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 Tools
The Crushing Weight of Parenting Through Autistic Burnout
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…
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…
Enabling Your Good Life With Pip Brunn
Today on the show we chat with Pip Brun, a neurodivergent human, a mum of 6 and a passionate advocate for the rights of disabled people. Pip is a passionate member of the Enabling Good Lives mid-central leadership group in New Zealand. In this episode, we chat about: Additional information and resources for the Enabling […] 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…
Cycles Of Parenting – Parenting Neurodivergent Young Adults
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…
How To Keep Your Relationship Alive As Partners While Co-Parenting Neurodivergent Children
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 […] Read more…