Anna Stewart wrote the book Mother Blessings: Honoring Women Becoming Mothers, available on Amazon.
Ms. Stewart is a family advocate, writer, speaker, facilitator and single mother of 3 unique kids.
She is passionate about helping families learn to advocate WITH their children and teens and supporting those with ADHD.
She has taught non-fiction adult writing classes and has worked as an editor and columnist for many years.
Since 2005, she has been the Parent Liaison providing special education support, information and resources for families for
the Boulder Valley School District in Colorado.
Ms. Stewart received her BA in Integrative Health Studies from San Francisco State University.
After studying at SFSU in the individually created Integrative Health Studies major, she went on to obtain her Massage Therapy Certification (Body Therapy Center, CA) her HypnoTherapy Certification (Halcyon College, CA), her Child Birth Assistant Training (Birth Assistants of Boulder County, CO) and her Parent as Mentors (PAM) Training (Boulder Valley School District, CO).
“I don’t think our kids need us to swoop in and fix their issues. We don’t have to keep pushing that boulder back up the hill for them. If we ‘do it for them,’ our kids don’t have to be accountable. We demonstrate with our words and actions that we don’t think they are capable. Is that helpful to our teens or to us?”
Ms. Stewart is the author of over 400 articles, essays and reviews in a wide range of publications and book anthologies
She was featured in Anna Stewart’s Journey of Strength and Compassion by Beki Sciacca for ESME (Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere).
She was quoted in Boulder Valley: Inclusion of Special Needs Students a Priority by Amy Bounds in the Boulder Daily Camera.
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “free-range” parenting? Many people picture extremely lenient parents who impose few rules and fewer consequences. However, as with many stereotypes, that’s far from the truth. Free-ranging parenting, like all parenting, takes a lot of hard work—and for the kids, being free-range is a hard-earned privilege. As a... Read more »
Some parents go to conferences expecting glowing reports, but many of us dread them. Maybe it’s because, like me, you’ve had a prior bad experience. I remember going to my first parent-teacher conference when my oldest child was in kindergarten and having the teacher run through a long list of complaints about my son. He didn’t... Read more »
When my son received his GED this year, I put together a small scrapbook for him with photos, quotes, and cards from his friends. I also considered the life skills he’s already mastered and thought about the ones he’s still working on. The big "a-ha moment" for me? Realizing that everything else in life builds upon... Read more »
Parents of teens with ADHD and other developmental and learning challenges know how hard it can be just to get their child through high school. It's overwhelming to even think about what happens after high school. Nevertheless, it is essential that your teen leaves high school aware of his or her learning challenges. And it is... Read more »
I was in love with my baby before I ever met him. And when I first held him, my whole body flooded with love. He was an easy baby as long as he was with me, but any time I tried to do something without him, he cried. I thought it was a sign of... Read more »
“There’s a sale on school supplies,” I told my then 11-year-old son. “Let’s go. You can pick out all your own binders and folders.” “Mom, you are ruining summer,” he wailed. “I don’t want to think about school. I hate school!” This was not news to me. He struggled with ADHD and school demanded he be—and do—all... Read more »
"If I didn't put his homework in his folder, put the folder in his backpack, and ask the teacher to get him to take it out, he would never turn in any homework," says a mother of a son with ADHD. "I have to sit right with her to get her to do her homework. It... Read more »
“Can we talk about Daniel,” you say to your child’s teacher, a knot of fear in your belly. “He’s starting to say that he hates school and it’s stupid.” “I wanted to talk to you, too,” the teacher says. “Daniel's behavior in class and on the playground is very concerning.” Now that knot is in your throat... Read more »
Recently I met a frazzled mom at a conference about special education. “I’m so worried about my 16-year old daughter,” she confided. “She is defiant, hates school and won’t let the teachers help her. She is really struggling.” As she went on literally wringing her hands, I finally had to ask her, “Does your daughter... Read more »