November 8, 2022
Lessons Learned through the Lived Journey of a Working Mom with ADHD.
with Amanda Wahle, M.S.
I spent so many years of my life feeling broken, unseen, and less than others. I believed that others must have been born with this amazing set of skills that could allow them to keep it all together, and balance all of life’s demands, while still working out, doing laundry, helping with homework, and finding time to eat. I needed to find these skills, I needed to do better. So, I did what anyone else in my shoes would do to perfect my superhero capabilities…. I bought another planner with color-coded pens, said yes to more things, slept fewer hours, read more self-help books, and piled on the guilt. I thought that if I could convince the outside world that I could do it all, maybe it would actually be true.
Spoiler alert: that is not how it turned out. 2020 and the pandemic took away the audience for the show that I was putting on, leaving me with even less motivation to pretend. My body and brain were in a constant battle screaming that “enough is enough.” I needed help. Getting help lead me to a diagnosis of ADHD.
Come explore what life looks like now with the gift of ADHD. We will chat about lessons learned, things I wish I knew then, tips and tricks, helpful resources, ways to advocate, and the power of giving yourself grace. Let’s share what is helpful for children, marriages, employment, and families. Take the opportunity to be in a space with someone who is living this journey alongside you while sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly cry (yes that still happens). Every day is hard, but I understand now that the hard will always be easier than the pretending.
Amanda Wahle, M.S. is a University of Maryland Extension tenured faculty member with 15 years of experience in 4-H Youth Development. She serves as the 4-H Youth Development Specialist in Environmental Science. Her program work and research focus on leadership development, camping, shooting sports, diversity and Inclusion, mental health, environmental science, and community service.
Amanda’s prior experience includes working as a mental health counselor in Baltimore City Schools and as a special education behavioral specialist in Washington, DC schools. She has a B.A. degree in Psychology and an M.S. degree in Applied Psychology.
Amanda has led more than 100 interactive, hands-on presentations at regional, state, national, and international events. On a personal note-Amanda has been married for 13 years, has two boys, and lives in a house full of ADHD and anxiety. She herself was diagnosed at 37 years old and her oldest son also has ADHD and anxiety. Her hobbies include reading, visiting fall festivals, running summer camps, saying yes to too many things, giving all her free time to other people, and buying planners and self-help books. Each day is an adventure in navigating her own journey with ADHD while also balancing the needs of the people around her.
