Where They're Planted

Jen is joined by educator, author and Equine Gestalt Coaching specialist, Marcy Waelti, to discuss using horses to support neurodivergent kids regulation, embodiment and communication. Marcy shares how her work impacts children and their families, and she introduces her new book, That Zen Farm, which discussed her path to this work. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK...

Jordan Salzano returns to the podcast to discuss the effects of bullying for the neurodivergent individual, the snowball effect it has on the family and what parents can do to support their child who may be being bullied. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Link to Deepening Parent Community - TPC Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske Contact Jen Blus...

Jen is joined by Dr. Robert Naseef to discuss how to support dads in the process of raising neurodivergent children, the grief parents may feel when their kids are neurodiverse, the power of acceptance and community, and celebrating differences as a resistance movement. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske Contact...

Jen Bluske speaks with Jordan Salzano, an autistic author and advocate, about pivoting after her ice hockey dreams ended and how that led to work in motivation, autism/disability self-advocacy, anti-bullying, and mental health. Jordan shares five strategies parents can use to help their neurodiverse children navigate change and how they can take care of themselves in the meantime. Deepening Parent...

Jen discusses the often-unspoken reality that parents can deeply love their children while not liking them at times. She explores developmental changes that make kids feel like “strangers,” how children’s behaviors can reflect parents’ unmet needs and loss of self in early parenting, and offers practical ways back to connection. Deepening Into Parenting Membership **Submit questions for Jen to ans...

Sarah Dimick returns to talk with Jen how parenting teens can sometimes be super challenging and the reasons why it feels so tricky. Jen and Sarah discuss what is happening at this age from a brain development perspective and why teens tend to push back on much of what we say in their questions for autonomy. They give strategies for how to set effective boundaries and ways to create moments of las...

Jen talks with experienced summer camp director, Jamie Gale, Jamie Gale to discuss how parents of neurodivergent kids can help set their kids up for success at summer camps. Jamie and Jen discuss what information to share with camp about kids and their needs, how to work with camp staff before and during camp to ensure a positive experience and what parents can do if there are bumps in the road. D...

Shannon Stuckey returns to the podcast to discuss how the brain creates narratives to predict safety and make sense of experiences, which become core beliefs that shape parenting. Jen and Shannon explain how early caregiver interactions can program beliefs and emphasize that unspoken beliefs and nonverbal “energy” affect sensitive and neurodivergent kids. Jen and Shannon suggest way to make change...

In this second part of Jen’s two-part series on communicating with your kids who have big feelings, Jen discusses the more nuanced factors of communication that pack a punch in creating success and connection with your child. She explains how non-verbal communication, timing and pacing and family communication patterns can impact outcomes and connection with kids and gives practical strategies for...

In this first episode of a two-part series, Jen discusses communication strategies that are effective and lead to connection and understanding with our kids, especially those who tend to have big feelings that they express in big ways. Jen explores the topics of active and reflective listening, how regulation affects communication, and the "power of the pause." **Submit questions for Jen...

Jen talks about emotional resilience both from a developmental and relational lens. She discusses was emotional resilience is NOT and offers strategies that parents can use to foster emotional resilience in their kids. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske Contact Jen Bluske: Clinic Website Thriving Parents Collecti...

In this follow up episode, Jen discusses how she supports giftedness in children through an occupational therapy lens. She shares some key elements of how giftedness can present and some common developmental patterns, as well as ways to assist gifted children both in therapy and at home. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Resources: Hopelessly Gifted Podcast with Ma...

Jen is joined by counselor for the gifted, Mark Talaga to discuss the concept of giftedness and what it means to have asynchronous development, often referred to as "2E". We learn how parents can best support their gifted kids to help them reach their full potential. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske C...

Jen explores the complicated experience of being a mom while parenting unique kids. She discusses what it means to raise kids while also trying to grow and change as adults and how this impacts our child’s development and sense of self. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske Contact Jen Bluske: Clinic Website Thrivin...

Jen discusses four ways to make the most of the upcoming holiday season without adding unnecessary stress and pressure in the process in order to maximize joy and connection for families. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske Contact Jen Bluske: Clinic Website Thriving Parents Collective Website Where They’re Plante...

Jen helps us answer the question “am I modeling what I expect of my kids?” and explains how an authoritative parenting style and some important guided reflection and practice can help parents become a leader and an intentional example for their children. Parent Coaching - Thriving Parents Collective Website **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Produce...

Jen discusses the challenge of navigating the input and commentary from our friends, family and community members that does not always feel supporting when parenting unique children. Jen explains ways to determine what type of support would be helpful and when to provide further information or knowledge to those around us. She discusses how to set healthy boundaries in order to be able to parent w...

Jen Bluske is joined by Cassie, a homeschooling parent, to discuss the benefits and challenges of homeschooling, why they chose homeschooling for their family and the considerations when deciding if it is right for a family. Resources: Southwest Madison Homeschool PlaygroupMadison CIRCLE Social GroupDane County Forest FriendsWild & FreeAldo Leopold Nature Center- "Nature School" **Su...

Jen is joined by parent coach and yoga therapy specialist Sarah Dimick to discuss creating success for children in the school through specialized supports such as an IEP or 504 plan. Sarah and Jen discuss what an IEP is, how a child qualifies for accommodations and how these plans are developed. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Ga...

Jen Bluske explores the often overlooked importance of boredom in child development. She discusses four main benefits and offers practical steps for parents to integrate these moments into their schedules and homes. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske Contact Jen Bluske: Clinic Website Thriving Parents Collective...

Season Two begins with this episode! Jen Bluske shares practical strategies to help families establish and fine tune daily routines as the school year gets underway. She discusses ways to create both open space and structure to support children’s regulation and family flow. Beyond The Screens Course: https://www.thrivingparentscollective.com/courses **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podc...

Jen Bluske wraps up the season with a personal reflection on parenting through the transition of children launching into adulthood. Jen shares what she wishes she could tell her younger parenting self and what she encourages listeners to focus on early in their parenting experience. Episodes will resume in September after this personal transition for Jen! **Submit questions for Jen to answer on th...

Jen discusses setting boundaries in parenting while maintaining connection with children. Jen explains what a boundary is offers tangible ways to set effective boundaries with children. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske Contact Jen Bluske: Clinic Website Thriving Parents Collective Website Where They’re Planted...

Jen Bluske discusses allowing children to fail as an important tool for supporting their increased resilience and autonomy. She explores the developmental context of growing autonomy and discuss strategies parents and teachers can use in order to support children during their times of frustration and failure. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Produ...

Jen Bluske describes the process of moving toward acceptance in ones parenting journey and how to acknowledge both the vision of what we thought parenting would be and what the reality is. She discusses how through acceptance parents can authentically create connection and harbor growth in their children. **Submit questions for Jen to answer on the podcast AT THIS LINK . Host: Jen Bluske Producers...