Specialized support for parents of neurodivergent children and teens in autistic burnout recovery
In The Connected Parent Blog, I share my parenting journey as a Neurodivergent Mum of Teens who are Neurodivergent and part of the LGBTQ+ community from my perspective. I also share the Connection-Focused Parenting tools and strategies with you that have worked for me, my family and countless other families.
As self-discovery, reparenting ourselves and reconnecting with who we are as people first beyond the role of parent are all part of the journey, you will notice themes of this throughout my work. (This blog is written from my lived experience as a parent and a teacher, supported by the amazing research of professionals and advocates in this field. I am not a therapist or medical professional)
I have always believed that in order for our Neurodivergent children (and ourselves) to thrive in this world we do not change the person, but instead, the environment they live in needs to change. I am committed to spreading hope, practical, heart-led tools and advocating for change for my children and yours.
Please feel free to connect with me, share your perspectives and experiences and comment on blogs that you found useful. If you enjoy what you are reading and feel that it could help a friend or family member then please share these resources with others.
Don’t ever forget that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world, it’s the only thing that ever has – Aaron Sorkin.
Let’s work together to shift the paradigm of neurodiversity, sexuality and gender so that our children (and we) can safely thrive in this world as themselves.
T x
Kinkeeping—the unseen work of holding a family together—often falls on one person. It’s the planning, the remembering, and the emotional labour that keeps family connections alive. For many parents, especially mothers, kinkeeping becomes another full-time job. Now imagine juggling this load while caring for a neurodivergent child in burnout. It’s like trying to balance an […] Read more…
Parenting a neurodivergent child or teen in burnout is one of the hardest experiences any parent can go through. Every day is filled with challenges that many outsiders struggle to comprehend. From meltdowns and shutdowns to our children’s needs for constant emotional co-regulation, as parents we often find ourselves exhausted, overwhelmed, and misunderstood. Here are […] Read more…
Parenting a neurodivergent child or teen can be challenging, but when your child is in autistic burnout, the pressure can feel relentless. Burnout impacts the entire family, and the sheer weight of managing it all can leave parents feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Understanding these pressures and addressing them is crucial for your child’s recovery […] Read more…
Strategies For Protecting Your Autistic Child from Burnout. As a parent of an Autistic child or teen, understanding the unique ways their brain processes information can be incredibly helpful in giving them the support they need and protecting them from Autistic Burnout. One such concept is Monotropism—a term that refers to a person’s ability to […] Read more…
Does your child seem ‘fine’ at school, in a social situation or with grandparents, but melts down with you?
This blog explores what is happening for them through a trauma-informed, nervous system lens. Read more…
Cultivating Self-Compassion for Parents in the Face of Challenges Let’s face it, parenting is hard for all parents. For many of us, family is one of our most high-held values. We all want to do well for our children and it is important to us (to varying degrees depending on the person) that others see […] Read more…
My Honest Account Of Supporting My Autistic Teen Into Young Adulthood A mum in my newsletter community recently reached out to me for advice with parenting her neurodivergent teen soon-to-be young adult. She shared that her autistic daughter was in her last year of high school and was contemplating going to university next year (college […] Read more…
Many parents whom I work with struggle with getting on the same page with and nurturing their relationship with their partner while co-parenting their neurodivergent children.
Parenting is one of the hardest and most complex jobs we will ever do as a person. We are literally responsible for taking care of and shaping the life of another human being. The pressure to get it right can feel intense!
A person would think with such high stakes and the momentous importance of the task at hand we would receive intensive training to match the significance of the job. However, that is sadly not the case. Many of us stumble into parenting having learned more about the mechanisms of giving birth than what it takes to raise a child.
In this blog I share some of the things my husband and Wayne, and I did to keep our marriage together while raising our three neurodivergent kids. Read more…
Autistic burnout is a very real and serious condition that can affect all autistic children, teenagers and adults. This chronic condition can cause extreme exhaustion, loss of executive functioning and social skills and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation.
All autistic people are at risk for developing autistic burnout (even little children). However, the risk of developing autistic burnout is increased significantly if you are undiagnosed and or in the adolescent years or the transition years between teenager and young adult.
This blog explores what autistic burnout is and how you can protect your autistic child or teen’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
Read more…
Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) is when you experience severe emotional pain because of failure or feeling rejected.
RSD is linked to ADHD, Autism, BPD and CPTSD and experts suspect it happens due to differences in brain structure. These differences mean your brain can’t regulate rejection-related emotions and behaviours, making them much more intense.
For a person who experiences RSD, their brain is wired to interpret neutral events/feedback as negative, and their brain is wired to discount positive events/feedback and their brain is wired to amplify the negative events/feedback. Read more…