Why do so many kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or dyslexia end up carrying emotional scars—sometimes even trauma—just from trying to get through a regular school day?

In this important conversation, Dr. Susan Baum and educator Zach Morris unpack how environments not designed for neurodivergent brains—like school, relationships, and daily routines—can chip away at our kids’ sense of safety and belonging.

They share:

• Why “minor” daily interactions (like being shamed for fidgeting or ignored for asking a “weird” question) can build into complex trauma over time
• How deeply sensitive and bright kids often feel hurt by things others dismiss
• Why the mismatch between a child’s wiring and their environment matters so much—and what we can do to support a better fit

It’s a beautiful reminder: our kids aren’t broken. They’re telling us, in their own ways, that something in the situation needs to change.

P.S. Dr. Baum shares one of my favorite metaphors—why we don’t ask the flower to change its petals, but instead plant it in the right soil.