About Jeannette
Hello!
I have both lived and learned experience with neurodiversity and parenting. Walking by myself one day I had an ah-ha moment, “My children were not what I expected but they were exactly what I needed". Eventually I began to think, “how lucky am I for this opportunity to grow.”
Those statements became my mantra. As hard as it is, the days of doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, the freedom and confidence my soul depended upon were gone. But what eventually replaced them are days full of rewarding personal growth, perseverance, love and connection with my children.
I gravitate toward optimism because life is full of learning moments. I'll often picture life as river and sometimes we are in the rapids struggling, but they will bring calm if navigated well.
I love nature and the outdoors.Taking time to recharge after social interactions is critical for my nervous system. Yet this same nervous system craves some dopamine and excitement. So I get the internal struggle we face, it's real!
Originally from Upstate NY, I moved to Park City, Utah to ski and attend graduate school at the University of Utah.
After Utah, Colorado became home. I continue to love the outdoors and our community. Those early years of parenting were an evolution from the person I was to the person I needed to be. It was not easy. Now as a parent of 2 teens I continue to be curious about them, me and the world.
In the Community
I’m very busy working at our schools supporting neurodivergent learners, coaching parents, running parent groups for the Autism Society of Boulder County, and working for neuro affirming policy and culture at the school district level. I also speak at school board meetings advocating for a revolutionary Neurodiversity Policy
So Why Work With Me?
I've read the books and the blogs, attended the conferences, talked to the teachers, therapists, doctors, and counselors, and listened to the podcasts so you don’t have to. Working with me will expedite your understanding of raising your children your way but with more skills, knowledge and encouragement.
As a certified parent coach through the Parent Coaching Institute (PCI™) https://www.thepci.org/ my training is thorough and robust. The PCI™ is the only certification program linked to university graduate programs for therapists and other professionals. Globally PCI™ is rated the best certification program for parent coaches https://www.lifecoachmagazine.com/parenting-coach-certification/
I have 17 year’s experience parenting. I work in the school district and have a unique understanding of how children are served and not served. All children face struggles in different ways at school. Some children have the tools they need to excel in the school environment and others do not yet and sometimes, schools are just not designed in neuro-affirming ways.
Finding developmentally appropriate growth moments in a non-judgmental way using your strengths is tremendously rewarding. Through coaching I will be your thinking partner. Through reflective inquiry we will identify your goal and find realistic pathways to attain it. We will face the difficulties and barriers head-on as you embrace change, I will support you as you raise your child(ren).
So, if like me, you have days thinking; it wasn't supposed to be THIS hard and no one gave me a manual then let’s chat. Grab ahold of this opportunity the universe is bringing you to grow, see challenges as opportunities, gain confidence and capacity on your parenting journey
Endorsements
The Neurodiversity Community Center is so grateful for Jeannette’s early and active support for the organization and the broader community. She consistently seeks to build genuine connection with the community members through a lens of curiosity, inclusion and advocacy. I am personally honored to consider her a colleague and friend.
Dan Carmelli, Co-Founder Neurodiversity Community Center
Jeannette and I are working together to build a neuroaffirming culture in our school and community. I appreciate the compassion and empathy she brings to our advocacy work. Over the years, we've participated in many sensitive community discussions and I am grateful for her confidence, ideas, and sincerity. Jeannette is a strong, thoughtful and articulate advocate. I'm grateful to have her in my life.
Jenny Thamer, BVSD Autism Advisory Team Co-Lead 2023-24