Is your "Case of the Shoulds" a system failure? 📉🔥
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Dear Family, Last week, we discussed the "Better Behavior Blueprint" with Dr. Lindsay Emmerson—learning to translate behavioral research into a roadmap for cooperation. But as we move from managing behavior to building a future, we often hit a wall: The Labels. We find ourselves drowning in school evaluations, ADHD diagnoses, and the "Case of the Shoulds." What happens when the world tries to put our grandchildren in a box that doesn't fit their unique wiring? I recently sat down with Nancy Lasater, a former high-stakes trial lawyer and author of The Farmer’s Son. Nancy helped me realize that being the Invisible CEO means having a "Warrior Heart"—the courage to trust your own gut over a "conveyor belt" school system that wasn't built for our atypical kids. The Raw Truth: Fire the "Shoulds" I was sitting at the kitchen table last night, staring at a stack of school paperwork, and I felt that familiar weight in my chest. I should be better at this. She should be further along. We should be a "normal" family. In that moment, I was a D-student in my own life.
But then I remembered what Nancy told me: "Yes, today is a complete dumpster fire. Now, what are you going to do about it?"
I realized that my granddaughter’s dyslexia isn't a "glitch" in the system; it’s just a different wiring schematic. The real problem wasn't her brain—it was my "Case of the Shoulds." I decided to stop trying to be the 1950s grandmother in the clean apron and start being the truth-teller. I’m learning that my imperfection isn't a failure; it’s the very thing that gives my granddaughter permission to be human, to mess up, and to keep trying.
Inside the Project: Episode 107 This Week’s Guest: Nancy Lasater | Labels, Legacies, and the Warrior Heart In this episode, we tackle the "Administrative Weight" of labels. Nancy explains why we must fight the "chains that bind us"—whether they are family secrets or clinical diagnoses. We discuss the unique spatial intelligence of the dyslexic brain, why "perfect" caregiving is a trap, and how to advocate for your grandchild when the educational infrastructure fails to see their brilliance. ​[🎧 LISTEN TO EPISODE #107: Nancy Lasater]​ The Reflection Room Nancy challenged us to look at the "dumpster fire" days with radical honesty. Ask yourself today: Am I leading my family based on a stereotype of who I "should" be, or am I leading from my actual, messy reality? A CEO doesn't ignore a problem; they audit it. Are you trying to force your grandchild into a conventional box, or are you willing to "turn over the apple cart" to protect their unique potential? and recreate it in some fashion. Whether it's a lobster dinner cooked at home or 15 minutes of quiet, reclaim the leader you were before the phone rang. The Toolbox: Tactical Moves
You are the truth-teller your family needs, and your "Warrior Heart" is the foundation of their success. We are 2.7 million strong. Still nurturing, and still here. See you in the next boardroom, Laura Brazan Founder, The 2.7 Million Project/Host of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity |
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