Parents of the Year
We were never given a manual on how to parent. It is easy to get overwhelmed to know the right thing to do. There is so much contradictory information out there and everyone has their own advice. Parenting is a rewarding but messy, confusing, infuriating, guilt-inducing, and overwhelming journey. While it's easy to get lost, Andrew Stewart, a real dad, and Dr. Caroline Buzanko, a real mom, child psychologist, and parenting expert (who also happens to be married to Andrew) will help you get back on track. In each episode, Andrew and Caroline have open and honest chats about everything parenting. Join them in honesty, laughter, and tears (Caroline is a bit of a cry baby) as they help you navigate this journey of parenting. And, every so often, you may get some gems of expert advice. Our goal is to make your parenting journey less stressful, more forgiving, and more awesome. Please join us every Wednesday for new episodes of Parenting of the Year.
Parents of the Year
152. How do we help kids build independence without letting chaos take over?
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline chat with Leslie Josel, an ADHD parenting coach and founder of Order Out of Chaos, to break down executive functioning, mood regulation, and the real reasons kids struggle with motivation, focus, and follow-through.
What you’ll learn:
✅ Why lazy is the one word parents should never use
✅ How executive functioning challenges impact kids (and why it’s not just ADHD)
✅ Practical strategies for helping kids manage their time, emotions, and tasks
✅ The power of consistent structure and how to set boundaries kids will respect
✅ Why negotiation (not control) leads to better behavior and less stress
PLUS: Leslie shares how shifting just a few words in how you communicate with your child can lead to big changes in cooperation and motivation.
🎧 Tune in now!
Homework Ideas:
- Observation Challenge: Spend one day noticing when your child struggles with executive functioning. Are they losing track of time? Forgetting tasks? Getting overwhelmed? Write down patterns
- Communication Shift: Replace “I need you to…” with “Would you consider…?” or “What do you think about…?” and observe your child’s response.
- Set Clear Boundaries: Establish one new parameter at home (e.g., a blackout hour for screens or a structured morning routine) and communicate it clearly.
- Reflect on Control vs. Collaboration: Write down one area where you tend to control rather than negotiate with your child. Brainstorm a way to shift towards collaboration.
About Leslie:
Leslie Josel, an award-winning ADHD-student and parenting coach, is the founder of Order Out of Chaos® – a 20+ years company whose mission is to champion parents & professionals raising neurodivergent students. She's an award-winning author of three books, creator of the award-winning “Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management®,” and an internationally acclaimed speaker. Leslie’s been named as one of the top time management experts in the world by Global Gurus eight years in a row. And until recently, she wrote the weekly “Dear ADHD Family Coach®” column for ADDitude Magazine.
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