-a-juice-box/adhd-late-diagnosis-parenting]. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org [podcast@understood.org]. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give [https://www.understood.org/en/donate?sc=EGAJB0126AUD&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-aud-egajb&utm_content=episode] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I’m an ADHD expert. My kid still can’t get help.

Rae Jacobson has spent her career covering ADHD and neurodivergence. She hosts the Hyperfocus podcast and helps lead Understood’s editorial team. But even with all that knowledge, she still can’t get the school to evaluate her daughter for an IEP. Here’s how she’s supporting her daughter while they wait for school services. For more on this topic  * Listen: The Hyperfocus podcast with Rae Jacobson [https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus] * Watch: When “fine” isn’t fine: Kids fall apart at home for a reason [https://youtu.be/sd7F0DktTkk?si=yQ9vvK96F7HyIB6l] For a transcript and more resources, visit Everyone Gets a Juice Box [https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/everyone-gets-a-juice-box] on Understood.org. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give [https://www.understood.org/en/donate?sc=EGAJB0126AUD&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-aud-egajb&utm_content=episode] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The hidden grief of parenting a neurodivergent kid

Brittney Crabtree, mom of four and co-host of the Moms Talk Autism podcast, gets refreshingly honest about what she calls “grieving the gap.” That’s the particular sadness of watching your neurodivergent kid fall behind their peers. She talks about building a “friendship portfolio,” vetting safe people to open up to, and why actually feeling your feelings is the best strategy. For more on this topic * Listen: Moms Talk Autism [https://www.momstalkautism.com/] * Watch: Parenting regrets and giving yourself grace after ADHD and autism diagnoses [https://youtu.be/Nhob4Q7wDvc?si=8G3Y5kLWQOECoe9T] For a transcript and more resources, visit Everyone Gets a Juice Box on Understood.org [https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/everyone-gets-a-juice-box/adhd-grief-parenting]. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org [podcast@understood.org]. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give [https://www.understood.org/en/donate?sc=EGAJB0126AUD&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-aud-egajb&utm_content=episode] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Debbie Reber on homeschooling a neurodivergent kid

Debbie Reber tried everything to make traditional schools work for her neurodivergent kid. Three schools. An IEP. Therapists. OTs. Educational consultants. But homeschooling? That was a hard pass.  Then her husband got a job offer on another continent and her options got very small, very fast. What followed was six years she never planned for — and wouldn’t trade for anything. For more on this topic  * Listen: Full-Tilt Parenting [https://tiltparenting.com/podcast-about-children-with-learning-disabilities/] (Debbie’s podcast) * Read: Homeschooling kids who learn and think differently [https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-homeschooling] * Watch: The myth of work-life balance with a neurodivergent child [https://youtu.be/f4CfwvSeCKE?si=FS_6sCSEeMvjudM_] For a transcript and more resources, visit Everyone Gets a Juice Box on Understood.org [https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/everyone-gets-a-juice-box/debbie-reber-homeschool]. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org [podcast@understood.org]. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give [https://www.understood.org/en/donate?sc=EGAJB0126AUD&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-aud-egajb&utm_content=episode] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.