Every once in a while, I spotlight the work of an author that I think you, as a reader of this blog, might want to know about. Today, I want to introduce you to Deborah Reber, founder of TILT Parenting (a website, podcast, and community) and the author of a number of books including, most recently, Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World.
I first learned about Debbie’s work back when I was hard at work on the US edition of Parenting Through the Storm. I listened to a number of episodes of the TILT Parenting podcast for ideas and inspiration while I was writing and then, after the book was published, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be a guest on Debbie’s podcast. (Debbie and I talked about the challenges of dealing with the bias and stigma that can be directed toward a child with some sort of neuro-developmental difference.) I was impressed by Debbie’s empathy for both parents and kids: her willingness to speak openly about the fact that being a parent can be hard — just as being a kid can be hard, too. Anyway, I knew she’d have some wise and reassuring words to offer at back-to-school time — a time of year that can be particularly challenging for “differently wired” kids and their parents, which is why I invited her to participate in this brief Q&A.
Ann Douglas: Why is back-to-school season a challenging time of year for “differently-wired kids”?
Debbie Reber: Any sort of big transition can be especially tricky for differently wired kids because the current flow is disrupted, in this case the summer holiday rhythm, and it’s time to establish new routines, from bedtimes and wake-up calls to after-school activities and homework. But even more than that, there are just so many wildcards—teacher fit, classroom dynamics, workload, stretching of executive functioning muscles, the social scene, and more. Pair that with the unpredictability of spending the day among a bunch of peers with their own personalities, quirks, and individual way of showing up in the classroom, and it’s easy to see why this season can be incredibly disregulating!
Ann: Why is it a challenging time of year for their parents?
Debbie: As parents, we are often facing more than our share of dread and anxiety about how things will unfold, including uncertainty about how to best set our child up for a successful year or how much of a heads up to give new teachers, if any, about our kids' neurodifferences. We hope this is the year things will click—our child will make a great friend or their lagging executive functioning skills will have a growth spurt or they'll land a teacher who appreciates who our child is—but we’re still burdened by the leftover baggage from unmet expectations and low moments of past grades. Lastly, our child’s anxieties may mean trickier or more intense behaviour at home, which can feel overwhelming and often leads to less than brilliant parenting moments.
Ann: What practical things can parents do to help ease the anxiety for themselves and their kids?
Debbie: A great habit for families to build is proactive problem solving for transitions before they occur. Make a list of everyone’s concerns or questions (children’s and parents’) and work together to create solutions in advance. Having a plan is half the battle as it defends against those in-the-moment stressors that can be so chaotic and tough. Writing out or talking through new routines and schedules, and even doing some “practice drills” or role playing, can also help alleviate anxieties, especially with younger kids. Lastly, as parents, we can reframe our mindset to one of openness and “curiosity” instead of concern and worry. This shift alone can change our energy surrounding the transition which will invariably influence our sensitive kids.
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