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In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with Janie Reade (JR) about her book More of Everything. The discussion focuses on JR’s experience parenting a child Joey with extreme special needs, and how this evolved over time as Joey’s needs changed and her own needs changed. The discussion emphasizes JR’s relationship with Joey and how she worked to maximize her relationship with him over time. JR provides glimpses into what it was like parenting Joey’s two neurotypical siblings as she parented Joey, highlighting the lessons learned by the entire family. This is a powerful and authentic discussion rooted in a mother’s love for her son and her desire to maximize his potential within his own very unique context.
Janie Reade is the pen name of a mother of three adult sons, one with a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. JR has a PhD in Human Genetics, but devoted her parenting years to her family, including her nonverbal and self-injurious son Joey, diagnosed with Syngap1-related Intellectual Disability. Her oldest and youngest sons are both high-performance athletes and happy with academic challenges. For two decades of intense parenting, her goal was to encourage all three to develop to the best of their potential. Now a parent coach, certified by The Parent Coaching Institute, MORE OF EVERYTHING is her memoir of accepting Joey, herself, and their unusual mother-child relationship.
As a Parent Coach, JR works with parents who have children at all ages and stages, including those who are typically developing and those dealing with developmental obstacles. She works with parents who prioritize their relationship with their child, even if it is not currently going well.
Through the Syngap Research Fund JR helps parents understand genetic reports for their children with neurodevelopmental disorders. In meetings with academic and industry scientists she helps accelerate the research and development of treatments for Syngap1 disorders. JR lives in Seattle and speaks English and Joey Sign Language.
Email: [email protected]
Buy JR’s book on Amazon
JR’s book launch webinar
Interview on a Rare Disease Podcast, Once Upon A Gene #184
To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund/
