NeuroDADverse

Welcome to another NeuroDADverse Virtual Mini Pod , where Dan and Ben share their parenting challenges and wins separately, bringing together another week of real-life autism and ADHD parenting. This week, Dan shares a challenging Sunday with Frankie. What should have been a straightforward family birthday gathering becomes unexpectedly difficult when Frankie wants to visit his nanny but struggles...

Sometimes the biggest parenting wins look completely ordinary to everyone else. This week on The NeuroDADverse , Ben shares why spending a few hours shopping with his autistic teenager meant so much. These were places that had previously been associated with anxiety, overwhelm and some incredibly difficult experiences. This time, Oscar was ready to go, navigated multiple shops, dealt with disappoi...

When your child is clearly communicating “no”, sometimes the hardest parenting decision is working out whether the thing you're fighting for actually matters. Not every parenting battle needs to be won. Sometimes the bigger win is recognising what your child is actually trying to tell you. This week, Dan and Ben are back together and catching up on another very real week of neurodivergent fami...

Some weeks feel like everything happens at once. A mystery black eye. School struggles. Big parenting questions. And thankfully, a few much-needed wins to remind us why we keep going. This week we're trying something a little different. Welcome to our first NeuroDADverse Virtual Mini Pod . With family life getting in the way (as it often does!), Dan and Ben recorded separately, sharing the hig...

One small accident turned into one of the hardest parenting days we've faced in a long time. Sometimes it isn't the injury that's difficult, it's helping your child navigate everything that comes afterwards. This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan shares the emotional story of Frankie's accident and the unexpected challenges that followed. From sensory overload and hospital waiting rooms to advocating...

The first week back at school can feel like the biggest hurdle of the year. But what if we've been worrying about the wrong week all along? This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben reflect on the transition from the summer holidays back into school life and why they've completely changed the way they think about September. Instead of chasing the "perfect" first week, they're learning to focus o...

Sometimes the biggest parenting breakthrough isn't hearing a new word, it's finally understanding what your child has been trying to tell you all along. Sometimes progress isn't loud. Sometimes it looks like a picture card on the fridge, a homemade fajita, a family walk, or a child quietly showing you exactly what they need. This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben reflect on a week filled with...

One of the hardest parts of parenting isn't knowing what to do. It's knowing when to step back. This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben reflect on the hidden challenge of supporting neurodivergent children without feeling like you have to solve every problem for them. From disrupted sleep routines and summer holidays to live music, gaming, friendships and swimming lessons, this episode is full...

There was a time when we weren't sure we'd ever manage a family holiday like this. Now we're looking back, not because everything was perfect, but because we've realised just how far our families have come. This week on The NeuroDADverse, Ben reflects on returning from Turkey after two incredible weeks away, while Dan shares the ongoing reality of summer holidays, changing routines and helping Fra...

When you're raising a neurodivergent child, even the happiest family days are built on countless unseen adaptations and every little win feels enormous. Some families come home from holiday feeling rested. Others come home proud they made it through. This week, Dan is joined by Amy while Ben is still away, and together they reflect on an entire week of summer holiday adventures with Frankie. Inste...

Sometimes the biggest parenting victories aren't the perfect days, they're the moments your child finally feels safe enough to thrive. One year ago, we hit record hoping a handful of parents might feel a little less alone. Today, after nearly 60 episodes, we're sitting down together in person to answer your questions, reflect on everything we've learned, and celebrate the incredible NeuroDADverse...

Sometimes the biggest parenting victories aren't the perfect days—they're the moments your child finally feels safe enough to thrive. Some days you're running on empty... then your child does something that reminds you why you never give up. Summer holidays have arrived, routines have disappeared, sleep has become even more unpredictable, and like many SEND families, we're trying to find our feet...

After a year of never missing a Friday release, we'd rather be honest about a delay than rush something our community deserves to enjoy. Sometimes the best decision is to wait just a little longer. This isn't our usual NeuroDADverse episode. Instead, Dan shares a quick update explaining why our special one-year anniversary Q&A isn't quite ready yet and why we think it'll be worth the wait. Fir...

It's easy to believe nothing is changing… until one moment reminds you just how far your child has come. In Episode 57 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast , Ben and Dan reflect on school reports, creative confidence, emotional regulation, summer challenges and why looking back is sometimes the only way to truly appreciate your child's progress. This week, the dads explore the reality of parenting neurodi...

Sometimes the biggest breakthrough isn’t a milestone… it’s realising just how far your child has quietly come. In this special solo episode of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Dan shares the wins and challenges from the past week while Ben takes a well-earned break. From navigating sensory overload during the summer heat to celebrating a successful school fête, this episode is a reminder that progress i...

Some of the most meaningful breakthroughs don’t arrive with fanfare, they’re hidden inside ordinary moments you almost overlook. It’s easy to focus on what’s still difficult. It’s much harder to notice just how far your child has already come. In Episode 55 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on a week shaped by extreme heat, sensory overload, school challenges, growing independence,...

The biggest breakthroughs in neurodivergent parenting often happen in moments that other people would never notice. Some weeks feel heavy until you stop and look back. In Episode 54 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on Father’s Day, sleep deprivation, school struggles, sports day anxiety, growing independence, and the small moments that remind you how far your children have come.&n...

Some of the biggest neurodivergent parenting wins happen when you stop chasing the perfect plan and start following the person in front of you. You spend days planning the perfect experience… only for your child to need something completely different. In Episode 53 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on flexibility, emotional regulation, school avoidance, family adventures, and the s...

Have you ever caught yourself expecting something from your child… only to realise later they genuinely couldn’t do it? In Episode 52 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on one of the most uncomfortable parts of parenting neurodivergent children: the moments when we forget what they’re carrying and accidentally judge them through a neurotypical lens.   Sometimes the hardest pare...

You spend weeks planning the perfect family break… and then your child needs something completely different. In Episode 51 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on half-term holidays, sensory overload, family adventures, unexpected parenting challenges, and the moments that remind you why flexibility matters more than perfection.   From navigating a neurodivergent family holiday i...

One small change in routine can affect everything. In Episode 50 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Amy joins Dan for her full podcast debut to reflect on a week full of disrupted routines, emotional exhaustion, sensory overwhelm, and the constant balancing act of trying to support neurodivergent children through change.  Ben and the family are on holiday remote with non-optimal Wi-Fi. From differ...

You can encourage them every single day… and still watch them doubt themselves. In Episode 49 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on self-worth, confidence, rejection sensitivity, and the emotional reality of trying to build belief in neurodivergent children who often struggle to see their own strengths.   This week’s episode gets more reflective and emotional than usual as the...

You can feel the burnout building… even before your child says a word. In Episode 48 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan talk about emotional exhaustion, sensory overload, teenage burnout, and the quiet parenting decisions that happen behind the scenes every single day.  From Frankie becoming completely deregulated after a difficult car journey, to Mabel being physically sick during the...

How much freedom should you give neurodivergent teenagers and how do you know when to step back? In Episode 47 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on one of the biggest parenting challenges yet: balancing protection, independence, boundaries, and trust as neurodivergent children become teenagers. This episode explores the emotional reality of letting kids make their own choices, from...

How do you support your child fully… when you’re worried about how the world might respond? In Episode 46 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on a week of growth, identity, school pressure, and the emotional balancing act of parenting neurodivergent children. This episode explores the real tension between encouraging your child to be themselves and protecting them from a world that d...