Beautifully Complex 339: When Hope Feels Heavy: Permission to Start A New Year Without Optimism, with Penny Williams
Jan 1, 2026
23:44
There are moments in parenting when hope doesn’t feel light or motivating — it feels heavy. Like something we’re expected to carry when we’re already exhausted. If you’re walking into a new year feeling worn down instead of inspired, this episode is for you.
I recorded this specifically for New Years, a day filled with pressure to feel optimistic, goal-driven, and ready for a fresh start. But the truth is, I wasn’t feeling hopeful. I was tired. Uncertain. Emotional. And rather than masking that or forcing a shiny version of hope, I wanted to talk honestly about a different kind of hope — one that doesn’t require belief, certainty, or high energy.
This episode is about redefining hope in a way that actually works for parents of neurodivergent kids. Hope that sounds like: I don’t know how this will turn out, but I’m still here. Hope that lives in tiny steps, support, steadiness, and permission to begin without confidence.
We talk about burnout as information, not failure. About why pushing harder never lifts burnout, and what actually does. About capacity instead of goals, responsiveness instead of consistency, and support instead of pressure. And about why your child doesn’t need a “new year, new you” — they just need you, depleted less and supported more.
If you’re starting this year feeling heavy, unsure, or worn thin, you’re not alone. You don’t need optimism to take the next step. You need care. Support. And a reminder that you don’t have to do this alone.
Listen in for a grounding, compassionate reframe that meets you exactly where you are.
You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.
Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/339
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
I recorded this specifically for New Years, a day filled with pressure to feel optimistic, goal-driven, and ready for a fresh start. But the truth is, I wasn’t feeling hopeful. I was tired. Uncertain. Emotional. And rather than masking that or forcing a shiny version of hope, I wanted to talk honestly about a different kind of hope — one that doesn’t require belief, certainty, or high energy.
This episode is about redefining hope in a way that actually works for parents of neurodivergent kids. Hope that sounds like: I don’t know how this will turn out, but I’m still here. Hope that lives in tiny steps, support, steadiness, and permission to begin without confidence.
We talk about burnout as information, not failure. About why pushing harder never lifts burnout, and what actually does. About capacity instead of goals, responsiveness instead of consistency, and support instead of pressure. And about why your child doesn’t need a “new year, new you” — they just need you, depleted less and supported more.
If you’re starting this year feeling heavy, unsure, or worn thin, you’re not alone. You don’t need optimism to take the next step. You need care. Support. And a reminder that you don’t have to do this alone.
Listen in for a grounding, compassionate reframe that meets you exactly where you are.
You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.
Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/339
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.