Who we are and why we created this website
We're Paul and Katharina, parents to Sam (7 years old, autism & ADHD) and his younger sister Johanna (4 years old).
Paul: ICU nurse, pragmatic problem-solver, often the "wait and see" voice
Katharina: Elementary school teacher, early recognizer of Sam's needs, tireless advocate
Sam: 7 years old, diagnosed with autism and ADHD, loves Minecraft and structure
Johanna: 4 years old, Sam's little sister, learning to understand her brother
Sam's diagnosis didn't come as a complete surprise to Katharina - her professional background as a teacher helped her recognize the signs early. For me (Paul), it took longer to understand what autism and ADHD really meant for our daily life.
We've learned through trial and error, countless therapy sessions, bureaucratic battles (like getting Sam's school aide approved), and many sleepless nights.
But we've also learned what works - and that's what we want to share.
When Sam was diagnosed, we searched desperately for practical, honest information from other parents. We found:
What we rarely found: Real, detailed descriptions of what actually works in daily life. The unglamorous routines. The specific times. The failures and adjustments.
That's what we want to provide.
This website contains:
Important to note:
We're parents who've figured out some things through experience, and we want to share what we've learned with other families who might benefit.
Throughout this website, you'll notice some patterns in how we handle things:
You'll find very specific information on this website - medication names, exact times, personal struggles. We share this because:
We've changed no names - this is our real family, our real experiences.
On this website you'll find:
Each page includes:
While we cite research where relevant, this website is fundamentally about lived experience. Science informs our approach, but daily reality shapes it.
Every child is different. What works for Sam might not work for your child. But knowing what others tried - and how they adapted it - can give you ideas and hope.
Have questions? Want to share your own experiences? We'd love to hear from you:
Email: rawe.p@freenet.de
We read every message, though we may not be able to respond to all individually.
Thank you for visiting our website. If even one family finds one strategy that makes their day a little easier, this project has been worth it.
You're doing a great job. Parenting is hard. Parenting a neurodivergent child is harder. You're showing up, learning, adapting - that's everything.
"The best parenting advice isn't about being perfect - it's about being present, patient, and willing to learn. You're already doing that."