A book about the value of being yourself

By Roanne Weisman 

Compassion, clarity, creativity, communication: These four words summarize several important messages of hard-earned wisdom in Shelley Lippman’s book, As Is: Accepting, Forgiving and Empowering Your Child With ADHD... and Yourself. 

Lippman, who is a certified transformation coach and positive psychology practitioner, has written a book infused with compassion for parents and their children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She freely shares the joys and challenges she and her husband experienced raising their two sons with ADHD, along with their neurotypical daughter. Reading this book is like having an intimate – yet very useful – chat with a wise good friend: A chat that offers more than solid advice; it also offers hope. 

Both of Lippman’s sons were able to follow their passions and become successful business owners, earning recognition among Forbes “30 Under 30” for retail and e-commerce in 2021. 

The clarity of Lippman’s information goes far beyond her own parenting experiences. The book is filled with pages of useful information from a multitude of experts, as well as a comprehensive “toolbox” of practical advice on many topics, as evidenced in the chapter titles alone: “Accepting,” which covers awareness, compassion and connection; “Forgiving,” including gratitude, curiosity and pausing (instead of instantly reacting); “Empowering,” which shares advice for focusing on strengths; “Self-advocacy” (for parents as well as children); and “Flourishing.” 

Throughout, Lippman offers ways that parents can be creative with their children, helping them to uncover (rather than discover) the passions and strengths that may have been hidden. In the last chapter, the author talks about strength-based parenting, helping children manage what can seem like a roller-coaster of emotions; using tools of communication to build the force of optimism, in order to envision and create positive futures for themselves; and the resilience to bounce back when life throws curveballs. 

Among the many expert quotes in the book, Lippman offers this in the last chapter, by Catherine DeVrye: “Like tiny seeds with potent power to push through tough ground and become mighty trees, we hold innate reserves of unimaginable strength. We are resilient.” 

Lippman’s important book demonstrates beyond doubt that this is true of all children and their parents, no matter what challenges they may face.