Are you parenting neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, learning differences, etc.) children? If so, Quirky Catholic Kids: Navigating Neurodivergence with Faith and Joy by Ginny Kochis is essential reading. As a parent of three neurodivergent children, this is the book I wish I had when I was beginning my own parenting journey twenty-five years ago. Kochis divides this work into two parts: Support for Parents and Practical Application. She also includes a wonderful appendix on Patron Saints for Exceptional Children.  

Support for Parents

When parenting children who differ from the “normal” course of child development in some way, it is easy to feel disheartened and discouraged. Kochis shares her own story of sending her oldest daughter to kindergarten and realizing “I was suddenly that mom, the one raising the problem child” (11). She felt guilty, wondering what she had done wrong. It was easy to focus on all the ways she needed to fix her child. However, in time, she came to realize that “the neurodivergent brain may be different, but it is beautiful because God made it that way” (13). We are called to value our children, even as we work to raise them the best we can with God’s help and help them navigate the world.

Kochis explains the process of getting official diagnoses, various types of neurodivergence, and what to do once you have that information. She explores the many feelings parents may go through as they navigate their parenting journey, including grief and the trap of comparison, and offers suggestions on how to cope. An important thing to always remember is that “God has a greater plan for our children and our families than we can see in our limited scope.”

Practical Application

It is one thing to speak philosophically about life with neurodivergent children. It is another to deal with the day-to-day reality. Kochis offers practical tips on coping with common neurodivergent behaviors, such as hyperfocus, meltdowns, executive function challenges, and anxiety. She discusses asynchronous development, when children may be advanced in some areas but struggle a great deal with others. For example, a child may have brilliant math skills but be unable to tie their shoes.

Raising neurodivergent children in the Catholic faith can also be a challenge. They may have unexpected questions about God and faith or have a hard time attending Mass or traditional religious education classes. Kochis offers some suggestions as to how to adjust for their special needs. As someone who has walked this road, I can testify that there are no easy solutions when it comes to raising neurodivergent children. Every child is a unique blessing and needs to be parented as such. However, Quirky Catholic Kids is a wonderful resource for the journey. For those searching for additional information on parenting neurodivergent children, visit Kochis’ website at https://quirkycatholickids.com/.

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