Hold On Tight: Jan Stewart's Journey Through Parenting, Neurodiversity, and Mental Health Advocacy

When life hands you diagnoses for your children that reshape your entire world, what do you do? Jan Stewart, a tireless advocate and author, joins us to unravel the complexities of parenting through mental health and neurodiversity challenges. Her candid storytelling in "Hold On Tight" reveals the trials and victories of raising Andrew and Ainsley, two children with a tapestry of neurodevelopmental disorders. Stewart's reflections on the resilience needed to advocate for proper healthcare, educational support, and inclusive employment for her children are both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Navigating the labyrinth of mental health isn't a solo journey, and our conversation with Stewart underscores the pivotal role of allies, like educator Nora McKay, who illuminate the path with empathy and expertise. Stewart brings us into her world of constant learning and recalibration of expectations, as she details how early signs of her children's conditions evolved into significant challenges. Her experiences shed light on the critical importance of parental intuition, especially when professional opinions fall short, and the ongoing struggle to understand disorders like OCD and anxiety that are often shrouded in myths and misconceptions.
We wrap up our profound conversation with Stewart by tackling the broader picture-how mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders ripple across family dynamics, relationships, and societal norms. With humor and gravity, Stewart shares how her family chose to laugh amidst misunderstandings and celebrate the quirks that make her children unique. And because we understand the journey doesn't end with a diagnosis, we delve into the importance of self-care, embracing the unpredictable, and allowing ourselves to find purpose in the unplanned. Join us in this enlightening discourse, because these fucking feelings matter, and so does the way we navigate them.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
1:59 - Meet Jen Stewart: Author Introduction
5:49 - Jen Stewart Discusses Her Book
6:06 - Discovering Differences in Children
10:17 - Kindergarten Challenges
13:41 - Advice for Skeptical Parents
17:11 - Overcoming Parental Challenges
22:46 - The Importance of Community Support
24:55 - Maintaining a Strong Marriage
27:11 - Exploring Types of OCD
32:46 - Understanding Executive Function Deficit
34:50 - Autism Explained
37:54 - Navigating a Diagnosis
41:05 - Embracing the Diagnosis Positively
48:30 - Self-Reflection and Concerns
51:38 - Pursuing the Best Version of Yourself
52:25 - The Importance of Self-Kindness
54:43 - Final Insights
55:26 - Emphasizing Self-Care
57:00 - Finding the Right Therapist
59:02 - Outro
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Hold On Tight: Jan Stewart's Journey Through Parenting, Neurodiversity, and Mental Health Advocacy | Season 3 Episode 320