Embracing Neurodiversity: Turning Challenges into Opportunities with Cathy Gagliardi

In this episode of Conversations with Pearl Podcast, host Pearl Chiarenza talks with Cathy Gagliardi, a neurodiversity mentor and family support specialist. Cathy shares her journey of supporting neurodivergent children and introduces her "Belly Flies Method" for managing anxiety and fostering self-love. They discuss the emotional impact of neurodivergent diagnoses, the importance of understanding and accepting unique perspectives, and practical strategies for parents. Pearl and Cathy reflect on their experiences with neurodivergent individuals, emphasizing empathy and effective communication. The episode offers valuable insights into nurturing neurodivergent children and supporting their emotional well-being.

Cathy and Pearl discuss

- Cathy Gagliardi's background and work with neurodivergent children
- Definition and importance of neurodiversity
- The "belly flies method" for supporting children with neurodivergent conditions
- Emotional impact of receiving a neurodivergent diagnosis for a child
- Navigating differing perspectives within a family regarding a child's neurodivergent condition
- Importance of acceptance, understanding, and support within families and communities
- Insights into working with neurodivergent children and embracing their unique perspectives
- Practical examples and holistic approach to nurturing and supporting children's emotional well-being and development


As a #1 Best Selling Author and Illustrator of children’s books, Cathy has been able to donate her books to Ronald McDonald House, Little Libraries, schools and families in need locally and internationally.  Her involvement with Costa Rican and Guatamalan schools and communities has enriched her understanding of children’s emotional wellbeing.
Through mentoring in the neurodivergent community, she has recognized the needs for the new program that she has developed called THE BELLYFLIES METHOD.

Check out Cathy here
twinklinglynx 

Give Your Neurodivergent child a voice

go to Bellyfliesmethod.com to receive 3 free episodes to help ease frustrations and give your child a voice 

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Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.

Transcript

Speaker 1 00:00:00  Hello, my name is Kathy Gagliardi and I am a neurodiversity mentor and a family support specialist. I'm so excited to be having a chat with Pearl today.
Speaker 2 00:00:12  Hey everybody, it's Pearl Chiarenza and I'm coming back with another conversation with Pearl and I'm so excited. You know, you go out in the world and you meet people when you go to the conventions or events and things like that. And they just like they just speak to you. And you just was like, I gotta get to know this person more. And that's what today's show is about. I met our our guest today at Pod Fest. Coincidentally enough, we're on a podcast, and I just got to know her and some of the ladies that. Were we all hanging out. We did dinner a couple of times and just had amazing conversation. So today, as the number one best selling author and illustrator of children's book, Kathleen Gagliardi has been able to donate her books to Ronald McDonald House, Little Library, schools and families in need locally and internationally.
Speaker 2 00:00:55  Like how cool is that? It talks you guys, about always giving back. Her involvement with Costa Rican and Guatemalan schools and communities has enriched her understanding of children's emotional well-being. Through mentoring and the neurodivergent community. She has recognized the needs for the new program that she's developed called the Belly Flies method. I cannot wait to talk to her about that. So, Kathy, welcome to the show and please help me make sure I've said your name correctly.
Speaker 1 00:01:20  It's Gagliardi.
Speaker 2 00:01:21  Gagliardi. Okay. There you go. Bye. My last name is Chiarenza. So people go, what is that? Correct. So. But I also understand our name as our sweetest thing. So thank you so much for being on the show and tell everybody a little bit about you. I always like to start back. Like when you were younger, what did you want to be like? What is what you're doing today kind of what that little girl growing up, that that deep in her soul was like, I think someday, like for me, someday I want to be a teacher.
Speaker 2 00:01:48  And I did not become a teacher. However, I feel like I am teaching now, right? Like my life has brought me as a life coach to, you know, that self-care specialist, coach of teaching and mentoring others on on that journey of, you know, putting themselves first. So how was that for you growing up versus how it you are, what you're doing today?
Speaker 1 00:02:09  it's funny, all I wanted to be was a mommy take care of little children. And another thing I wanted to be, a little bit later on was missionary, and I just help people. That's all I knew when a missionary was, was to help people. And, you know, so today I'm helping children and I'm helping parents and, in the neurodivergent community. And I think that, all my life I've, I've wanted to help children, and I've done it in different ways. Volunteering. And. Yeah, I when I was after I had my children, I went to the children's Hospital and I asked if I could volunteer.
Speaker 1 00:02:51  and they said, no, no, no, we don't do that here. And they said, but you know what? A group of children are going in for reading, so why don't you join them in that? My heart just went, you know, I was so happy. So I went in there and I was with children who had spinal bifida and Down's syndrome and severe, crippling, it you know, it didn't break my heart because these children were so happy and excited to see me, and they were sitting on me and and playing with my hair, and they were all over me, and we were reading and having a lot of fun. And then when I left, I spoke to the receptionist again and she said, you are beaming. You have to do this in your life somehow. And, I went into the car and I sat there and I bawled my eyes out, and I'm not sure why. I was maybe a little bit feeling guilty that I had two healthy children. And you know what? Why do I have two healthy children? And these children are going through such something so hard in their lives.
Speaker 1 00:03:57  And I knew that somehow, in my lifetime, I would have to, give everything to help children. And so that's where I'm at now. Yes.
Speaker 2 00:04:07  I'm saying, look at where you're at now. Like a mom. I wrote down the things you said you wanted to be, right. Kids like you're you're helping. You have your own kids, but like, you're helping other children. And the. And I feel like your missionary work is like the books and things. You're leaving it, you know, for the children, like we said in Guatemala and Costa Rica, I think that it's just you. It's interesting how that threads in our life, right? Like it comes up and it's it goes along with what I talk about. What? You know, what I coach on soulful self-care. It goes into what I talk about in my coaching. Is that what's filling your soul? Like what is helping you put your cape on to fill that cup? Right. And how are you overflowing your cup? Because sometimes people think we have to just fill our cup up to the rim, right? But no, you really should be going over the brim of that cup and like, really like pouring in because that's when you get to your sweet spot.
Speaker 2 00:04:55  I feel like that's when you get the sweet spot, like I'm really doing. I'm not just stopping here, like I'm really giving. I'm really enjoying what I'm doing. And again, without being that people pleasing, you know, like without being like, I have to say yes, it doesn't mean you have to say yes, everybody to let your cup overflow. It just means that you're doing what fills that soul. And and I love that, you know, that's what you're doing. Like I got from you. Like you. You're filling your soul. You're like. And if you guys are not watching or listening, your your face like, lit up, Cathy. Like your face just lit up just talking about it. Right. And that's what we should be doing. Like when we talk about soulful self-care and how do we fill our souls. What what are you doing that just just easily talking about it makes you make brings that natural smile onto you, right? That's what's so, so important.
Speaker 2 00:05:44  And I want to we're going to delve into some more of that in the conversation. But tell us about for those that are listening that maybe don't understand, you know, the neurodivergent. Can you explain what that is. And for everybody.
Speaker 1 00:05:57  So, it's it's a whole spectrum. It has autism and and anxiety and depression and, ADHD and like anything they say, neurodivergent and neurotypical. Well, I kind of don't believe in neurotypical. And, because I think we all have stuff and we all have, challenges that, stop us from doing things. But, when I, when I was mentoring in the neurodivergent community, I saw the spark. I had to be very patient and, flexible and, willing to, accept whatever they're thinking as correct because they don't. That's correct to them. And it's it's taught me a lot in relationships how to do that. So, it's very challenging, but I really feel the love for that. For helping children. Neurodivergent and not neurodivergent. It's, you know, it's all helpful for them.
Speaker 2 00:07:17  So, as you're talking about, I'm thinking of a family member who her daughter was recently diagnosed with autism. And I think now I know there used to be, like, they had Asperger's. They had, you know, they say, now I think I'm understanding it. And you can correct me is that there's like, level one, two and three. I'm just going to put it in my, my words of understanding. So I believe that she's on level two. Right. So it's newly newly diagnosed trying to walk the journey of like is this diagnosis right. Is it you know that whole new diagnosis. So let's talk for a minute to those parents, those those that are listening and and you know, my audience is sometimes a little older. So maybe even to the grandparents are listening. Like what what you know when a parent first hear is that, you know, let's talk about the emotion for a little bit too. I let you I'll let you talk about that. But then also what are some of the like first questions that a parent or, you know, a loved one that has a child that's been recently diagnosed.
Speaker 2 00:08:15  What are some of the things that they should do like those first steps they should do?
Speaker 1 00:08:20  well, first, with the emotion, it's overwhelming because it's new and it's different. But one thing I have learned is when you meet an autistic person, one autistic person, you've met one autistic person. So everybody's different. And although they're put into categories one, two and three, they're it's very, Special to them. And I think what I found was to put myself into their position. Into their mind. Into their world and, accept what they're doing as what they're doing it. That's that's who they are. And, I find that how we see things, like how I see things and how anybody else sees things is totally different. So when I'm in a discussion with somebody and I'm not seeing their point of view, that's going to cause, frustration. But if you kind of open your mind and your heart up to, believing the frustration a little bit by just putting yourself into their into their minds, then I think it makes everything a little bit easier.
Speaker 1 00:09:45  It's it's a learning process. But, that's what I've been finding that, and with the belly flies method that encourages all these different steps.
Speaker 2 00:09:57  Yeah. So I like what you remind us too, is like, you know, when you first hear that, it's like so many emotions are going here, there and you know, and and you know, you just have to let it's, you know, let it process. Write down questions right. Write down questions you have. So next time you go to the and and really it applies anytime you're going to your doctor's like I have my son my younger son is having some challenges that health challenges. And I'm like, okay, write down your questions and here's some questions I have for you to write down to write. So write down some questions for them. And then that way when you go back to the doctors, you've got the questions. And or you know, somebody like reach out to somebody like you as well, like reach out to somebody that can kind of help hold your hand and maybe, you know, guide you through the through the journey as well.
Speaker 2 00:10:37  something you said to is like, I, I got from what you said was meet them where they're at. Right. That's their that's their world. Right. Here's your world. Your world is different than their world. So if you come into my world and I like to eat with my fork with a right hand. But you think I should eat with my left hand? You. It's changing