Neurodiversity & Boat Life | Raising an ADHD Child at Sea

In this episode of All In The Same Boat, I open up about something very close to my heart: our experience raising a neurodivergent child and how life aboard Sailing Holly Blue has unexpectedly provided an environment where he can truly thrive.

From Josh's premature birth and early developmental challenges to sensory sensitivities, overwhelm, school struggles and learning to embrace his differences as strengths, I share the journey we've been on as a family and the lessons we've learned along the way.

This isn't about "fixing" neurodiversity. It's about understanding, acceptance and creating an environment where our children can flourish.

In this episode, I discuss:

⚓ Josh's premature birth and early years
⚓ Recognising the signs that he experienced the world differently
⚓ Sensory overload, stimming and emotional overwhelm
⚓ Why traditional classrooms became challenging
⚓ How ADHD can bring incredible strengths alongside the struggles
⚓ Learning to embrace differences rather than fear them
⚓ Why quiet, low-stimulation environments can be life-changing
⚓ How boat life and alternative education transformed our family life
⚓ The importance of meeting children where they are, not where society expects them to be

Above all, this episode is about seeing neurodiversity not as something broken, but as a different way of experiencing the world - and how, sometimes, changing the environment can change everything.

Whether you're parenting a neurodivergent child, navigating ADHD yourself, or simply curious about life outside the conventional path, I hope our story reminds you that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to raising happy, healthy children.

Because no matter how different our journeys may look… we're all in the same boat.

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🎙️ All In The Same Boat with Laura Colledge
🌊 Sailing Holly Blue
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