Beautifully Complex

Parents often ask, “Is it sensory or is it behavior?” The truth is, sensory challenges cause behavior. Knowing that helps you determine a child’s intent and then zoom out and rewind to determine the particular sensory struggle that caused the behavior. There are many potential sensory struggles and they depend entirely on the individual. In this episode, I’m joined by occupational therapist Laura Petix (aka, the OTbutterfly). Laura shares a variety of real-life examples to help you learn how to determine the specific sensory systems impacted in the tasks and activities your child or student struggles with. She explains the concepts in an easy to understand way so you better understand what’s triggering behavior and can formulate an informed plan to help.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

No parent wants to yell at their kids, but it happens. We are emotional, complex, imperfect creatures, just like our kids, so we are going to make mistakes. Just like our kids. However, we can make simple changes in our parenting that can have profound positive effects on how often our kids are triggered, and ourselves.  In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I’m talking with positive parenting expert, Amy McCready, about the basic emotional needs of kids and adults, some parenting truth bombs that will help you see a more effective path forward, and some proactive strategies that will help our kids feel better and do better more often.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

This short bonus episode shares a couple announcements — including a free webinar — and the Behavior Revolution's best tips for handling the unpredictability of summer with neurodivergent kids. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

For most children with ADHD, autism, or anxiety, one of the biggest stressors can be the unknown — unknown place, unknown schedule, unknown future. For this reason, vacation with neurodivergent kids can be challenging. As parents, we have grand expectations of family vacations… we want them to be packed full of memorable moments and ample joy. But the reality is that no one’s family vacations are like that. Every family has challenges. Ours just may have more sometimes. So join us for some tried-n-true tips on successful family vacations with neurodivergent kids.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

We are in a crisis when it comes to children’s mental health and the healthcare needed to address it. We’re seeing a spike in anxiety and depression in kids and almost zero availability of mental health professionals. In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. Jason Kahn of Boston Children’s Medical Center about what parents can do when counseling or therapy isn’t yet available for your child. Tune in to learn about community and at-home supports.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

I am excited to announce that the Parenting ADHD podcast is now the Beautifully Complex podcast.  I’ll still be sharing the same content on neurodiversity, ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning challenges, and this complex parenting journey. But now I’ll be doing it under this broader name so parents raising neurodivergent kids who don’t have ADHD will join our community also.  The entire premise of everything I share and teach is that when we feel good we can do good.  So how do we help our kids (and ourselves) feel good? Through acceptance, understanding, seeing behavior as communication, and being the calm anchor in the storm for our kids.  The Beautifully Complex podcast will help parents, caregivers, and educators harness the realization that we are all beautifully complex and marvelously imperfect. Each week I’ll offer insights and actionable strategies on parenting neurodivergent kids — those with ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disabilities... My approach to decoding behavior while honoring neurodiversity, and parenting the individual child you have will provide you with the tools to help you understand and transform behavior, reduce your own stress, increase parenting confidence, and create the joyful family life you crave.  It’s the same mission I’ve always had for the podcast… I’m just opening my arms wider to invite more parents, caregivers, and educators in.  I hope you’ll continue to join me on the journey of learning to help our neurodivergent kids find their versions of success and joy, while stressing less and enjoying parenting more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

One of the most challenging aspects of raising a neurodivergent child is school and learning. In the U.S., our schools are built on a compliance and conformity model, which is a huge barrier to success for kids who learn differently and are behind their peers in skills and development. That’s why it’s crucial that parents understand their child’s learning needs and the accommodations and services they are entitled to.  In this episode, I’m talking with former special education teacher and advocate, Liz Capone, about IEPs, 504 plans, and how to work with your child’s school to ensure that your child has what they need at school to learn and show mastery.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

The one thing all of us want for children is for them to feel loved, important, and special. As much as we want that, we don’t always succeed at it — life gets busy, and even the most well-meaning adults get frustrated and have bad days. Since neurodivergent kids get exponentially more negative messaging each and every day because of their differences, it’s crucial that caregivers make a conscious effort to ensure that these kids feel loved and lovable.  In this episode of the Parenting ADHD Podcast, I’m talking with the author of the “All the Time” children’s book series, Deborah Farmer Kris, about the steps parents can take to ensure that kids feel truly loved and loveable. Deborah provides quick, simple ideas you can take action on right away.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Sensory challenges are common with both ADHD and autism. Often, the way sensory input is processed by an individual can explain behavior. In this episode of the Parenting ADHD Podcast, I’m talking with Carol Stock Kranowitz about the changes in her latest edition of her groundbreaking book, The Out-of-Sync Child, the importance of movement in working with sensory challenges, and what to do if your child struggles with sensory processing.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

The concept of self-regulation is well-known among parents of kids with ADHD or autism. Especially since our kids often struggle to self-regulate. But there’s a lot more to talk about in the world of regulation. Our autonomic nervous systems drive behavior. And that nervous system is always either in a state of regulation or a state of dysregulation. This is crucial understanding for parents, caregivers, and teachers of neurodivergent kids. When one is regulated, they are calm and connected and feeling good. But when one is dysregulated, they’re feeling out-of-whack and that drives behavior. Join Sarah Wayland and I as we discuss how to recognize if your child is regulated or dysregulated and how that information informs your responses.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.