In this powerful deep dive, I unpack the Dr. Russell Barkley lecture that completely changed how I parent my neurodivergent child. We’re breaking down why ADHD is not a behavioral issue, but a developmental delay in executive function—and what that actually means in real-life moments (like, why your 10-year-old melts down like a kindergartener).
I also share Dr. Barkley's surprising reply to my personal email—and his groundbreaking insight into Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS), formerly known as Sluggish Cognitive Tempo. Spoiler alert: If your child seems spacey, unmotivated, or not ADHD enough for the diagnosis to make sense, this might be why.
We’ll cover:
- The 5 core executive functions impacted by ADHD
- Why time feels different for neurodivergent kids (hello, Time Blindness)
- What CDS is, and why it matters more than most pediatricians realize
- How I radically shifted from shame-based discipline to skill-building scaffolds
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or five IEP meetings deep—this episode will help you make sense of the chaos, ditch the guilt, and finally feel seen.
🧠 Watch the full Barkley lecture here!
This Month’s Sponsors:
A licensed psychologist and Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider who works virtually with kids, teens, and adults in NY, DE, VA, and FL. She specializes in anxiety, OCD, ADHD, stress, tics, and insomnia—and offers parent support that actually supports you. Dr. Laura is also a homeschooling mom of two, so yes, she gets it. Explore her children’s book, audio workshops (hello, Behavior Change Ahead!), and therapy services.
A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it.
📱 Goally
The tablet built specifically for neurodivergent kids. It’s distraction-free (no YouTube, no internet rabbit holes) and comes loaded with visual schedules, routines, AAC, timers, and even behavior tracking tools.
💌 The Unfiltered ADHD Mom’s Club Newsletter
Welcome to The Unfiltered ADHD Mom’s Club, my no-BS weekly newsletter where we talk meltdowns, school drama, sensory hellscapes, and the real wins—like brushing teeth without tears.
We can’t uninstall TikTok from the internet, but we can create boundaries that don’t make our kids feel like we’re tracking their every swipe.
Parenting Simply by Adina Soclof
A gentle, doable intro to positive parenting with rave reviews from parents, bloggers, and experts alike.
📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.