On The Hard Days

About This Episode: I can't believe this is the last episode of 2021! What a ride. In this episode, I'm reflecting on the changes I've made as a mother and sharing a few tips with YOU! MORE : -Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up! -Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple , Spotify , or...

About This Episode: I can't believe we're at this point! These are the Top 5 most downloaded episodes this year - and honestly, they're some of my favorites. If you haven't listened to them all - you are truly missing out. I'll link them all right here for easy access! Happy listening! 1) Ep. 1 My Rock-Bottom Parenting Moment 2) Ep. 54 Mom Patricia Sung on Understanding AD...

Oh MAN this is a special episode! Blakeley, Laura, and Ashley are all raising neurodiverse children. They are also all in Mothers Together (in 3 different support groups!) - and they joined me live on IG a few days ago to chat about all things Mothers Together. I couldn't have imagined a better testimonial from these amazing moms and I'm truly grateful. Finding your people is about letti...

About This Episode: This week I'm talking with Salka, an amazing mother in Sweden. She and her son were diagnosed at the same time with Autism, and I was amazed at her level of comfort in understanding her child. Here are just some of the things we discussed: -Supporting her son through his identity shift -Throwing traditional parenting techniques out the window when they don't work -Fee...

About This Episode: This week I'm talking with Megan, who is raising a non-verbal child with Autism. One of my biggest takeaways was how, despite the grief, she found joy and positivity in the diagnosis of her child. Here are just some of the things we discussed: -What are the early signs of Autism? -Speech delays - what is normal? -Hearing the diagnosis: The tone of delivery -ABA therapy -Di...

About This Episode: This conversation with Wassima was unlike any I've had before. As a Turkish citizen, she is open and candid about the challenges she faces in raising her son. "Lack of support" really doesn't do it justice, and I'm so grateful to her for coming on and sharing her story. Here are just some of the things we discussed: -The meaning of "giftedness&quot...

About This Episode: Oh man, this episode is AMAZING. Stacy drops so many nuggets of wisdom, it was almost hard to keep up. Yes, it's a long one, but it's worth every minute of your time. Take the whole week to listen to it in spurts - but make sure you get to that ending! Here are just some of the things we discussed: -Dropping "good" and "bad" behavior labels -Having...

About This Episode: Jody has gone through a long list of emotions in raising her daughter, who has Autism and a seizure disorder. She's changed her motherhood mindset recently around how to parent her - keep in safe in a little bubble? Or let her experience the world? Here are just some of the things we discussed: -Separating parenting strategies from our inner voice -The mistake in fantasizi...

About This Episode: Maria is a powerhouse mom of neurodivergent children. Her inner strength and the clarity in her voice was inspiring - especially when she talked about education! Make sure you listen to the whole thing, because the ending is SO powerful. I've never felt more compelled to homeschool after chatting with Maria! Here are just some of the things we discussed: -Setting boundarie...

About This Episode: Jennifer Dunn is the amazing mother of a child with severe Autism. She's vocal about advocating for her child and chatted with me about the hardships of raising her kid. Above all else, I was struck by the amount of people in her life who *dropped the ball*. Here are just some of the things we discussed: -When medication makes behaviors worse -Schools and educators - when...

About This Episode: Patricia Sung is just the person I needed to talk to. She has ADHD and understands its nuances to a fault. She has her own podcast, Motherhood in ADHD, and is a featured guest speaker in my support group community, Mothers Together. In this episode, she was able to answer so many of my questions. We could've talked for hours longer! Here's just some of the things we d...

About This Episode: Okay my friends - I don't know how else to put this, but you MUST listen to the whole thing. I don't care if it takes you a week! Kris is one of the bravest mothers I know, and she REALLY puts it all out there in this conversation. She's raw, she's vulnerable, and she speaks the truth about raising out-of-the-box kids. You will laugh. You will cry.  And plea...

In This Episode: Cara Maclean's tone is full of steadfast resolve in our conversation - she gets it. Not only that, but she's made a commitment to helping other parents, especially moms, in the challenges of raising out-of-the-box kids. We also talk about: -Difference in parents in helping their kids and the disconnect in couples -Education for gifted kids - and how neurotypical children...

In This Episode: Such a good episode with Ilana! We had an in-depth conversation about giftedness, asynchronous development, and how our kids need to be in touch with themselves (and we do too!) Don't miss this eye-opening chat - my mouth dropped open several times. Be sure to listen to the WHOLE episode - the ending is fantastic! -The flip side of giftedness in 2E -Existential depression -Mi...

In This Episode: This was an eye-opening conversation with Eileen Lamb, the mother behind the social media handle The Autism Cafe. Her two sons are autistic (one severely) and she herself is also on the spectrum. Here are some things we discuss: -Understanding your child with the same diagnosis as you -How getting an autism diagnosis leads to better services -The stigma of autism in other countrie...

In This Episode: Crystal Dorothy is the woman behind Not So Supermom Vs. Society. A mom of two neurodiverse children, she's using her voice and platform to educate others about raising kids who don't fit in the box.  Here are some of the things we discuss: -DMDD vs. ODD -Aggressive children - sometimes feels like an abusive relationship -The stigma around autism -When kids take on the pe...

In This Episode: OH my goodness, the episode is AMAZING. There is NO way, after listening to it, that you won't feel something in in your gut about the message Nancy is spreading. She drops gold again and again with detailed talk about acceptance and letting your child just "be". Whether you listen all in one sitting or break the episode up over the week - make sure you listen to th...

...but the anger I feel towards my child is really directed at myself, for feeling guilty that I care so much what others think. If I can only shed that guilt and accept imperfection, maybe I won't be so angry... The theme for our mini-episodes this week is the fear of being judged . Each day, I'll touch upon a way I view this topic that has helped me understand and accept myself as a mo...

...because I'm so caught up in what works best for other people, that I lose sight of my own intuition. The theme for our mini-episodes this week is the fear of being judged . Each day, I'll touch upon a way I view this topic that has helped me understand and accept myself as a mother of a neurodiverse child. Thank you so much for tuning in. Does this episode resonate with you today? Ple...

Is there a hidden truth to this? What if it's more about what I think of my parenting? I need to accept MYSELF as a parent - and only then will other's opinions of my mothering not matter. The theme for our mini-episodes this week is the fear of being judged . Each day, I'll touch upon a way I view this topic that has helped me understand and accept myself as a mother of a neurodive...

However, I can't control what people think. What I CAN control is what I think of my child. And if I accept who he/she is, and I accept who I am - then there's nothing to worry about. The theme for our mini-episodes this week is the fear of being judged . Each day, I'll touch upon a way I view this topic that has helped me understand and accept myself as a mother of a neurodiverse c...

In This Episode: Katie is a wonderful mom who has worked really hard at understanding and supporting her child's development. Kids need to feel safe and supported, and that means sometimes we have to share the control and power with them. We also talk about: -Balancing the needs of a career with the needs of neurodiverse kids -How to check yourself to meet your own needs -The difference betwe...

...it's just a fact. If you have a friend with neurotypical children and she sets and keeps boundaries like a boss, maybe it's because of the fact that - her children are neurotypical! So cut yourself some slack - you're doing an amazing job. The theme for our mini-episodes this week is boundaries . Each day, I'll touch upon a way I view this topic that has helped me understand...

...Isn't that what parenting is all about, anyway? Meeting the needs of your child? Sometimes, that has to be on their terms, not yours. The theme for our mini-episodes this week is boundaries . Each day, I'll touch upon a way I view this topic that has helped me understand and accept myself as a mother of a neurodiverse child. Thank you so much for tuning in. Does this episode resonate...

...because we're all human, and if someone acts like they stay firm in every parenting decision they make, they're lying. The theme for our mini-episodes this week is boundaries . Each day, I'll touch upon a way I view this topic that has helped me understand and accept myself as a mother of a neurodiverse child. Thank you so much for tuning in. Does this episode resonate with you t...