Calm Connection Parenting | Neurodivergent, Meltdowns, Emotional Regulation, DMDD, Tantrums, SPD, Defiance, Angry Behaviors

If you are parenting a neurodivergent child or a child with ADHD, autism, anxiety, DMDD, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, or big behaviors, vacation can bring up a lot of stress before you ever leave the driveway. The packing. The car ride. The restaurants. The hotel. The transitions. The sleeping somewhere new. The waiting. The crowds. The change in routine. And sometimes, the judgment fro...

Are you preparing for an IEP or 504 meeting and wondering what to ask, what to document, or what to do if you feel dismissed by the school? In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami Kirkbride continues her conversation with Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, about how parents can advocate with more confidence and clarity at the IEP or 504 table. If you have e...

Is your child struggling at school, but you are not sure whether they need an IEP, a 504 plan, accommodations, evaluations, services, goals, or a behavior plan? In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami Kirkbride talks with Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, about IEP and 504 help for parents who do not know where to start. If you have ever wondered whether y...

Parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, ASD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns or challenging behaviors can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to carry it all without enough support. If you have ever wondered what kind of help would actually make a difference, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, we’re talking about how to find the support y...

Is it selfish to take a break when parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, big emotions, meltdowns, or challenging behaviors? When your child needs extra support, extra patience, extra tools, and extra advocacy, it can feel hard to step away, even when you know you are exhausted. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, we’re talking about why self-care is not...

Do you feel lonely parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, big emotions, or challenging behaviors ? Even when you are surrounded by people, parenting a high-needs or neurodivergent child can feel isolating when others do not understand what your family is carrying. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast , we’re talking about why support matters so m...

Moms of neurodivergent kids, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, big emotions, or challenging behaviors often feel like they are always on alert and struggle to rest. In this episode we talk about why rest can feel so hard when your body is used to being on guard, constantly anticipating the next argument, meltdown, sibling conflict, school concern, or emotional shift. If you are raising a c...

Ever looked at your calendar, bank account, grocery bill, gas tank, and emotional capacity and wondered, “How are we supposed to keep doing this?” Parenting a neurodivergent child or a child with ADHD, DMDD, autism, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, big emotions, or challenging behaviors does not just affect your parenting style. It can affect your money, marriage, career, health, other children...

Have you ever thought, “I should be able to handle this better…” Parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, big emotions, or challenging behaviors can wear down even the strongest mom. You may be capable, responsible, loving, and committed… and still feel completely exhausted by the daily weight of holding everything together. In this episode of the Calm Connection Pare...

How do you know when your child needs more support at school… and what do you do next? If your child is struggling with ADHD, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, executive functioning challenges, school refusal, shutdowns, overwhelm, or after-school meltdowns, navigating IEPs and 504 plans can feel confusing and intimidating. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, I’m joined by El...

Why is your child struggling at school? Learn what may be happening beneath ADHD behaviors, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, school refusal, shutdowns, executive functioning challenges, and after-school meltdowns.  Is your child struggling at school… or is something important being missed? If your child is melting down after school, refusing homework, shutting down in class, struggling with focus, o...

Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in survival mode as a parent? If you’re parenting a child with big emotions, emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or neurodivergent needs , it can feel like you’re constantly holding everything together on the outside… while quietly running on empty inside. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast , we’re having an honest and hope-filled con...

Is your home adding to your stress? When you are parenting a child with big emotions, neurodivergent needs, or constant unpredictability, clutter and disorganization can quietly add to the overwhelm you are already carrying. In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Gervais of Bee Organized Northern Colorado for a conversation about how your environment affects your mood, nervous system, and capacity a...

How to stay calm during your child’s meltdowns. Learn nervous system regulation tools for parents of emotionally dysregulated or ADHD kids—and what actually helps.   How DO you stay calm when your child is melting down… and everything in you wants to react? If you’re parenting a child with emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, ADHD, or intense emotional reactions , you already know… It’s not just yo...

Why your child takes everything personally. Learn how emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) impact kids with ADHD, DMDD, or mood disorders—and what you can do to help.  Why does your child take everything so personally, overreact to small things, or melt down over what seems like minor situations ? If you’re parenting a child with emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or intense...

Why your child’s meltdowns aren’t bad behavior. For kids with emotional dysregulation, DMDD, or ADHD, these moments are opportunities—not problems.  For many children, especially those with emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or strong-willed personalities , meltdowns aren’t bad behavior… they’re a signal. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast , I’m joined by Kirk Martin , founder of...

Why does your child struggle with tasks, focus, and follow-through? For kids with ADHD, DMDD, SPD, PDA, and executive function challenges, it’s not laziness—it’s how their brain works. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast , I’m joined by Leslie Josel , award-winning ADHD student and parenting coach, to break down what executive function really is and why it impacts your child’s...

Why does your child have such big meltdowns and emotional reactions? For kids with sensory processing challenges, ADHD, DMDD, or emotional dysregulation, behavior may be a signal—not defiance. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast , I’m joined by Carol Stock Kranowitz , best-selling author of The Out-of-Sync Child , to explore how sensory processing differences impact your child...

Why do some children experience emotional dysregulation, explosive meltdowns, and challenging behaviors that seem bigger than the situation? In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, I’m joined by parenting expert Penny Williams, host of the Beautifully Complex Podcast with more than 5 million downloads, to talk about why some kids have bigger emotions and behaviors than others. Pa...

 If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, or intense meltdowns and wondering whether parent coaching or parenting support could help your family, this episode will help you discern the right next step.  Parenting a neurodivergent or emotionally intense child often requires more than generic parenting advice. But not all parent education, coaching programs, or support g...

If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, or intense meltdowns and wondering how to actually build emotional regulation skills… this episode will give you hope and a practical starting point. Emotional regulation is not just maturity. It’s a skill. And skills can be taught, practiced, and strengthened over time — even in neurodivergent kids who struggle with executive f...

Have you ever felt like you’ve tried every therapy, every strategy, and every parenting tool for your child with emotional dysregulation… and it still isn’t enough? Parenting a child with emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or DMDD can feel exhausting when treatment options fall through, waiting lists are long, and support systems don’t understand your child’s challenging behaviors. In this episode, yo...

If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, emotional dysregulation, or intense meltdowns and you find yourself yelling even when you don’t want to, this episode will help you understand why it happens and what to do instead. Parenting an emotionally dysregulated or neurodivergent child is neurologically exhausting. When your child’s nervous system goes into overload, yours can too. And willpower alone...

If your child has after-school meltdowns, falls apart after activities, or seems emotionally exhausted the moment they get home, this episode will help you understand why. In this episode, we unpack after-school meltdowns, emotional dysregulation, restraint collapse, and nervous system overload in children with ADHD, DMDD, or other neurodivergent traits, so you can respond with more clarity, confi...

Why does traditional discipline make meltdowns worse for an emotionally dysregulated, ADHD, neurodivergent, or DMDD child? If consequences, time-outs, and typical parenting advice escalate behavior instead of improving it, this episode explains why. You’ll learn how common discipline strategies trigger stress, nervous system overload, and emotional dysregulation — and what actually helps children...