86: Tired of the Resistance? How to Position Your Neurodivergent Homeschooler for Success, with Afsaneh Moradian

There are few things more frustrating than pouring your heart into a homeschool plan...only to be met with complete resistance from your neurodivergent child filled with “I’m tired”, “this is boring” or full-on shutdown moments that leave you wondering if homeschooling was even the right call in the first place.

If you've experienced this feeling, I want to share insights from someone I admire deeply: Afsaneh Moradian, founder of MLC Homeschool Coaching. She’s a few years into homeschooling her own neurodivergent child and has made it her mission to help other families create learning environments that actually work for their unique kids.

Even though I’m not raising a neurodivergent child myself, I know how important it is to uplift and share the experiences of those who are. And what Afsaneh offers is powerful: practical guidance, validation, and a totally fresh way to think about education when your child doesn’t fit the traditional mold.

Powerful Keys to Homeschooling Neurodivergent Learners:

🧠 Resistance is Communication
Your child’s resistance isn’t about laziness or defiance. It’s their way of saying, “This isn’t working for me.” Afsaneh encourages us to stop and reassess when resistance shows up—not to double down. That shift in perspective alone can make all the difference.

🧰 Rethink Your Curriculum (and your role)
Here's one big aha moment that can save you some time and frustration: many families replicate school at home, even if you're attempting to move away from it. So while you may have found what appears to be the "perfect open-and-go curriculum", remember that they aren’t always designed for neurodivergent learners because they're designed for the masses. So don't get caught up in trying to force your child into a curriculum that isn't a fit for their learning style. Instead, what neurodivergent kids need is flexibility, responsiveness, and co-creation (and see below for more on the idea of co-creation).

💬 Let your child lead (yes, even in planning!)
One of the most empowering shifts you can make is involving your child in shaping what and how they learn. Afsaneh shared how her child asked to help write their own curriculum, and it led to the most joyful, engaged year of learning yet! That level of trust and respect can be a game changer.

🫂 When building community, choose wisely
Not all co-ops or group settings are created equal. The best ones have flexibility, open-minded adults, and are built around shared interests, not just age or diagnoses. Kids thrive when they feel safe, seen, and celebrated—not just accommodated.

🌱 Your child is exactly who they need to be
Perhaps the most powerful reminder of all: our kids don’t need to be “fixed” or molded to fit a system. Homeschooling gives us the space to support who they already are—and help them flourish in ways that standardized education rarely allows.

Building a Homeschool That Honors Your Child

At the end of the day, homeschooling a neurodivergent learner—or any unique learner—isn’t about fixing them or finding the perfect curriculum: it’s about creating an environment where they feel safe, capable, and free to learn in ways that make sense to them.

Remember this: the path might not look traditional. It might not always be easy. But it can be joyful, and it can be affirming. And it can absolutely be the right move for your family.

So whether you're making changes after hitting resistance, exploring new learning communities, or just starting to reimagine what learning can look like at home, know that you're not alone. There are people like Afsaneh who support families with neurodivergent children, and those families are learning to carve out their own beautiful, unconventional educational paths.

You’ve got this—and your child does too!

Resources Offered:

🧭 The Neurodiverse Homeschooling Summit
Afsaneh has brought together 20 experts to empower you with fresh ideas and actionable tools for supporting your neurodivergent learner. It’s completely free and fully virtual—you can grab your ticket here.

🤝 Connect with Afsaneh

• Want to talk through your specific homeschooling challenges? Book a free 1:1 consultation with Afsaneh to get clarity on your next step, whether that means working with her or just having someone validate what you might be experiencing.
• Connect with Afsaneh: Facebook | Instagram

 Ready to Homeschool in a Way That’s Aligned With Your Family?