Rethinking School and Mental Health for Neurodivergent Kids | Episode 76 with Victoria Lenormand

Victoria Lenormand is a mother, activist, and the author of The Magic Of Not Fitting In: A Story of Family Empowerment in Changing Times, and she joins us to share her family’s powerful journey raising a neurodivergent child. We talk openly about the isolation, guilt, and self-doubt so many parents experience when their child doesn’t fit neatly into traditional systems, especially school, and how those pressures can quietly erode both a child’s mental health and a parent’s confidence.Together, we explore what changed when Victoria stopped trying to force her son into environments that weren’t built for him and instead chose to center safety, strengths, and emotional well-being. We dig into why we take children seriously when they say they don’t feel safe at home, but often ignore them when they say the same thing about school, and how redefining success can protect self-esteem and create real growth. This conversation offers hope, validation, and a reminder that different paths aren’t failures, but rather they’re often exactly what neurodivergent kids need to thrive.If you’re interested in learning more about Victoria’s work, you can visit her website, https://geminidirections.co.uk/, for additional information and resources. Join Dr. Lauren LaRose, psychiatrist and mom of three, as she brings on experts in mental health, physical health and education and explores ideas outside the traditional medical model. The Little Brain Campaign aims to make issues kids and caregivers face easier to understand, while always keeping in mind that we need to look beyond the usual answers to find what really works.Follow The Little Brain CampaignInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/littlebraincampaign/