Jennifer Gay Summers

Jennifer Gay Summers’ articles and essays have appeared in Adoptive Families magazine, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul, and Conscious Women, Conscious Mothers. She is the co-author of Any Way I Can: 50 Years in Show Business. She lives in California with her husband, who just happens to be her veterinarian, her daughter, and a menagerie of pets.

• Don’t Lose Faith in Your ADHD Child
  There she goes again, I thought, my daughter acting impulsively. Boy, was I wrong... Throwing judgment to the wind »
• When Dad Stepped Up
  When my husband rose to the challenge of our daughter's attention deficit, they grew even... "The best night of my life" »
• Where the Wild Things Are
  Got hyperfocus? My daughter does -- and I fan the flames of it at every... A slithery surprise »
• Why Won't Teachers Let My Daughter Succeed
  Doodling during class keeps my daughter focused and alert — so when teachers keep her... The art of paying attention »
• This Just In: How I Conquer My Daughter's Morning Moods
  Sharing tidbits from the newspaper puts a happy spin on my ADHD teen's grouchy morning... Front-page fun »
• Friends for My Daughter—Finally
  The sweetest sound of my day is Lee laughing with her buddies... more »
• A Birthday Present Wrapped in Love
  I am so thankful that our 14-year-old ADHD daughter came into our lives. ... more »
• A Tough Call — and a Good One
  It wasn't easy to decide to medicate my daughter for attention deficit. Seeing her unmedicated... What could have been »
• Following Lee
  I won’t miss another spontaneous moment with my impulsive daughter — I've decided to let... "I'm such a wimp." »
• Whoops! There It Is!
  Sometimes funny, sometimes devastating — my ADHD daughter can't help saying what's on her mind... "What'd I say?!" »
• My ADHD Daughter (and I) Start Big, Scary High School Together
  Should I act like a protective Mother Bear to my ADHD daughter — or step... My fears hover »
• Thanks, Moms
  When two other mothers accepted my ADHD daughter, it helped me stand up to the... "Please…join us for coffee." »
• Mom's Cool with Staying Calm
  I've finally learned to back away from overreaction when my daughter's ADHD sparks it... Calm place, deep breath »
• Think Before You "Dys" a Kid with Attention Deficit
  There are words to describe my ADHD child's challenges. So why aren’t there nice neat... A heck of a lot of "dys-"es »
• A Day at the Museum: My Daughter, on Exhibit
  On a recent museum visit, a sugar high and her natural high spirits made my... And on your left… »
• Calm and Collected at the Mall with My Attention Deficit Daughter — Really!
  This mom conquers distractions, sensory overload, and ADHD impulsivity with stress-free strategies for shopping with... more »
• How My Attention Deficit Daughter Overcame the Birthday Blues
  One mom despaired over parties — until these strategies to soothe sensory overload made birthdays... more »
• "If Only Little Robots Could Keep My ADHD Child On Track"
  When "I forgot" became her daughter's mantra in school, a mom takes things into her... more »
• Friends Forever
  When I was afraid to tell my longtime friends about Lee’s ADHD, they reached out... more »
• “My ADHD Daughter Can’t Drive Until She’s 18”
  Sometimes a mom has to drive home the truth by saying, “Because you have ADHD.”... more »
• Sensory Overload: “Loud Noises Make My Daughter Run for the Hills”
  One mom applauds (quietly) as her hypersensitive teen learns how to manage her challenges with... more »
• Writing Fix: How My Daughter Got Beyond Dysgraphia
  Poor handwriting skills affect my daughter’s writing between the lines, but not the creative stuff... more »
• Taking Chances Pays Off for My ADHD Daughter
  Don’t let ADHD stand in the way of your child meeting a challenge. There’s always... more »
• A Well-Deserved Summer Break for My Daughter
  Making sure that the last-minute sprint to finish up the school year didn’t ruin her... more »
• My Daughter, The Time Traveler
  We found a way to help our daughter make friends with time... more »
• The Amazing Race: My Daughter Doesn’t Have an Off Switch
  I’ve learned to go with the flow when it comes to Lee’s high-energy pace... more »
• My Daughter’s Anxiety: Something a Mom Can’t Fix
  We are working through my daughter’s newfound anxiousness not with meds but by tackling one... more »
• When School Gave My Daughter Anxiety Attacks
  My child’s teacher thought she was making an excuse about not getting all her work... more »
• My Teen Daughter Accepts Her ADHD Challenges without Shame
  Lee now accepts her executive function challenges and feels comfortable enough to reach out for... more »
• Shame on All the Grownups, Teachers, and Kids Who Make Me Feel Ashamed
  After Lee’s history teacher announced that he had ADHD, my daughter felt a lot better... more »
• I Nagged! She Yelled! It Wasn’t Pretty!
  There are lessons to be learned from losing your patience with a daughter who wants... more »
• My Daughter’s Mental Health Is More Important Than My Dreams for Her Future
  I’ve learned to let Lee take the lead on whether college is right for her... more »
• Sensory Processing Disorder in Kids Is Not the Parents’ Fault
  Too many adults don’t understand ADHD, and even fewer know anything about SPD and sensory... more »
• My Daughter Fixes Her Own Problems Now. So Where Does That Leave Me?
  When Lee showed signs of growing up, my heart burst with pride and broke with... more »
• “It’s Your Fault, Mom!”
  These days my daughter is blaming everything that goes wrong in her life on me,... more »
• My Teen Daughter Finds Her Tribe
  As with birds of a feather, ADHDers flock together... more »
• My Daughter Has Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, ADHD, Anxiety, and SPD—and She Feels Just Fine
  Lee no longer apologizes for her disorders, nor is she embarrassed by them. ... more »
• Taming Transitions: How Zoning Out Helps My Daughter Be All-In
  Taking a moment to process the sounds, sights, and smells of a new environment puts... more »
• There Are No Stupid Questions—Unless You’re Asking Your Daughter with ADHD
  I know the answers before I ask, but I always wonder if there is anything... more »
• My Daughter the Positive Role Model
  How Lee’s ADHD helps her “get” and inspire younger kids with the same disorder... more »
• A Mom’s Guide to Domestic Tranquility with Her Teen Daughter
  An eight-step plan for a calmer, happier life. ... more »