153: The Challenges and Sacrifices of Being a Young Parent- Amber

"Life is stable now. It's been stable probably for at least the last... I've been married now. I'm gonna be married next year will be 20 years."
"If you're a young person going into college, remind me to get to... I don't want to veer off... To veer off topic, if I veer off topic, I will forget to go back to topic, so you will have to help me."
"This assessment, had I taken it when I went into college, would have probably saved me many, many years of regret."
"Amy said something really weird to me."
"It was like the real world."
"This is gonna turn into a rom-com folks, prepare."
"ADHD in itself is like a freaking superpower."
"The focus activity is actually the focus activity for my subconscious."
"How much of it is, how much ADHD is you and is just ADHD?"

Amber Davies shares her story of becoming a parent at the age of 17 and the challenges she faced as a young mother. She talks about the sacrifices she had to make and the difficulties of balancing work, school, and raising her son. Amber also discusses the importance of finding a career that aligns with your passions and strengths, as well as the value of taking assessments to understand your working genius. She emphasizes the need for young people to have support and guidance as they navigate parenthood and make important life decisions. Amber and her friend Amy both had partners named Sean and broke up around the same time. Sean expressed interest in dating Amber if they ever broke up. Eventually, both couples did break up, and Amber and Sean started dating. They lived in a house with multiple roommates, including Amy's new partner, and eventually got married. They had two children, Joe and Cash, who are 11 years apart. Joe took on a protective role as a big brother to Cash. Amy also had a child around the same time as Cash, and their families remain close. In this conversation, Amber and Jey discuss the challenges and strengths of living with ADHD. They talk about the ability to multitask and engage in multiple forms of stimulation, as well as the importance of finding coping mechanisms and creating routines. They also discuss the impact of ADHD on relationships, including the need for understanding and support from partners. Amber emphasizes the importance of nurturing the relationship with your spouse and maintaining a sense of self as a parent. Jey shares advice for young couples and new mothers, encouraging them to prioritize their relationship and find activities that bring them joy outside of parenting.

Takeaways
Becoming a parent at a young age requires making sacrifices and facing unique challenges.
Finding a career that aligns with your passions and strengths is crucial for long-term happiness and fulfillment.
Taking assessments, such as the Six Types of Working Genius, can help individuals understand their strengths and make informed career choices.
Young parents need support and guidance as they navigate parenthood and make important life decisions. Friendship dynamics can become complicated when romantic feelings are involved.
Having a supportive friend group can make navigating relationships easier.
Age gaps between siblings can create unique dynamics and relationships.
Arranged marriages can be a fun and quirky idea within close-knit friend groups. ADHD can be seen as a superpower, allowing individuals to engage in multiple forms of stimulation and multitask effectively.
Finding coping mechanisms and creating routines can help manage the challenges of ADHD.
Nurturing the relationship with your spouse is important, even amidst the demands of parenting.
Maintaining a sense of self and engaging in activities outside of parenting is crucial for personal well-being.
Understanding and support from partners is essential in navigating the challenges of ADHD.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Welcoming the Guest
02:57 Housekeeping and Sponsor Mention
05:15 Amber's Story as a Young Parent
11:13 Balancing Motherhood, Work, and Education
25:30 Choosing a Career that Aligns with Passions
30:17 The Theme of Sacrifice
31:58 Mixed Signals and Confusion
38:51 Transitioning from Friends to Lovers
43:35 Parenthood with an Age Gap
51:10 Sibling Dynamics and Future Possibilities
59:18 The Superpower of ADHD: Multitasking and Stimulation
01:01:41 ADHD in Relationships: Understanding and Support
01:23:16 Self-Care for New Mothers: Finding Your Own Identity

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