“I want this to be the book I wish I had as a kid.”
It wasn’t until college that Penn was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. And those words scared him. As a kid, he was always on the move and he felt very deeply. He cried easily. He asked himself constantly, “Am I broken?” It took him until his 40s to realize that ADHD wasn’t all bad. Sure there are challenges, but there are upsides too.
Our new book, All You Can Be with ADHD, aims at helping kids celebrate their awesome brains. (And, can I be honest? This book would be comforting for adults too.) Even though Penn and I know how successful life with ADHD can be, feelings of shame and sadness can still persist. At times having ADHD can be really hard, especially when you’re young.
Three Take Aways For Kids
During our ADHD adult book tour, we were blown away by how many parents brought their children to see us. Those kids did their best to read our book with post-its and highlighters. They gave us giant hugs and made us laugh. But most of all, they all asked: “When will you have an ADHD book for kids?” That time is now!
This week on the podcast, we celebrate the release of All You Can Be with ADHD with your calls and Penn shares the three things he hopes that kids take away:
#1 You Are Not Alone
ADHD can sometimes make kids feel like they’re the “only one” who thinks or learns a certain way. But there are millions of people with ADHD. On the show, we heard from Gordon, a 10-year-old inventor from Illinois who called in to pitch us his idea for a robot and Matt, age 11, who told us his ADHD superpower is learning songs on the drums really fast.
Every single one of these stories reminded us that ADHD doesn’t mean you’re different alone — it means you’re different together.
#2 Your Brain Works Differently — And That’s a Gift
Your brain figures things out in a different way. It may seem like a pain sometimes, but it’s a gift. Kids with ADHD often see connections others don’t. They’re innovators, dreamers, and storytellers. We heard from Lisa, age 12, who wants to be a light technician for the band Imagine Dragons.
That’s what makes ADHD brains so beautiful. They don’t follow the straight path — they build their own.
#3 With Patience and Practice Will Make You Stronger
Things that are easy for you might be hard for others, and things that are easy for others might be hard for you. But if you have some work and some patience, when you figure it out. One mom emailed us about her teenage daughter who has ADHD and dreams of becoming a therapist for kids with special needs. She wrote about how her daughter’s empathy and creativity make her the best kind of friend — the kind who listens deeply and loves big.
That’s what happens when ADHD kids grow up with encouragement instead of shame — they use their energy, heart, and imagination to make the world better.
All You Can Be
So if you are a kid with ADHD, know that you are not alone. You are part of a really cool club, and we’re glad you are a member. Whether your ADHD shows up as endless creativity, unstoppable energy, or the ability to hyperfocus on the things you love — it’s part of what makes you you. The more we laugh, learn, and celebrate our differences, the more our kids grow into exactly who they’re meant to be — all they can be. And we can’t wait to see what you become!
You can learn more about our new book and listen to the podcast below!
