Every once in a while, a conversation lands in your heart in a way that stays. This encore episode is one of those for me. Luke was around twenty when we recorded it, and listening back now, I’m struck all over again by the grounded clarity he had about his neurodivergence, even in the places where life still felt messy or confusing. He spoke with such quiet certainty about seeing his differences as differences, not deficits. That mindset didn’t come from easy experiences. It came from years of feeling misunderstood, moments of being boxed in by systems not designed for him, and the slow, steady process of learning himself from the inside out.<br /><br />What I love about this conversation is how real it is. There’s no glossy “we figured it out” narrative here. Instead, Luke talks through the way school felt, the times he believed he was stuck, the pressure that shut him down, and the deep importance of finding people who truly see you. And I share what I learned right alongside him: how often I co-escalated without meaning to, how long it took to realize there was nothing to fix, and how essential it is to protect the relationship above everything else.<br /><br />If you’ve ever wondered what your neurodivergent child might say about their experience once they have more language for it, this episode is a gift. Luke’s perspective is honest, hopeful, and full of the kind of wisdom you only gain by living it.<br /><br />Settle in for this special encore and listen through two lenses — your parent heart and your human heart.Press play and join us for this tender, funny, deeply insightful conversation.<br /><br />You can find additional resources at <a href="http://parentingadhdandautism.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parentingadhdandautism.com</a> and <a href="https://www.notion.so/1286dd5454258030a412e376595bf094?pvs=21" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regulated Kids.com</a> — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.<br /><br />Show notes and more resources at <a href="https://parentingadhdandautism.com/336" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parentingadhdandautism.com/336</a><br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support</a>.