Tanya Valentin
Compassionate guidance for parents of neurodivergent children and teens navigating autistic burnout
You’re not doing this wrong. It’s just really, really hard.
Parenting a neurodivergent child or teen, especially through burnout, can bring up so many feelings you never expected:
- Grief for what you thought parenting would be
- Guilt over what you did or didn’t know
- Shame for feeling exhausted, angry, or resentful
- The aching loneliness of holding it all together without support
If you’re here, you’re likely carrying a lot.
And I want you to know this: you’re not alone, and you’re not broken.
This page is a soft landing for you.
A place to exhale.
To start making sense of your inner experience as you support your child’s healing.
To begin tending to your own.
Free Resource: The Grief Guide for Parents
Grieving is a normal part of parenting through burnout—especially when things don’t look like we imagined.
This free guide offers gentle reflections to help you process the messy mix of emotions that come with parenting a child in burnout.
You’ll receive:
Compassionate insight into the different forms of grief parents experience
Journal prompts to help you move from guilt to gentleness
A sense of solidarity—you’re not alone in this
Download Your Grief Guide
When Parenting Feels Like Grief - Free Live Workshop
A soft, supportive circle for parents who are carrying quiet heartbreak.
Whether you’re:
Grieving lost milestones
Struggling with the emotional weight of burnout
Feeling guilt or shame about past decisions…
This workshop will offer connection, language, and permission to feel what’s real without trying to fix it.
We’ll explore:
Why grief shows up in parenting
How to honour it without getting stuck
What it looks like to begin healing, together
17 and 18 September 2025
Save Your Space
Ongoing Support Inside the From Burnout to Balance Membership
If you’re ready for more than a one-off download or workshop…
Our membership is a gentle, ongoing space for parents walking through burnout recovery—at your child’s pace and your own.
Inside you’ll find:
A library of mini-courses to support your healing
A private podcast on grief, self-compassion, and nervous system care
Monthly coaching circles and community chat
No pressure, no fixing—just real support, your way
Explore the Membership
Not Sure Where To Start?
That’s okay.
Many parents come here feeling lost.
If all you do today is download the Grief Guide and take a breath, that’s enough.
There’s no timeline. There’s no perfect way.
You’re here. That means something.
With love,
Tanya x
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to feel grief when parenting a neurodivergent child?
Yes. Grief is a common (but rarely talked about) part of parenting a neurodivergent child, especially during or after burnout. You might grieve the parenting journey you imagined, missed milestones, or the emotional toll on your family. This grief doesn’t mean you don’t love your child. It means you’re human.
What’s the difference between parental burnout and neurodivergent burnout?
Parental burnout is when you, as the parent, feel emotionally and physically depleted. Neurodivergent burnout refers to a state of shutdown or collapse that often happens in autistic or PDA children and teens after prolonged stress, masking, or overwhelm. Many families experience both at the same time—and need support for each.
I feel ashamed and guilty about how I’ve parented in the past. Is there any way to repair?
Absolutely. Guilt and shame are painful, but they often mean you’re ready to grow and reconnect. Repair is possible and powerful. Through gentle reflection, low-demand connection, and nervous system care (for both you and your child), you can begin again—without perfection.
Where can I get more support?
Start with the free Grief Guide for Parents or sign up for our upcoming workshop, When Parenting Feels Like Grief. If you’re looking for ongoing community care and access to all mini-courses, the From Burnout to Balance Membership might be the right next step for you.