A Neurodiverse Homeschool Journey: Welcome to Raising Comets

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Welcome to my blog! I’m Suhaila. Whether you’re navigating homeschooling, neurodiversity, or simply looking for tips on raising your brilliant ones — I’m glad you’re here. I’m here to share the messy, lived experience of a neurodiverse Muslim family learning to chart our own path.

From Chaos to Constellations: How Our Family Found Its Orbit

Homeschooling began as a quiet idea while we were expecting our first child. We both remembered classrooms where the pace left some children behind and pushed others forward, and we wanted something different for our kids: learning paced to each child, with room to follow curiosity and depth. For the first few years it remained a nice idea — until our daughter, we’ll call her Star, taught herself to read by age two. That was the nudge we needed.

We started with kindergarten, juggling a newborn and toddler along with Star, and soon discovered that the choice to homeschool reshaped our days, our expectations, and eventually, our whole family life. What began as an experiment turned into a way of life that fit our rhythms and honoured each child’s needs.

In 2018, shortly after starting our homeschool journey, I realized I was struggling in many ways — failing to balance everyone’s schedules, finding myself emotionally and mentally drained constantly, having a lot of sensory aversions — and wasn’t able to keep up with life in general. I received diagnoses of autism and ADHD. Those names for my experience were clarifying and freeing. Over time, my husband and three daughters were also diagnosed with autism or ADHD.

Knowing we’re neurodiverse didn’t make life easier overnight, but it helped us build structures that actually work for us. Traditional schooling felt like a poor fit; our homeschool felt like something built to our measure. The challenges we faced often came from comparison — trying to keep up wth co-ops, workshops, and programs that didn’t match our energy or routines. Peace arrived when we stopped comparing and started honouring our own path.

What We Believe: Learning That Honours the Soul

Our homeschool is centred around faith-rooted learning, sensory-friendly rhythms and routines, and celebrating neurodiverse brilliance.

• Faith-rooted learning: We ground daily life and study in our relationship with Allah, trusting that each child is created intentionally and wonderfully. Religious practice can bring extra challenges for neurodivergent people; I’ll share honest reflections on prayer, struggle, and the grace of effort.
• Sensory-friendly rhythms: We design routines that reduce overwhelm and make learning accessible, joyful, and sustainable.
• Celebrating brilliance: Neurodivergent minds see patterns and stories in ways others might not. Storytelling, music, art, and theatre become bridges from imagination to understanding.

We believe each person’s path is their own. Our role as parents is to provide tools, compassion, and space for our children to become who they were made to be.

Raising Comets: A Place to Learn, Reflect, and Rise Together

I call this project Raising Comets because neurodivergent children often follow a different orbit. They are rare, intense, and breathtaking when they move through the world with confidence. When given permission to blaze in their own way, they make people stop and look.

Raising Comets is a place for resources, reflection, and community — a place where difference is expected, honoured, and uplifted.

On this blog, you will find:

• Practical resources for neurodiverse homeschooling: sensory-friendly lesson ideas, routines, printable tools, and low-stress planning.
• Reflections and spiritual encouragement: honest essays on faith, prayer, and family life from a neurodiverse perspective.
• Storytelling, metaphors, and creative tools: guides and prompts that use narrative to teach and heal.
• Community for Muslim families raising neurodivergent children: a space to feel seen and supported.

If this space feels like a breath of fresh air, subscribe for gentle updates, resources, and inspiration. Share with families who might feel seen here. Let’s raise comets together.