Neurodivergent Narratives - Writing Prompt #15

“A word after a word after a word is power.” —Margaret Atwood

Sofia is 18! And so is Jesse! For a couple more days, I have two 18-year-olds, which feels both surreal and wonderful. The cruise was awesome and right now, I’m in Miami with Jesse, celebrating his last few days before he steps into the next chapter of adulthood. Moments like this always make me reflect on how far we’ve come—not just as individuals, but as a family navigating life in a neurodiverse household.

When our kids were 5 and 6, I found out I was Autistic. At the time, I took a few self-assessment quizzes, but I wasn’t completely convinced—until I asked Sofia’s mom, Mila, to take them too. Mila and Sofia are both neurotypical, and seeing Mila’s answers compared to mine was a lightbulb moment. It was one of those early experiences that helped me truly embrace my neurodivergent identity, and a couple of years later, Jesse received his ADHD diagnosis.

One of the things we worked on a lot as a family was understanding each other, and I have to say—Mila led the way on this long before we even knew the term double empathy. She always encouraged us to see things from each other’s perspectives, reminding us that it was never an “us vs. them” situation in our home. We were just us—a mix of neurodivergent and neurotypical, learning and growing together. I hope Sofia and Jesse carry that forward into their own lives, because looking back, I realize just how much those lessons shaped us.

And you know what? I might not have recognized it so clearly if I hadn’t written it down. That’s the power of writing—it helps us see things we might otherwise overlook. It gives us a chance to step back, process, and find meaning in the moments we live every day.

If you’re looking for a space to explore your own reflections, to capture your journey, and to connect with others doing the same, Neurodivergent Narratives is here for you. Writing has a way of making things clearer, and sometimes, it’s only when we put our thoughts on the page that we truly understand our own stories.

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