About the Episode:
What does it mean to grow up feeling different, especially when no one has the language to explain why?
In this episode, Dr. Whitney Casares welcomes author Nancy Lasater to discuss her novel Farmer’s Son, which tells the story of a dyslexic young farmer navigating identity, family expectations, and the lasting impact of being misunderstood in childhood.
Although fictional, the story highlights real-world themes that many families experience today: learning differences, neurodiversity, delayed diagnoses, and the journey toward self-acceptance.
Together, Whitney and Nancy explore:
- How early mislabeling affects confidence and identity
- Why many neurodivergent kids experience “late coming-of-age”
- The role parents play in creating emotional safety for kids who learn differently
- The challenges of navigating rigid educational systems
- The complicated emotions parents may feel when recognizing their own traits in their children
This episode is both validating and hopeful, especially for parents raising kids with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety, or other learning differences.
About Our Guest:
Nancy Lasater is the author of Farmer’s Son, a novel that explores dyslexia, identity, and the long-term impact of growing up with learning differences before they were widely understood or named. Drawing from personal experience, observation, and deep storytelling, her work highlights themes of neurodiversity, family dynamics, resilience, and self-discovery. Nancy’s writing aims to create meaningful representation for readers who learn differently while offering a hopeful, compassionate lens for parents, educators, and anyone navigating the complexities of raising and supporting neurodivergent kids.
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