Episode #11: Thriving with a high energy child with Aliza Buyarski
Hello Moms:) I am excited to bring you today's episode with Aliza Buyarski. Aliza is a mom of 3, one who is high energy. She's been challenged day in and day out by the excessive energy & shenanigans that he comes up with. She’s supported many families with children with ADHD as well as sensory challenges as an Occupational Therapist; however, the current medical model hasn’t allowed her to support the parents and the children. So, she chose to start her business: Balance the Energy. She understands what you may be going through when others around you don’t, and is here to support both you and your child to succeed. Sometimes that's all we need, isn't it? A little support.
Aliza first felt compelled to help ADHD kids as she witnessed her brother's challenges with her nephew who had ADHD. She felt a pull to learn more about it and be a resource for ADHD kids. Then when she had her youngest son, it all made sense why she was called to this work of supporting families dealing with ADHD. It was to prepare her for her own high-energy child. As she witnessed the struggle the parents go through (now also including herself), she wanted to help them. She understood what it was like to feel judgment from others, sometimes even family. Others only saw the tantrum or the child's undesirable behavior. They didn't see the parent beside that child doing everything they can to keep it together. Trying so hard to support their child yet often pushed to their limit. Aliza wants to be there for the parent who is having a tough go of it. In fact, that was the biggest game-changer for Aliza: recognizing that she, the parent, needed support.
Because there will be times when you are at your wit’s end and need to lean on someone.
We so often get caught up in thinking we have to do everything ourselves. I know I do. Sometimes we forget that we can ask for support.
Aliza tells me that the #1 thing she wishes she would have known at the beginning of this journey is the importance of taking care of herself. Amen, sister. In raising children and especially those high energy little loves, it’s critical that we work to increase our capacity. That's what taking really good care of ourselves does. It expands the perimeter of what we can hold, allowing us to show up in a big way for our energetic babes.
Prioritizing yourself can feel hard. Very hard. It can be SO hard to ask for support. To let go of that story we tell ourselves that we were meant to do this alone. Aliza mentions this was a HUGE hurdle for her to overcome as she decided to reduce her work down to part-time. Just having the conversation, just speaking it to her husband was tough. She had to get over the self-judgment. But it made all the difference, allowing her to be more present in her kids’ lives.
I just love it when someone's profession is their calling and also SO helpful in their own life.
Aliza shares several tangible tools to support those high energy kiddos. My favorites:
Having a schedule/routine. Visual aids help too with the kids. Rhythm helps everyone be in flow.
Leave space in the schedule for physical movement. But also note that it doesn't have to be a dedicated activity. It can be bunny hops to the dinner table. Build in the sensory activities to the rest of your day (running, jumping, swinging, etc). Listen for Aliza's great example at the zoo.
Listen to the episode to hear more of her expertise.
Connect with Aliza:
Email: alizabuyarski@new.rr.com
Facebook—Balance the Energy
Facebook group—Balance the Energy of Children with ADHD
Instagram—Personal: @crazyhealthnutmama
Business: @balancetheenergy