Using Stories to Support ADHD Brains

A conversation with ADHD Parent Coach Academy graduate and author, Manal.

One of the things I love most about training ADHD Parent Coaches is watching how each graduate brings their own creativity, insight, and lived experience into the work. Manal is a wonderful example of that.

As both an ADHD coach and someone diagnosed later in life, Manal understands firsthand how powerful it can be when children finally feel seen rather than corrected. Her book, All Aboard the ADHD Brain Train: First Day Frenzy, uses storytelling to make executive function and emotional regulation accessible in a way lectures never could.

I invited Manal to share more about her inspiration, her approach, and why stories matter so much for ADHD brains.

Cindy: What inspired you to write All Aboard the ADHD Brain Train: First Day Frenzy, and how did your personal ADHD journey shape the story?

Manal: My ADHD diagnosis came later in life, long after I had already raised children, built a career, and navigated life through sheer determination and creativity. When the pieces finally clicked into place, everything about my childhood and motherhood suddenly made sense.

As a coach, I saw children struggling with the same overwhelm I experienced—but often without language or tools to express it. As an author, I saw an opportunity to create stories that feel emotionally true for kids with ADHD, not watered down or overly clinical.

First Day Frenzy was born out of that dual mission: to give children relatable characters who understand their struggles, and to give parents and educators a window into the ADHD experience from a child’s perspective.

Cindy: Lola and Boogie are so memorable. Why did you choose storytelling as a way to teach executive function and emotional regulation?

Manal: Stories reach kids in a way lectures never could.

When a child sees Lola melting down because the math sheet feels impossible, or sees Boogie bouncing around in three directions at once, they feel seen. They’re not being taught; they’re being understood.

Executive function concepts like emotional regulation, working memory, or inhibition can be abstract, especially for younger children. A story makes these ideas concrete.

Boogie represents the internal ADHD world: fast, reactive, funny, expressive. Lola represents the struggle and the resilience. Sam represents calm structure and compassionate support. Together, they show kids what emotional regulation looks like in everyday school moments.

Cindy: You work with children, teens, and adults as an ADHD and executive function coach. What core challenges did you want to reflect authentically in the book?

Manal: Three big ones stood out.

1. Emotional overwhelm is front and center. Kids with ADHD experience emotions intensely and quickly. Lola’s frustration with math spiraling into a full frenzy mirrors what so many children go through, even with the best intentions.
2. Working memory gaps also show up intentionally. Lola needs helpful reminders, again and again. Kids with ADHD often forget steps, directions, or routines even when they want to remember.
3. Finally, there’s the tension between internal chaos and external expectations. Boogie running in all directions mirrors what many ADHD kids feel inside. It’s not bad behavior; it’s dysregulated energy without a guide.

In my coaching practice, I support these challenges through a combination of executive function strategies and nervous-system–informed tools, including EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). As a certified EFT practitioner, I use EFT to help children and adults regulate emotions, reduce overwhelm, and access calm more quickly—skills that mirror what Lola learns to do throughout the story.

My goal was to normalize the struggle without minimizing it.

Cindy: What can parents and educators take away from First Day Frenzy to support their own children?

Manal: Several practical tools appear throughout the story.

Taking breaks before breakdowns matters. A short pause can prevent a long meltdown.

Clear, compassionate reminders support working memory without shame. Consistency, not pressure, helps skills grow.

Naming emotions helps regulate them. Lola’s frenzy becomes manageable when she identifies what she feels and uses calming tools.

And structure paired with empathy is powerful. Kids thrive when adults understand the why behind behaviors, not just the behaviors themselves.

These themes reflect the same coaching principles I use daily with families.

Cindy: Your book includes notes for parents of children with ADHD. Why was that important to you?

Manal: Parents often feel isolated. They wonder if what they’re seeing is normal, whether they’re doing something wrong, or if their child is struggling more than others.

I wanted First Day Frenzy to support the parent just as much as the child.

The parent notes reinforce key ideas: predictability, emotional language, patience, compassion, and gentle repetition. Most importantly, they remind families that ADHD is not a behavior problem; it’s a brain wiring difference.

When parents feel supported, they become more confident and effective in supporting their child.

Cindy: What message do you hope kids walk away with after reading your book?

Manal: I want kids to feel this deeply: you are not alone, your brain is not wrong, and you are creative, capable, and wonderfully wired.

If Lola can have a hard moment and still bounce back, if Boogie can be chaotic and still lovable, and if Sam can be patient and supportive, then every child with ADHD can see themselves as capable, too.

About Manal

Manal is an ADHD and Executive Function coach and a graduate of the ADHD Parent Coach Academy. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, she brings both lived experience and professional training to her work with children, teens, and families.

She is the author of All Aboard the ADHD Brain Train: First Day Frenzy, a children’s book that uses storytelling to help kids and parents better understand emotional regulation and executive function challenges. You can learn more about Manal’s work at adhdwithmanal.com.