Georgina Fuller’s Parenting Story
In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Georgina Fuller - a freelance journalist, speaker, guest lecturer and mother of three, two of whom are neurodivergent.
Georgina writes regularly for The Telegraph, Daily Mail and The i Newspaper; but has written for everyone from Take a Break to Tatler. She specialises in writing about lifestyle, women, and work. Georgina’s middle child is diagnosed with autism and ADHD, her eldest was diagnosed with ADHD last year and Georgina herself is self-diagnosed with ADHD, mainly through recognising all the patterns in two out of three of her children, as well as the genetic links to the traits of her late mother.
Georgina shares her diagnosis journey with her children, along with her experience of beginning to see ADHD traits in herself - even seeing similarities in school reports from her own childhood. For example, comments such as “doing the bare minimum” “consistently inconsistent” and “easily distracted”. Although Georgina hasn’t had an official diagnosis, through immersing herself in the world of ADHD through books, podcasts and talks, she has been able to put her own ‘reasonable adjustments’ in place to help her function.
Georgina describes the early signs of ADHD traits in her children, ranging from less obvious to very obvious, with her eldest managing well at school and only finding things challenging in the teenage years, in contrast to a very ‘textbook’ hyperactive presentation of her middle child. Georgina also shares some of the accommodations that have been helpful at school, for example movement breaks and extra time for exams.
Claire and Georgina discuss some of the damaging stereotypes and narratives surrounding ADHD in the media, the importance of having conversations to raise awareness, and also how crucial early diagnosis can be to ensure children have the best possible opportunities to thrive. Georgina also opens up about her experience of feeling judged by her friends due to her children’s diagnoses, the stigma around self-diagnosis, and how she has had to challenge some of her own preconceptions of ADHD as part of her journey.
Finally, Georgina shares a message of hope for parents of ADHD children in terms of the impact diagnosis has had on her parenting, leading to her becoming more compassionate and understanding with her children, but also in terms of them being able to better understand themselves and their strengths. Georgina and Claire finish up by discussing the importance of community and finding other parents on a similar journey who you can share your experience with.
To find out more about Georgina and her work, explore some of her articles below:
The Telegraph - The Truth About ADHD: Separating Fact From Fiction
The Telegraph - Questions for Parents with an Autistic Child
i Newspaper - No, We’re Not All on the Spectrum
i Newspaper - ADHD Women’s Retreat
The Guardian - Autism to ADHD: Thinking Differently About Recruitment