In this episode of Mom Life in Luxembourg, Debbie Reber shares her journey of raising a neurodivergent child and her mission to empower parents.
In this week’s episode of Mom Life in Luxembourg, I had the pleasure of speaking with Debbie Reber, founder of Tilt Parenting, which is part community, part resources and classes for parents raising neurodiverse children – she is the author of the book Differently Wired. As April is Neurodiversity Awareness Month, I want to do my part in raising awareness and fostering inclusivity, here in Luxembourg and beyond.
Debbie considers awareness and advocacy for neurodiverse people to be “the next civil rights cause” and a “global social movement”. She dedicates herself to making sure that parents who are tasked with raising these kids don’t feel like they got the “short end of the stick”, but rather that they are blessed with raising unique and beautiful humans who may require different tools and ways of learning. She stresses that these kids “demand that we really show up for them, but if we’re going to do that, we have to show up for ourselves.”
Listen to the full episode here:
Her journey as a parent to her now 20-year-old neurodivergent son, Asher (ADHD, 2E), has been anything but conventional. After struggling to find a suitable school environment for him in the US, she and her husband seized the opportunity to move to Amsterdam for his job. Rather than forcing it at an international school – where administrators were upfront about their inability to support a child like Asher – she made the difficult decision to homeschool him.
This wasn’t something she ever wanted to do, but it really made her question everything and focus on what was really important to her. Rather than focusing on if he can sit quietly at a desk and thrive in a classroom, she focused on raising a kid who has positive self-esteem, can regulate his emotions and advocate for himself.
Debbie's experience led her to create Tilt Parenting, a movement dedicated to shifting the conversation around neurodivergence from one of deficit to one of empowerment. Launched in 2016, Tilt Parenting started as a podcast and quickly grew into an online community where parents of neurodivergent children could find resources, support, and a sense of belonging.
“I saw it as a social change movement”, she said. “Neurodivergent kids shouldn’t have to change who they are to fit into societal norms.”
Luxembourg, like many countries, is still evolving in its approach to neurodivergence in schools and society. Debbie suggests that parents can make a difference by normalizing open conversations about neurodiversity and advocating for inclusive policies in educational institutions.
“If you’re in a position of influence – whether you’re a parent of a neurotypical child or a school administrator – ask questions. How inclusive is the school? What are the disciplinary policies? How can we better support neurodivergent kids?”. The other thing that she mentions is that if you are a parent who is tasked with parenting a differently wired child, is to make sure that you have the support and guidance you need so that you can properly show up for your kid(s).
The good news is that progress is happening. Schools in Luxembourg are beginning to introduce neurodiverse parent groups, and awareness is growing. As more families share their experiences, the stigma surrounding neurodivergence can be dismantled, making way for a more inclusive society.
If you’re a parent raising a neurodivergent child in Luxembourg or anywhere else, Debbie’s message is clear: you are not alone, and there are resources and communities that can help support you on this journey. I hope you enjoy this inspiring story of resilience, commitment and unwavering love and support from a mother to her child. Please give it a listen and let me know what you think. You can reach me at momlife@rtltoday.lu or find me on Instagram at momlifeinluxembourg.
To learn more about Debbie Reber, Tilt Parenting and access resources, visit this website.
