Hey there, I'm Shannon.

Want to build a life you love even while parenting through the challenges of autism, ADHD, anxiety, and more? Me too. Let's do this — together!

Unclench that pen from your fist and set down that pile of paperwork. Here, take this warm mug of tea instead, and cozy up beside me on the sofa. 

Don’t mind the pup snoring under my desk or the kids alternately chattering, giggling, screaming, and stimming in the background. 

I’ll pick up my knitting needles, and let's chat… 

You’ve come to the right place if you’re a mom who wants to break free from the overwhelm of parenting through the challenges of autism, ADHD, anxiety (and more) — all in about 2 minutes a day.

Because, let’s face it, that’s all you’ve got anyway, right?

Mama, I’ve got great news for you…

You can:  

• Stop feeling inadequate and unsuccessful as a parent as you learn to meet your child’s special needs 🌈 with confidence.

• Discover effective parenting strategies to support your unique kiddo (and yourself) through meltdowns and anxiety as you cultivate a safe, nurturing 🌱 home.

• Set up systems to manage your time ⏰ and all the responsibilities of your child’s diagnosis (while still tending to your own well-being and that of your other children).

• Get therapies and support in place for your NeuroKid faster and easier…and with your very own cheer squad behind you. 🙌

• Escape caregiver burnout and be there for your littles for as long as they need you as you discover the true meaning of self-care (no, it isn’t just a magical unicorn ✨ often dreamed of but never seen). 

…even if you’re racing to appointments 15 nights a week and can’t go to the bathroom without someone knocking on the door.

Mama, I’ve been there!

And I can tell you this…

“Not only is The NeuroMama packed with insightful, practical advice, but it also comes from the heart of an experienced mother who’s walked the sometimes challenging, yet often blessed, path of raising two wonderful neurodiverse children. Every post is filled with wisdom, grace, patience, and golden nuggets of information that are easy to apply. I highly recommend this blog for anyone looking to learn more about neurodiversity or seeking encouragement and practical tools along the way!”

— Alyssa Pukkila, MS Psych., Educational Therapist, Treatment Center Director, and NeuroMama

Hi there! I’m Shannon, aka The NeuroMama. 

I live in beautiful North Idaho, and I'm a mama of two amazing kiddos on the spectrum with various other ‘alphabet soup’ diagnoses thrown in for fun. 🌈 I’m a paperwork hater. Jesus lover. Professional chauffeur. 

And champion of NeuroMamas everywhere who need to hear: This is hard AND you will get through it. ✨

Motherhood hasn’t been the serene dream I imagined. It’s been more like a whirlwind of chaos, with years of exhaustion whipping around a handful of catch-your-breath, angels-singing breakthrough moments at the center. 

I know the feeling of being on the brink, seriously questioning whether you and your family are going to survive this. 

For me, the storm of parenting neurodivergent kids hit hard, long before we had a label (or 10) for what we faced. 

I struggled to cope with the endless stacks of paperwork, therapy appointments, and meltdowns (theirs and mine 😂). My physical health gave way first, and then my mental health eroded over the years, too, until I was in deep burnout. 

But everything changed when I realized this: I needed care, too. 

When I started tending to my own needs and embracing my God-given purpose as the mom of these incredible kids, I began to recover and find joy in motherhood again. 

I’m still very much on the journey, but I can say I’ve learned to build a life I love even with all its challenges.

And that’s exactly what we’ll do at The NeuroMama.

This messy, joy-filled journey isn’t just mine. You’re invited to walk with me and a community full of other moms who get it. 

Together, we can positively impact our family’s situation when we chip away at the challenges of neurodivergent parenting — without burning ourselves out. 

What it takes is relentless advocacy for our NeuroKids paired with mindful care for ourselves.

After 13+ years of neurodivergent parenting, here’s what I believe every NeuroMama needs to know: 

• Tending to your own needs doesn’t take away from the care you give your children. Instead, it gives them the one thing they need most to thrive: a compassionate, loving mama and a secure home life.

• You must go at a sustainable pace now — so that you can be there for your kids as long as they need you.

• Running your kids to all the therapy appointments and getting them into all the right services isn’t what will help them overcome their biggest challenges. It’s often the small interventions you make consistently at home that make the biggest impact (with the least added stress). 

• Your own neurodivergent tendencies are way more than what give your child their “genetic uniqueness.” They’re also your superpower that give you extra insight into how your children experience the world, so you can better connect with and advocate for them.

• Though you may feel isolated on this journey, you don’t have to do it alone. We all need to have our story validated in the presence of a shame-free community who understands our challenges. 

And that’s why I created The NeuroMama.

What to Expect When You Subscribe…

For Free Subscribers to The NeuroMama

Here on my Substack, I share my journey (messy), lessons (hard-fought), and encouragement (for when you need to be reminded: You are not alone). 💜

Subscribe for baby steps & encouragement to help your kids shine with autism, ADHD, & anxiety (without losing your spark).

You’ll get:

• Weekly encouragement that lands in your inbox at just the moment when you need to hear it most

• A fresh perspective on our unique NeuroMama challenges that will inspire you when the days are hardest

• Mom-tested tips and motivation to make life easier for you and your kiddo

“I continue to find inspiration and connection with Shannon through her words as if we were sitting in a café somewhere chatting away about life. The NeuroMom Nest has been a comforting space to share not only our challenges but also our hopes and dreams, bringing together community and a calm space for motherhood.”

— Monica, NeuroMom Nest Member

For Paid Subscribers to The NeuroMom Nest

The NeuroMom Nest is my Substack membership, offering monthly live workshops and a supportive community to help moms of neurodivergent children create a balanced, joyful life in small, manageable steps — together!

It’s the calm, nurturing gathering place you wish you had in real life, with all the convenience of a log-on-anytime online village. 

And it’s affordable (because I know you’re already busy buying all the special things your child needs and paying for therapies that aren’t covered by insurance.)

Inside the NeuroMom Nest, you get: 

🌟 Monthly workshops & tools to inspire manageable changes that slash your stress and overwhelm (while supporting your child’s needs)

🎉 Strategies to increase your moments of joy and balance in your mom-life

Members can access all the previous months’ resources right now inside The NeuroMom Nest that help you take baby steps toward massive changes like: 

• Drastically reduce your child’s challenging behaviors this month (without languishing on a waitlist in some receptionist’s dusty bottom drawer)

• Support your child to calm their nervous system (and your own at the same time) even in the midst of a meltdown

• Set up a super-fast, plug-and-play system to handle your NeuroKid’s paperwork, so you can get it done — and get back to the really important work of loving your littles.

And jump in on our next one to start and go through it with the community.

🤗 Private access to our supportive community chat where we’re navigating this unique parenting journey together. 

It’s the one place in your life where you can be seen, loved, and understood (even when your caregiving responsibilities make it tough to reach out and connect to others IRL).

Top 3 Free Posts from The NeuroMama

“Imagine opening your email to a bright smile and a cup of something warm to drink. This is what Shannon has created with her whimsical charm, compassion from a road well walked, and an "I'm here with you too", demeanor. Her shared insight is a balm to a weary, social media saturated world in which families are trying to raise up the next generation with less comparison and more slow and steady.”

— Skylar, NeuroMama Subscriber