Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Homeschooling as an ADHD Mom w/Brittany Long
Exploring School Choice
Equipping parents during their child’s academic years to bring learning to daily moments.
The Parenting IQ Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org
On today’s episode…
Can a mom with ADHD homeschool successfully? In this episode, Dr. Kelly Cagle talks with Brittany Long about how she creates structure, rhythm, and peace in her homeschool—despite executive functioning challenges. From planning tools to mindset shifts, Brittany shares how understanding her brain has helped her lead her family with confidence, flexibility, and grace.
Insights
Homeschooling with ADHD: How Moms Can Create Structure, Embrace Flexibility, and Thrive
What happens when the teacher also has ADHD? Can a neurodivergent mom homeschool successfully—and even thrive?
In this inspiring episode of the Parenting IQ Podcast, Dr. Kelly Cagle talks with Brittany Long about the real-life journey of homeschooling as a mom with ADHD. Together, they unpack how executive functioning challenges show up in motherhood, the power of intentional routines, and how parents can transform perceived weaknesses into long-term strengths—for themselves and their kids.
Key Lessons from This Episode:
1. Self-Awareness Is the Foundation
Brittany shares how identifying her own ADHD traits—like difficulty with time management, transitions, and overstimulation—helped her intentionally design a homeschool environment that works with her brain, not against it.
2. Structure Doesn’t Require Rigidity
While she avoids strict hour-by-hour schedules, Brittany thrives on rhythm. From starting the day with music cues to setting lesson timers, she teaches how simple systems can bring peace and predictability without the pressure.
3. Homeschooling Allows for Individualized Learning
Brittany chose to homeschool to give her kids the freedom to explore their interests without the constraints of a traditional classroom. She reminds parents that flexibility, curiosity, and movement are not obstacles—they're part of how many children (and adults) learn best.
4. Tools Make All the Difference
From color-coded planners to digital homeschool software like Cilibird, Brittany shares how using the right tools helps her stay on track, manage overwhelm, and reduce decision fatigue—especially with common ADHD challenges like memory, organization, and prioritization.
5. Executive Functioning Can Be Strengthened
Instead of accepting weaknesses as limitations, Brittany uses strategies like habit-stacking, daily planning, and predictable cleaning rhythms to grow in her executive skills—and she encourages other moms to do the same.
Why This Episode Matters
If you’re a mom with ADHD wondering if homeschooling is even possible, this conversation will leave you encouraged, equipped, and inspired. You don’t have to do it perfectly—you just need to understand your strengths, support your weaknesses, and create systems that work for you.
📌 Whether you’re new to homeschooling or deep in the journey, this episode will give you hope, strategy, and grace to keep going.
🎧 Listen now to learn how intentional rhythms and self-compassion can transform your homeschool life.
HEY THERE! I’M DR. CAGLE… DO YOU NEED HELP WITH CREATING GREAT HABITS???
Parenting is hard work. It requires tons of boundaries, daily consistency, so much awareness, as well as lots of patience, grace, wisdom, and filters. Combine that hefty list with all of life’s demands and others’ voice may become louder than yours in your child’s life, increasing their anxiety, fears, and doubts.
Healthy parenting is about seeing yourself as your child’s #1 teacher, saying the right words (or nothing at all) at the right time, and having the right tools to be intentional and impactful. Guessing your way through life, which is what most parents do, is a recipe for failure, but following the lead of someone who has two decades of research-based information and fully understands the demands of parenthood is a recipe for a full life— for you and your child.
With a PhD in education, I’m here to teach you how to use daily moments are learning opportunities so you raise confident and competent lifelong learners that thrive in an ever-changing world.
Additionally, I offer workshops and keynotes on various topics to parents, educators, students, and business leaders— because the need to understand, support, and empower learners is everywhere..
