Jennifer Gay Summers wrote a book, and it’s probably unlike any you’ve read.
Summers is an ADHD and neurodivergent parenting advocate by trade, and she’s an author, having written a couple pieces for L.A. Parent, including this one called “On My Own.” She’s a blogger and a speaker, and she shares her life journey as if it were an open book, which in many ways it is.
The book is called “Chasing Lee” and it’s a memoir about raising a neurodivergent child. It’s a heartwarming story and we asked Summers to tell us about the book and her journey in writing it.
L.A. Parent: Without giving away too much, what is the book about?
Summers: “Chasing Lee” is about my desperate search for help while raising a neurodivergent child navigating ADHD, sensory processing disorder, anxiety and learning disabilities. Drawing on my years as a teacher, I challenged the public school system from elementary school through high school where my child’s emotional and learning needs were not always fully understood or supported. Along the way, I surrendered my traditional parenting expectations to become the mother Lee deserved. In doing so, I discovered the power of love and the beauty of letting go.
L.A. Parent: How long did it take you to write it?
Summers: This book has lived in my heart for many years, but it wasn’t until I was in the midst of raising Lee that I truly understood the story I wanted to tell. I began writing motherhood essays, starting with Lee’s adoption and continuing through the elementary school years. I later started a blog, “Mom’s the Word,” for ADDitude magazine, which ran for almost a decade. But it wasn’t until Lee graduated from high school that I had the perspective on those years needed to shape the essays and blogs into a book. That was in 2018, and my book came out in October. It’s been a long journey!
L.A. Parent: What inspired you to start it?
Summers: In searching for ways to support and make sense of Lee’s challenges, I turned to writing as a form of advocacy. I loved blogging for ADDitude magazine, sharing the ups and downs of daily life raising a child with ADHD. It was deeply meaningful to connect with other parents seeking ways to help their complex children thrive. Over time, I realized those blogs were part of something larger that could be explored more fully in a book.
L.A. Parent: Who did you write it for and who do you feel should read it?
Summers: When I was raising Lee, there were non-fiction books about parenting children with various mental-health challenges, but very few memoirs. When I did find one, I devoured it, desperate to feel less alone and to gain honest insight from another parent’s experience. “Chasing Lee” is my way of reaching out to that same struggling parent I once was. It is for parents, grandparents and caregivers of neurodivergent children, offering empowerment — to better understand their children, advocate within their communities and find strength and courage along the way.
L.A. Parent: What’s next for you?
Summers: With this memoir, my hope is to continue raising awareness of mental-health challenges and exploring what unites us, no matter the disability or label. In the coming year, I’m excited to focus on the book and my advocacy within the neurodivergent community — connecting with readers as both an author and speaker, and sharing ongoing blogs, essays, tips and resources through my website and newsletter.
Jennifer Gay Summers’ book is available through Amazon, Bookshop and Simon & Schuster.
