Labeling Kids is a Mother with Dr. Nekeshia Hammond

Labeling kids is a mother! For both children and adults, there can be a stigma around behavioral disorders, mental health issues, learning disabilities, etc., and individuals go undiagnosed and untreated for too long. On the flip side, sometimes children are incorrectly categorized or labeled in an innocent attempt to help, which leads to other concerns. 

In episode 09 of ___ Is a Mother, we are joined by psychologist Dr. Nekeshia Hammond to discuss the importance of intervening early when your parenting instinct is telling you something isn’t right, and how you can advocate for your children, as well as your family unit. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• Signs that a toddler might be struggling and require additional support. 
• The pros and cons of “labeling” or diagnosing our children with behavioral disorders and/or learning disabilities.
• Tips for communicating parenting and discipline boundaries, and connection and support needs with family and friends.
• Fielding unsolicited (yet well-intended) parenting advice. 
• Creating cultural norms within your family unit by blending aspects from each parent’s upbringing, while adding new parenting styles into the mix. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us! Follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle and an important part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH DR. HAMMOND:

Website

ADHD Explained: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Instagram 

LinkedIn

OTHER RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Fire Child Water Child

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie! 

Chapters

• 0:00 Labeling Kids is a Mother
• 3:39 Parents can look for signals such as difficulty with self-regulation, organization, and attention to determine if their child may need more support.
• 11:53 The pros and cons of “labeling” or preemptively diagnosing our children with behavioral and learning disabilities.
• 19:55 Effectively communicating the needs of your children to loved ones who may not understand your unique situation.
• 23:41 The importance of setting boundaries and advocating for children with special needs, even when faced with resistance or stigma from family members.
• 28:14 Unsolicited advice and toxic positivity can be frustrating, even when you know it is coming from a place of good intentions.
• 29:51 How to appropriately and respectfully offer someone support without putting the burden back on the other person.
• 36:45 Learning how to blend cultures in a multi-generational, multi-cultural family.
• 40:24 Dr. Nekeshia Hammond shares her perspective on parenting in a rapidly changing world, adapting to new cultural norms and values while still holding onto family values and traditions.
• 47:16 Assessments and programs that can evaluate and support a child’s well-being.
• 50:55 The difference between ADHD testing and gifted testing.