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Our special guest, Mary Judy, brings her vast experience as an advocate for neurodiverse families to the table. Mary Judy shares her compelling journey and the challenges her son faced despite his academic success. She discusses the importance of creating individualized support teams for those who may not outwardly appear neurodiverse but still require assistance. Mary Judy's story is a powerful testament to resilience and the necessity of tailored support systems for fostering independence in neurodivergent individuals.

About Mary Judy: I grew up in a Neurodiverse Family and that is my sense of normal. Not surprisingly, I married a man with a neurodivergent mind, and we have our own Neurodiverse Family. I was extremely fortunate to have the example of my mother Margaret’s support for my father and my brother who were the most impacted in our household while I was growing up. She was completely alone in her advocacy for our family, but she just did what was right because she loved us. My mom protected us all fiercely and meekly, using her gut to decide what was right and what was wrong. She was brilliant! After her death in 2008, my son was diagnosed with learning disabilities (2E) and eventually with Asperger’s Syndrome. When he was in high school, I realized that his father too has Asperger’s. There are only two choices you have when faced with this kind of knowledge; you can go all in or you can run. I went all in with the help of a wonderful network of friends and supporters that I had created for myself while raising my kids, and the example of my amazing mother who always showed me the way to love people unconditionally and with her whole being.

Now I’m helping other families bridge the gap to independence and adulthood professionally. When challenged daily with how to help my clients without enabling them, I think to myself “What would Margaret do?”

With the birth of our second child just prior to Y2K, I left the tech world to manage our significant real estate investments and educated myself about the residential design business and real estate management. We divested our North Carolina real estate holdings in 2005 to move to Chicago. There I earned my Illinois real estate and certified property management licenses. I renovated and flipped our family residences and managed the sales and renovation of client properties.

During these years our second child was identified as Twice Exceptional, eventually leading to an Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis. I sought training through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy, and became a contracted Parent Advocate for the Illinois State Board of Education. With my neighbors we started the Riverside Area Inclusion Network (RAIN) to support families and work with the school systems to create more inclusive educational and community opportunities for our exceptionally identified children. Public educators and the state systems were just adapting to this new normal and by high school we moved our exceptional child to a Catholic single sex high school with wonderful supports, and MOST importantly, a sense of belonging not experienced anywhere before. A wonderful priest (to whom I will always be grateful) also helped me to see that my husband is on the spectrum. This insight saved our marriage!

Recognizing a family dream to live in the Rockies, we relocated to Colorado in 2018. Here I went to work for state licensed program approved service agencies (PASA) to learn the supportive ropes for the Neurodiverse community. I earned my Association of Community Rehabilitative Educators (ACRE) certification, and have built a network within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF), the Department of Vocational Rehabil

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We're thrilled to have Karleen Savage author of The Confident Teen Blueprint, and a veteran in parenting and conflict resolution, share her wisdom on establishing core principles like unconditional love, respect, and consistency. Karleen emphasizes the importance of parents understanding their own beliefs to raise confident and respectful children. We also introduce the "Confident Teen Blueprint," a 30-day challenge aimed at helping parents instill core values and daily mantras that promote self-efficacy and independence in their teens, setting them up for long-term happiness and success.

The episode takes a deeper dive into the complexities of conflict resolution. We discuss how empathy can bridge cultural differences and aid in resolving contentious issues, such as teenagers' exposure to explicit content on social media.

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What if understanding your child's brain could transform your parenting approach? Join us in this episode of Legit Parenting as seasoned child and family therapist Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div and special guest Dr. Robin McEvoy, a developmental neuropsychologist, joins us to shed light on the identification and management of learning disabilities and developmental challenges in children, offering invaluable advice for parents during the crucial summer break.

Navigating the maze of parental concerns can be overwhelming, especially with the added pressures of modern education and the lingering effects of COVID-19. We'll discuss the importance of tailored educational approaches and the benefits of reducing homework to improve both mental health and learning outcomes. Dr. McEvoy emphasizes the significance of understanding family and medical history when addressing learning disabilities, advocating for early evaluations and interventions.

We'll talk about the critical roles of nutrition, hydration, sleep, and exercise in a child's overall well-being, especially for those with attention deficit disorders. Practical strategies for reinforcing positive behavior and building new skills in children are shared, along with a discussion on balancing naturopathic approaches with medication when necessary.

Dr. Robin McEvoy has been practicing developmental neuropsychology for 30 years. With each evaluation, she asks herself, “How can I help.” Many parents bring their kids in for evaluation because they are still struggling, despite working with a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a learning specialist or a whole team of specialists. The parents were doing “standard of care” thoroughly, but it was not enough. There were times she worried that she would not find a way to help, that the parents were already doing everything possible.

But she hates the thought of saying there was nothing else to be done. So instead of saying that, she decided to dig deeper. She dug into nutrition, sleep, medical conditions and myriad of complementary and alternative approaches to learning and behavior. (And while digging, she met Child Decoded co-founder, Kim Gangwish.)

By developing a more thorough understanding of the mind/body integration, she began to find other avenues that actually opened up new possibilities for children. She loves having options for families who had been told to just accept their child’s challenges and live with them. She had been told the same thing about her own daughter who had a severe speech disability and sensory issues. As both a developmental neuropsychologist and a parent, she became expert at mapping out paths through difficult presentations.

Dr. McEvoy earned her PH.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Houston, then went on to fellow in Psychobiology/Neuropsychology at the University of Colorado Medical School. She holds a research faculty position at the University of Colorado, and also maintains a private practice where she can evaluate using the Child Decoded model.

Evaluation is the heart of her work with children: helping families, pediatricians, and school districts to find a deeper understanding of complex challenges. Dr. McEvoy enjoys writing and blogs frequently for Child Decoded. She loves public speaking and is a highly rated speaker.

You can read more about Robin McEvoy at her website www.robinmcevoy.com. She blogs about learning and learning challenges as well as tons about “behavior problems in children” because she has strong opinions about that. You can follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DrRobinMcEvoy or on Twitter at twitter.com/RobinMcEvoy.

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Join us for an emotionally moving episode of Legit Parenting as we welcome Meghann and Ziggy Guentensberger, the heartfelt founders of Rylie's ARK. Meghann and Ziggy recount joyful memories of their daughter Rylie and the tragic accident that forever changed their lives. Together they share their raw emotional journey, highlighting the strength and resilience required to navigate through such devastation .

Meghann and Ziggy turned their grief into a mission of kindness through Rylie's ARK. The couple speaks on how small acts of random kindness (ARK) can leave a lasting impact, fostering empathy and compassion in our daily lives. Listen as they share their inspiring journey to honor Rylie and emphasize the enduring legacy of kindness.

To learn more visit: Ryliesark.org

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Social media isn't just a pastime for teenagers—it's a battleground for social ranking and self-worth. We reflect on old-school methods of social comparison and how they have been drastically amplified online, influencing youth mental health. We explore the contentious issue of cell phone usage in schools, highlighting initiatives that aim to foster organic socialization and reduce phone dependency.

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When you're at the end of your rope with parenting challenges that seem insurmountable, finding a beacon of hope is crucial. This episode of Legit Parenting welcomes the remarkable Gina He-man, who lights the way for parents grappling with the complexities of raising children impacted by trauma. With a heartfelt blend of personal insight and unwavering support, Gina reflects on her world and the creation of Trauma Drama University, which offers strategies and hope to those facing similar trials.

Parenting isn't a one-size-fits-all journey, Our conversation with Gina is a testament to the power of personalized parenting strategies that resonate with each unique child and situation and having the proper support.

Gina Heumann is a professor, author, speaker, designer, and founder & CEO of Trauma Drama University. In her day job, she is a professor of interior design at Rocky Mountain College or Art + Design.

​After adopting their boys from Guatemala, Gina & her husband were thrust into the eye of the trauma storm, realizing their youngest was neglected by his previous caregiver. After over a decade of researching and testing out a multitude of therapies and treatments, the family finally found the right combination of tools and began healing together. Now, a connected unit, the family is dedicated to sharing experiences, offering hope, and passing on what they've learned with the next generation of parents.

​The journey began in 2019, when Gina launched her book, Love Never Quits: Surviving & Thriving After Infertility, Adoption, and Reactive Attachment Disorder, winner of a gold seal from the prestigious Mom's Choice awards. In 2020, Gina spoke at TEDx Grand Junction about how "Childhood Trauma Affects Us All". As a curriculum designer, Gina began creating TDU's online courses during COVID and launched as an official non-profit in the Fall of 2022.

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In a world where the reality-altering temptation of substances beckons, we're peeling back the layers on teen experimentation and its cultural influences. We tackle the hard questions – like how to manage when you discover your teen may be vaping or using marijuana – with a focus on communication and understanding rather than anger. The the return of Steve Carleton, LCSW, CAS guides us through the warning signs of substance abuse and the delicate balance that must be struck within the family dynamic.

Wrapping up, we confront the heart-wrenching considerations of cannabis use linked to psychosis in youth and its impact on the developing brain. The stakes are high, and the decisions tough, but with an emphasis on 'good enough' parenting, we reaffirm that the strategies once effective in early childhood retain their power during the teenage years.

LCSW, CAS - Chief Clinical Officer

Steve Carleton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addictions Specialist. He has been practicing in the field of substance use, trauma, and mental health since 2007. Steve is a leader in the mental and health substance space, an individual therapist, spokesperson, facilitator, and expert witness. Steve is a professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. He provided 10 years of service for the Department of Veterans Affairs and was the Chief Clinical Officer for Gallus Detox, a cutting-edge medical drug and alcohol detox facility.
https://porchlighthealth.com/

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Navigating modern parenting, Dr. Andrea Mata, Ph.D joins our crew, sharing her knowledge from the front lines of clinical child psychology and tips from her new book The No. 2 Parenting Book: Practical Tips for the Pooped Out Parent. Dr. Mata guides us through strategies to ward off the exhaustion that tip the balance of parental sanity. We reflect on the idea that reaching for "just good enough" is worth more than gold in parenting, and how instilling independence and setting consequences are essential navigational tools for guiding our children's growth and maintaining our own mental health.

About our guest. Dr. Andrea Mata, the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, grew up in a gang infested neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. At 11 years old, her life dramatically changed, and it fueled a desire to become a clinical child psychologist who specializes in treating antisocial and aggressive behaviors in children and teens in the hopes that other families would never experience what she went through. In 2021, she left a tenured position to live out her life’s mission of fortifying families by starting BrightSpot Families where she creates and delivers customized workshops on individual coping, relationships, and parenting skills. In 2023, she delivered a powerful TEDx talk, titled From Murder to Mission: How I Found My Life’s Calling, that’s available on YouTube.