My Journey with ADHD, Coaching, and Choosing the Unconventional Path
Hi, I’m Skyler (he/they) — ADHD life coach in training, fiber artist, video game nerd, plant dad, dog dad, and the human behind North of Normal Life Coaching. This space is more than just a brand — it’s the reflection of a life lived a little off-script… and a little north of “normal.”
Growing Up in a Blended Home
I come from a big, loud, blended family — eight kids in total — and several of my siblings were diagnosed with ADHD early on. I wasn’t. Instead, I took on the role of helper, peacemaker, and middle child. I internalized a lot. I assumed if something was hard for me, it was mine to manage — quietly, invisibly.
It wasn’t until I was 23 that I was diagnosed with ADHD (combined presentation), and suddenly the chaos made sense. The forgetfulness. The emotional intensity. The job-hopping while somehow also being the reliable one. The burnout masked as resilience.
When Everything Shifted
Once I began my ADHD journey and got diagnosed as well as started medication, my world flipped. See, I’d dropped out of high school and earned my GED — but suddenly I went from failing classes to earning a 3.9 GPA in five weeks. But what changed me more than the meds was understanding. Learning about ADHD gave me language, tools, and compassion I didn’t even know I needed.
It also gave me a fire. I have always been an “oversharer” (the good kind?). I started talking about ADHD — openly, vulnerably, excitedly. And the ripple effect started immediately: people in my life sought diagnosis, found peace, and built better relationships. I realized: talking about this matters.
Building a Life and Partnership with ADHD
Somewhere along the way, I met Todd — my now-husband and the best partner anyone could ask for. We met at a post-Valentine’s party (I flirted, he missed it, we joke about it to this day), and officially became boyfriends on April Fool’s Day.
Since then, we’ve moved cities, adopted a rescue pup named Blossom, survived a pandemic, road-tripped through national parks, gotten married, and just bought our first house. Our life is full of crafts (I crochet, Todd knits), nerdy references, and shared joy in the quiet moments.
We also said goodbye to our first dog, Clifford, not long ago — a loss that still aches. But our life continues to grow, shaped by the love we’ve built together and the softness we’ve learned to protect.
Why I’m Becoming a Coach
I’m currently training to become a Certified ADHD Life Coach (CALC) through the iACTCenter. I’ve also spent the last few years working in the nonprofit world, working in grant writing, executive assisting and marketing.
While my role hasn't been directly interacting with the population the non-profit helps, it still gave me opportunities to meet them, hear about them, and learn.
All of that informs my coaching: empathy, advocacy, real-life tools, and the belief that understanding beats “fixing” every time.
I want to help people with ADHD — and the people who love them — find clarity, compassion, and confidence. I want to help couples talk to each other without spiraling. I want parents to see their kids as different, not difficult. And I want ADHD folks to feel seen without needing to mask who they are.
What North of Normal Means
This name means everything to me. For years, I was told to chase “normal.” However, I never really wanted to, and I never did. Now, I build toward something truer.
North of Normal is a space for the beautifully wired. The quietly struggling. The funny, smart, scattered, sensitive souls who’ve spent too long trying to play by someone else’s rules.
Here, we build a different compass.
Note: this post was edited on May 22, 2025. The wording “Combined Type” was updated to “Combined Presentation” to better match the correct and most up to date language used. I am always learning and always trying to do better. Thank you!
