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 Education
Understanding Monotropism
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…
Changing Bedtime From Stress Filled To Connection Filled With Laura Hellfeld
For many parents of neurodivergent children, bedtime is one of the hardest and most stressful times of the day. If this is true for you and your family, you’re not alone, as many neurodivergent individuals find sleep challenging. In this episode, I chat with Laura Hellfeld, neurodivergent nurse and sleep consultant. Here are some of […] Read more…
Exploring ARFID with Elen Nathan from The Playful Place
Today, I am joined by Elen Nathan from The Playful Place to give us insight into ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Here is what we chatted about: What is ARFID? What causes ARFID and how can we know if our child (or we) are affected by ARFID? What can we do as parents to […] Read more…
Making Sense of Our Emotions
In this solo episode, I talk about a topic that is often shut down in parenting communities. The topic of experiencing grief for various aspects of our parenting journey. In our Instagram society, where we just see the highlights, the happy moments the joyful moments of parenting we can feel ‘wrong’, ‘broken’ and isolated because […] Read more…
Supporting Your PDA Child With Kate Kleinau
Today on the show I chat with Kate Kleinau, who you may know from her Facebook and Instagram accounts as Raising PDA Kids. In this episode, Kate and I chat about: How her son’s autistic burnout in his early childhood years led her to discover that he was PDA. The things she and her husband […] Read more…
The Nine Sensory Systems With OT Elen Nathan From The Playful Place – Part One
Today I am joined by occupational therapist and sensory integration practitioner, Elen Nathan. In this episode: To get your free sensory system screening tools: https://sensationalbrain.com/free-resources You can connect with Elen Nathan here: Website: https://theplayfulplace.co.nz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePlayfulPlace Click here to find out more about the Neurodivergent Family Toolbox If you would like to join the conversation […] Read more…
Why They’re Not ‘Fine’ – Exploring Autistic Masking Through a Polyvagal Lens
You are waiting in your car for your child at the end of the school day. You see them coming down the pathway towards the school gate. Your child is chatting with a friend, everything seems fine. As they approach the car you can see their body language and facial expression shift. They open the […] Read more…
Understanding Autistic Burnout
How To Protect Your Child’s Emotional And Mental Wellbeing Trigger warning – this blog contains mention of self-harm and suicidal ideation, reader discretion is advised. My children’s teenage years were not easy (for them and for me). I have a fairly good memory of what it was like to be a teen and I knew […] Read more…
Understanding RSD in ADHD
Learn How Understanding RSD (Rejections Sensitivity Dysphoria) Can Help You To Support Your Child (And Yourself) The emotional experience that served as an undercurrent of my childhood was hypervigilance. I can recall constantly scanning the people around me for signs of disapproval. Checking in with my mother hundreds of times a day to see if […] Read more…