Reading was always a battle growing up! I remember sweating at the thought of being called on in class to read out loud!! YIKES! Is reading a struggle for you too? OR do you enjoy reading like I do as an adult, BUT your interest driven brain has a hard time to find a book/story that holds your attention/interest!?

Well, look no further! In this episode, you will hear from CEO and founder Nancy Sun, who shares the brilliant App she built called Story Mii... After her own personal battle she had trying to find something her son would read without a fight, she shares how coupling his creative ideas with AI gave her the idea to build a calming App for kids to create a story of their own OR choose from a library of deliberately written stories that speak to the neurodivergent brain! You are able to create a profile and put stories together, choosing characters, settings, and storylines! My kids are absolutely loving this App and I think you all will too! 

The extra cool part is that Story Mii is also our podcast sponsor for the month of April!! WOHOO! Nancy and her team have generously offered a code to give you a month of free App use so you can see if it's a good fit for your family too! Just plug in your email address with the discount code: ADHD10 to get started! 

You can also reach out to me at www.katelynmabry.com for questions or other resources. I would love to connect with you! Have a beautiful day! Love you all! 

Intro music from #uppbeat http://uppbeat.oi/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day

License code: BYYN10YF2HHNY3YO

Are you ever around friends or groups of people and find yourself overwhelmed, sometimes saying or doing things that later you think, oops!? Well, if so, you are not alone. It can feel overwhelming and overstimulating to be in social situations, often causing our big emotions to spiral or come out sideways! I've got you! 

In this episode, we will talk about how being with friends and in social situations can be hard sometimes. We will discuss how we can fine tune that filter that often swings wide open and talk about three action steps we can take to help grow in these social settings! 

4 reflective questions to ask to strengthen that filter before you say and do...

1. Is it kind?
2. Is it helpful?
3. Is it true?
4. Does it need to be said?

These are questions that strengthen that filter in your head! 

Next, we explore 3 things to practice doing in social situations...

1. Practice putting on a space bubble- Plan for the space you and/ or others feel comforable and pretend that there are built in glasses and help you practice looking at others (choose a comfortable facial feature if eye contact makes you feel uncomfortable.)

2. Adjust ears to exercise active listening- Practice a breath and a break when talking with others and ask questions to allow for them to talk and you to listen.

3. Become self aware of when Rejection Sensitive Disphoria (RSD) strikes: Check out podcast episode 9, "ADHD with "Rejection Sensitivity: Feeling deeply about what others think of me" to learn more about what RSD is! We will dive deeper into this topic once more self-awareness is established! 

I hope these are helpful takeaways to practice as you enter into different social settings. Don't forget to check out our sponsor's brilliant product, the Gibbon Slackboard (Giboard), to use as a tool for family or friend, fitness and fun! We love it in our home, even at social events, and I know you'd love it in yours too! It will be a friends favorite! www.giboardus.com discount code: ADHD10

Connect with me at www.katelynmabry.com for more resources or to learn more about my 1:1 coaching experience! I would also love to hear from you if your kiddo would like to share an audio clip in a future episode! Kids love to hear from each other! 

Intro music from #uppbeat 

http://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day 

License code: BYYN10YF2HHNY3YO

Home is where the heart is! This is why we can let ALL of those big feelings out and navigate our many thoughts racing through our heads throughout the day! 

In this episode, we will talk about Dr. Ned Hallowell's famous quote, "Living with an ADHD brain is like having a ferrari for a brain, with bicycle breaks! Can you realate!? I know I can! I ask reflection questions, and share some tools and strategies for the home environment to raise awareness in order to moving through your day with less frustration and more clarity! 

How does your mind and body feel at home during different parts of your day?

What does my mind and body need to succeed at home? 

Where do your thoughts take you?

How does your body feel if thoughts start to go in a downward spiral?

We discuss choosing to drive your thoughts in a direction that will help us learn and grow...

Follow a flow- Create visual routines that work best for you (Your brain craves structure, it's just tricky to create it sometimes.) 

Figure in breaks (mind and body)- We need to be mindful of our need to refuel our brains throughout the day (rest, movement, nutrients)!

Find connections- This will help with regulation, finding calm, and collaboratively problem solving when things feel tricky!

If you haven't already, check out the Gibbon Slackboard! It really is a blast for the whole family, while also acting as a great tool for regulation and concentration! Go to www.giboardus.com and plug in the discount code: ADHD10 to add this fantastic tool to you and your family's executive function toolbox! 

You can find me at www.katelynmabry.com to check out my resources or reach out if you are interested in exploring my 1:1 coaching experience! I would love to come alongside your family on your journey!

Intro music credit:

http://uppbeat.oi/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day

License code: BYYN10YF2HHNY3YO

Do you ever find yourself sitting at school feeling lost or alone with your racing thoughts and big emotions? Do the questions, "where did I put that?" or "shoot, I wasn't paying attention" ring a bell!? If so, you are not alone and this is the episode for you! 

Often times, school and even other learning environments can feel tricky to function in when you don't have the accommodations or tools in place to listen and learn in the given space. In this episode, we talk all about how the first key to success in a learning environment is self-awarenss, which will be followed by self- advocacy (speaking up about what you need to succeed). 

First and always, we want to lead with strengths and start your day off by preparing your mindset with what your strengths, interests, and talents are! Then, I want you to lean in and look at what you need in a learning environment? What tools and strategies do you use? What helps me listen best? How do I refocus when that gets lost? When does my body need to move? How can I practice more unconditional confidence as I learn and grow through the tough stuff? Another question I am just thinking of is, "do I feel that rejection sensitivity during my school day or time of learning? All of these reflective questions will help you put on that self-awareness cap so that you can put practices into place that will help you know when and how to take out the tools you need to succeed! 

Today's episode is brought to you by GIBBON, makers of the ultimate balance board designed for movement, focus, and fun for all ages! Whether you're looking to boost concentration, improve coordination, or just add an active twist to your day, the GIBBON Slackboard is a fantastic TOOL for ADHD brains and beyond! My family loves it and I think your family will to! Plug in ADHD10 at checkout to recieve a special discount! www.giboardus.com 

You can connect with me at www.katelynmabry.com for more resources or to reach out with questions and future episode topic ideas!! We are on this journey together! Love you all! 

Hey friends! Do you have your self-awareness cap on? If not, then this series is just what you need to pick up that cap and fit it just right on that beautiful, brilliant brain of yours! If you do think self-awareness is your jam, that's fantastic to and I want you to still listen in as you may discover hidden areas or environments where you could use a little cap adjustment! 

In this episode, I will introduce the importance and power in raising self-awareness so that you can best use the tools in your toolbox when you are entering into different environments. Becoming more aware of your words, actions, reactions, and even body awareness will help you discover what you need to succeed in different places and spaces! Please reach out to let me know about your own self-awareness journey! 

You will notice a few NEW things in this episode as I have revised our intro and we have our very first podcast sponsors for the month of March! Wohoo! 

This episode is brought to you by GIBBON, makers of the ultimate balance board designed for movement, focus, and fun for all ages! Whether you are looking to boost concentration, improve coordination, or just add an active twist to your day, the Gibbon (Giboard) Slackboard is a fantastic tool for ADHD brains and beyond! Go to www.giboardus.com and enter ADHD10 at checkout to recieve a special discount! 

Reach out to me at www.katelynmabry.com to share what you think about our new intro, give future episode suggestions or if you choose to get a Giboard, let me know if you and your family enjoy it as much as my family and I do! Have a great day! Love you all! 

Music from #uppbeat https://click.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fandrey-rossi%2Fseize-the-day/vZub/epq7AQ/AQ/3800a4d8-72fa-44fd-98d7-d2bac9fabafd/4/_PxYAp0pB5

How do you feel about your brain?! Sometimes we are our own worst enemy and in this episode I hope that it gives you a fresh perspective on how you see the beautiful brain you've been given! 

We will discuss how sometimes we can quickly spiral in a negative direction and our brain drives us bonkers! I feel ya! BUT, we can bounce back and in this episode we talk about how you can become friends with your brilliant brain. I want you to continue to lead and lean into your strengths as you navigate the struggles and build your toolbox. 

Come on over to my website at www.katelynmabry.com to visit me and let me know how you feel about your busy, colorful brain! Next week we will start our self-awareness series for the month of March! Can't wait to spend more time with you soon! Have a great day! Love you all! 

Do you feel like you are running on empty when you get done with school or working on something all day? Do your emotions quickly become in charge at the smallest things? Well, your busy brain is working extra hard all day to manage and maintain working through different learning experiences. This is why cognitive refueling is so important to endure and thrive for the rest of the day! 

In this episode, you will meet Eileen Devine, who is a parent coach and also the mom of a teenager who is neurodivergent just like you and me! Eileen talks about what happens to our busy brains as the day goes on and how we often find it on empty by the time we get home! She shares some great ideas for cognitive refueling through intentional rest, taking a break from brain based tasks. Making sure you are moving your body and feeding our brains the nutrients needs to be refueled, like a protien snack! She also encourages kiddos to ask for help and self-advocate when their brain feels tired! She also highlights the importance of good, quality sleep as the most vital way to fill your cognitive refueltank back up!  Lean into this brain based learning as you discover what your brain needs to be refueled each day! 

Check out all of Eileen's amazingly helpful resources at www.eileendevine.com. I know she would love to get connected with you! 

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week! Let's keep on intentionally refueling our congitive tank! Love you all! 

PLEASE NOTE: This is a LONGER episode that may need to be listened to in parts! BUT, it was full of so many great stories and so much great information that I didn't want you to miss any of it! 

Hi friends!

Do you feel you are on the road of kindness toward others? Do you have a desire to spread kindness to others? Have you experienced bullying? Do you have any hidden talents? Do you feel alone in your struggles and want to feel seen or understood? If you said yes to any of these questions, this is the episode for you! 

During this episode, you will hear from my newfound friends Tony and Cassi, who are founders of a non-for-profit called Anthony's Way- The Road to Kindness. Tony and Cassi spend time sharing Anthony's incredible life story with us as he faced challenges and had many successes through his continued resilience and by sharing his kind heart with others! Listen in and join the cause below either on your own or encourage your school to join in too! "TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE & TOMORROW WILL BE EVEN BETTER" is their family motto that they would like for us to take away each and every day! 

You can connect with Tony and Cassi @ www.anthonysroadtokindness.com

Anthony's 2nd Annual Nationwide Walk A Mile for Kindness & ADHD, website: www.walkforkindness.com . One is for Individuals and Teams to Participate and the second one is for Schools and Youth Groups to Register and Join in.  This is all about Raising Kindness to a Whole New Level, EVERYWHERE! 

ADHD can present itself in many different ways, but one thing that most all of us can resonent to some degree with is the struggle to regulate our big, intense emotions! 

Let's be clear, this is not only that outburst of emotions, but it can also take different forms such as internally shutting down, avoidance, silly behavior, or other behavioral signs of being in a funk, feeling out of control, or even reacting to that sense of overwhelm! 

In this episode, we will talk about WHAT emotional dysregulation is, HOW it shows up in different environments, and the WAYS in which  you can take action steps to recognize and respond to it! 

Get your curiosity cap on as you learn and discover what tools and strategies might work best for your beautiful, brilliant brain to regulate those busy thoughts and rollercoster of emotions! 

This episode is part of a series that you won't want to miss in order to best build your own personalized executive function toolbox for home and school to thrive and success! Check out episodes 178-181 to get the full series experience! 

Visit me at www.katelynmabry.com to check out more resources or reach out to me with questions, comments, and even a request to share your story on a future episode! I would love to hear from you! 

"I'm thinking, I'm noticing, I'm wondering, I'm seeing, I'm feelings..." How is your metacognitive thinking? I know many of us with busy brains have a hard time with thinking about our thinking while on our path of learning day to day. We often get caught in each moment and don't intentionally practice the power of the pause! If this is you too, I've got you!

In this episode we will talk about what metacognitive thinking is, why it is important, and how you can put it into practice! Below are some examples of questions that you can put into practice at home, at school, and to prep for going out and about...

Reflective/metacognitive thinking questions to put in your face (write on mirrors, put on post-its, in school locker, etc....

Before: Is this similar to a previous task? What do I want to achieve? What should I do first?

During: Am I on the right track? What can I do different? Who can I ask for help?

After: What worked well? What could I have done better? Can I apply this to the other situation?

Putting metacognitive thinking into practice will also exercise other executive function skills such as impulse control, task switching, self-awareness, decision making, and more! 

Please reach out if you have any follow up questions about this more complex executive function skill! I would love to connect with you! Go to www.katelynmabry.com to get in touch! I look forward to being with you again next week! Love you all!