Not Just KPop Mom Blog

In 2020, at the very onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my family made a significant move from our native home in Tampa Bay area in Florida to the quieter, more close-knit community of Mooresville, NC. Like many families during this time, we found ourselves facing not just the challenges of a new environment, but also the profound isolation brought on by the pandemic. This was particularly challenging for us, a family of inverted neurodivergent individuals who struggle with social anxiety yet yearn for a sense of community.  Our journey to connect with our new home has been a unique blend of our personal challenges and passions. Early on, we decided to channel our special interests into a small business, Niche & Nicknacks. This venture became a therapeutic outlet and a bridge to the community we longed to be a part of. While our business primarily operated online, the desire to engage face-to-face with our community remained a strong, albeit daunting, aspiration.  Our breakthrough cam

  Embracing Neurodiversity: A Journey of Self-Discovery As I sit down to write this, I find myself reflecting on the twists and turns of my life’s journey, particularly the recent discovery that I am neurodivergent. Diagnosed with mild autism in my mid-forties, this revelation has brought both clarity and a sense of empowerment to my identity.  What makes this journey even more profound is that it’s not just mine alone. I am a mother to two incredible young women, both of whom are neurodivergent themselves, navigating the unique challenges and gifts that come with ADHD and ASD. Our shared experiences have deepened our bond and illuminated the beauty of neurodiversity in all its forms.  For years, I struggled to fit into a world that seemed to operate on a different wavelength. Through masking, I managed to become a  successful professional, earning two master’s degrees. Yet, despite my academic achievements and professional acumen, social interactions remained a challenge. The world se