Back to YouTube: an HONEST chat

It's my big YouTube comeback! I wanted to start with an honest discussion about what's been going on in my life, and how I've been coping with becoming a mum of two, increasing growth and visibility on YouTube, all the while dealing with my own autism/ADHD.

LINKS ✨

[cat_tastic]

Welcome back, Sam! 🙂 Pace yourself in line with your boundaries and self care needs. This has to be priority for you and all neurodivergent people to avoid meltdowns / shutdowns / burnout. No one can be all things to all people - it’s not physically possible or healthy. It was so lovely to see you here again. Take care💜

[bethanythatsme]

I can barely handle being perceived, which has kept me off social media apps (other than YouTube) for years now. Being on the recieving end of comments as a creator has always seemed like something that is so much to manage, even the positive intended ones. Love to see you back and wish you all the best from Oregon.

[paulrudd]

Hi Sam, I hope you read this comment!! I wanted to let you know that when we discovered your channel, a few years ago, we were searching for answers for the difficulties we were having. My daughter had started avoiding school, and had just been diagnosed with ASD. So it was a hard time, and heartbreaking to watch her struggling so much with so many aspects of her life. Your videos really helped us to contextualise what was going on. Ellie watched all of your video and it helped her to stop feeling like a complete social failure, and see herself as a valid human being with a few social challenges - that do not define her as a person. There are some professions where you only get feedback when something goes wrong, or if they can vent their inner demons upon you. Teaching can be like that. But you rarely get positive feedback, because everybody has these really high expectations of you, and therefore if you achieve that high benchmark, people see this as unremarkable. But your work is remarkable and I hope I’ve been able to communicate just how much you’ve helped us and that the positive impact will actually last for many years. 😊

[carolinejames]

Thank you, Sam, for content past and present. You've provided information, spoken with a voice that I can relate to, helped me to see myself in a more positive way, and been someone that I referred others to. Your intelligence, your kindness, your warmth are all an important part of that, but it's been your honesty, your authenticity that has been most valued. Whether making yourself vulnerable by revealing yourself to us, openly changing your stance on something after reflection, or whatever, it's that that speaks most to me. So human, so real, so not 'perfect' and therefore unrelatable. Again, thank you. Take care of yourself and your family first, always. Blessed be.

[shapeofsoup]

You’ve done immeasurable good for the autistic community. You’re amazing. And that inevitably comes at a cost to you. Take care of yourself, Sam! You don’t have to be a martyr.

[ellenfoster]

I found your videos very recently and find them the most useful of all the content out there. I’m an undiagnosed autistic woman in my 60’s and did not set limits as a young mother of 2 autistic kids with a non- helpful hubby. Nearly killed me, literally. Don’t do that! Take care of yourself!

[emm]

I just want to say a big thank you! I am 43 and got my ADHD and autism diagnosis two months ago and your videos really helped me. You don’t need to apologise for taking care of yourself and your children’s needs - I wish we could normalise this and women didn’t feel like they need to apologise.

[hannah]

Welcome back!! I used your book LITERALLY today in my autism assessment. Big big thank you!

I'm a Mum of three kiddies 5 and under. I'm also a classical guitarist, or I was, am I still?? I used to play at weddings and such. I kept teaching but performing... absolutely not. There's no time to sit and play music right now. So I get it. I hope you're doing much better ❤

Absolutely would love self care when parenting content

[someonerandom]

1) You look lovely
2) Parenting with ADHD and/or ASD is a huge adjustment, especially when your children are neurodivergent as well
3) You are doing your part just by bringing us content and awareness, and you don't owe us anything
4)Sometimes you (as in all of us) need to let something slide and that's okay
5)You're doing a great job, keep prioritizing your personal life and mental health, and do what you can for YouTube when you can!

[Catlily]

You were one of the first autistic creators I saw. You and Purple Ella! I did your workbook! I am diagnosed with autism now! Good to see you again! I figured that you were busy with small babies/children!
Take care of yourself first.

[Aneva]

Hi Sam!! I just wanted to let you know that you have contributed so much to my life and I've been inspired by you for going on three years now. Take good care and thank you for all you do!

[blackberrymagpie]

Saw this notification and literally squealed, I've been binging your content a lot recently (neurodivergence has become a BIT of a special interest of mine, plus you have a really soothing voice, lol) and I'm so excited you're back. As someone with ADHD who's also, as you brilliantly phrased it, "on the suspectrum, " thank you for all you do. I'm finally realizing that I'm not a 'weird' or 'broken' neurotypical, I'm a perfectly normal neurodivergent person, and I credit that self-acceptance mostly to you. Like everyone has already said, please take care of yourself; we'd all rather you go at a sustainable pace for your health and sanity than burn yourself out trying to appease the algorithm gods. Whether that pace is every other day or every other year, we'll be here. Love you so much <3

[lrwiersum]

YouTube has been a lifesaver. New to my diagnosis. 65 year old female. It's a LOT to process !!

[noconnell]

Your first couple of minutes really spoke to me as an autistic / ADHD mom myself, the overwhelm and “baby brain” is so real and so much more intense for us on the spectrum, thanks so much for sharing your experience xxx

[jordinja]

Welcome back, Sam, I found your channel recently whilst you were away (for very, very understandable reasons fwiw) - just want to say thank you as your content helped my daughter and I navigate our ASD/ADHD diagnoses.

PS the self-care guilt really resonated btw

[cowsonzambonis]

Oh my- I can’t deal with people saying such obnoxious things 😮 Seriously, it takes guts to share online, and I really hope that the vast majority of people are kind! Your videos have been HUGELY helpful in my self-diagnosis and my emotional journey around that. Whether you’re back consistently or not, THANK YOU for all your efforts!!! ❤

[jerichoburg]

I am so glad to see you again! I love your work and it's helped me so much. And your sense of humor is just the best. I'll watch whatever videos you make, honestly. Looking forward to them!

[ZechariahTienter-skrh]

I love your show on utube you teach me more on my own autism to thank you so much I leaned a lot from you thanks Sam

[JanneGlass]

Please don’t beat yourself up about not creating content regularly for the last few years. Having children and caring for them is very hard work, especially in the first few years. And you did also create the workbook! So you have been busy AND learning how to take better care of yourself. That is A LOT.

I’m glad to hear your YouTube spark seems to have returned. And I’m not a parent myself but I know a lot of neurodivergents are and I don’t encounter a lot of content on that topic. So I expect there’s an audience for it.

Whatever you decide to do, I will be a subscriber to your channel as that is the least I can do to support you. I hope you will find your groove soon. Good luck!

[stacy]

I wanted to say, I am sorry that people can be hard. I get that online criticism is really hard. I really get that and can relate. However, wnated to just say - you have helped us and many. Just Thanks!