Lily

This is so hard!! As a neurodivergent mom I feel so so much of this. I keep earplugs on hand at all times and I’ve enlisted my spouse to help look for the signs of overstimulation (this often happens during dinner with cooking sounds and baby sounds and conversations all at once) and he will hand me earplugs or gloves or a napkin (to manage textures) without me needing to ask. Additionally, I’ve worked really hard to protect sleep and exercise because I have so much more bandwidth in days I’ve slept well and gone for a jog. Also, having grown up in a family with ND parents, I really benefitted from watching them model being themselves and had many experiences where I was surprised to learn that behaviors I considered normal were coping strategies, like taking 20 minutes after work or school to sit in a low stimulation environment. I am grateful for my ND parents because they often explicitly explained social rules and walked a beautiful line between masking and unmasking. Your children may end up in therapy but don’t forget the possibility that your ND could be seen as a strength, a haven, and a boon.