Parenting is an intricate dance, this is doubly true when you and your child share the same neurodivergence. Joshua Rastetter returns to elaborate further on these complexities, reflecting on the frustrations of a rigid educational system that didn’t accommodate his daughter's needs, and the how this led him to rethink generations of parental strategies, opting for something more... gamified.

We Also Cover:

• Intrinsic Motivation and Meaningful Goals
• Overcoming Parenting Hypocrisy
• Appreciating Neurodivergent Children Require Different Approaches
• Creating a Cooperative Environment can Reduce Conflict and Improve Learning
• Recognizing the Unique Lopve Languages of Your Children to Enhance Communication
• A Gamer Approach to Parenting Styles
• The Difficulties of Remote Learning for Neurodivergent Kids During the Pandemic

Quotes:

• "And part of that was my own struggles with focus... projecting a little bit because as hard as it was for her to focus... it was just as hard, if not harder for me to focus enough to help her focus."
• "My mental health improved drastically when I stopped judging myself by the box that I didn't fit in."
• "Are we playing on co-op right now? Are we playing on Versus? It’s not my will versus your will. There’s a challenge that we need to face together."
• "I think as long as they're doing things in a fun way, it's fine. We don't have to get the whole picture. But unfortunately the schools today, the way it works, it doesn't satisfy an ADHD mind."
• "When we stop and ask, 'How do you love this person? How do you love this thing?'—that changes everything. It’s not just about the feeling but the expression."

About Joshua Rastetter:

Joshua brings over 15 years of experience in tech and software development to address the real and pressing challenges faced by the neurodivergent community. With a degree in Management Information Systems, Joshua combines his technical expertise and strategic insight to drive innovation and create impactful solutions.

At Spark Launch, Joshua is focused on driving the company's mission to empower neurodivergent individuals through innovative and strength-based solutions. His work emphasizes creating accessible and inclusive tools that support diverse thinkers in reaching their full potential.

Connect with Joshua:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrastetter/
• https://www.rastetterpm.com/

Related Reading:

• The 5 Love Languages of Children by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell - Book mentioned by Josh
• The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene - Book mentioned by Josh

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!

Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost