

Beautifully Complex
Penny Williams
Join parenting coach and mom-in-the-trenches, Penny Williams, as she helps parents, caregivers, and educators harness the realization that we are all beautifully complex and marvelously imperfect. Each week she delivers insights and actionable strategies on parenting and educating neurodivergent kids — those with ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disabilities... Her 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. Penny has helped thousands of families worldwide to help their kids feel good so they can do good.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 20, 2021 • 31min
PAP 147: School Avoidance and Refusal
Does your child avoid or flat-out refuse to go to school sometimes? School avoidance and refusal is the most stressful and upsetting thing I’ve gone through as a parent. The law says my kid has to attend school but my kid is so stressed and so pained in that environment that he couldn’t physically force himself to go many days, no matter the consequences. Listen in as I share our 9-year journey with school refusal and help you understand why it’s happening and how to handle it as effectively as possible. The struggle is real… but you are not alone.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Oct 6, 2021 • 22min
PAP 146: Your Child is Not Your Enemy
Our culture seems to dictate that parents should have control over their kids. We should command them and they should comply. But this authoritarian parent-child relationship is harmful and not at all helpful. It sets us up to see our kids as our enemies — a mindset that is enormously damaging and actually makes our kids’ behavior worse. In this episode of the Parenting ADHD Podcast, I’ll outline how to get on the same team as your child and show you how that positively impacts your child’s behavior, self-worth, and success. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Sep 29, 2021 • 37min
PAP 145: How to Stop Yelling at Your Kids, with Robbin McManne
Yelling at someone who is causing you anguish or frustration is totally natural. We are wired to respond in kind to keep ourselves safe. However, yelling at our kids, no matter what the situation, is never helpful. Ok, if they’re running out into traffic, yelling is warranted, I’ll give you that. But outside of safety situations, yelling is counterproductive. Listen in to this episode of the Parenting ADHD Podcast where I talk with parent coach, Robbin McManne, about the power of putting a pause in place and what that looks like. You must put space between what’s happening for your child and what’s happening for you at that moment so you can parent with intention… and effectively. Listen in as Robbin explains why you have to fight for your calm like you fight for your kids. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Sep 22, 2021 • 27min
PAP 144: Creating Success for Your Child by Changing Your Lens, with Sarah Wayland, Ph.D. & Penny Williams
Parents get to choose how they view their child’s behavior. You can decide that they are behaving poorly or have “bad” qualities, like laziness. Or, you can take into account your child’s brain and biology and use it to guide how you view challenging behavior. It really is your choice to make. In this first episode of the Behavior Revolution series on the Parenting ADHD Podcast, Sarah and I share how to choose and use the most effective view of behavior. You’ll learn about dysregulation and why your child acts the way they do and, most importantly, how to help your child feel better and do better.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Sep 15, 2021 • 34min
PAP 143: Helping Your Teen Get Motivated, with Dr. Norrine Russell
A lack of motivation isn’t a character flaw. There’s always a reason why someone isn’t on task or meeting expectations, and it’s virtually never that they just don’t care. When it feels like your child is unmotivated, ask yourself, “What’s getting in the way?” In this episode of the parenting ADHD Podcast, Dr. Norrine Russell shares how to take a deep dive into a seeming lack of motivation to determine what is preventing your child or teen from getting things done.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Sep 8, 2021 • 37min
PAP 142: What to Do When Smart Kids are Struggling, with Jeannine Jannot, Ph.D.
When kids are struggling in school, it’s not just about academics — social connectedness and mental and emotional health play a key role in success at school too. Our current tick-the-box, high-stakes educational culture doesn’t work for our kids, especially kids with ADHD and/or autism. In this episode of the Parenting ADHD Podcast, join me as I talk with Jeannine Jannot, Ph.D., author of “The Disintegrating Student,” about what to do when your bright kid hits the wall of rigor and loses confidence in their ability to succeed at school. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Sep 1, 2021 • 33min
PAP 141: Motivating Bright but Bored Students, with Alex Hargrove
Many students with ADHD are underachievers or gifted underachievers. They are bright but don’t do well in school. Alex Hargrove JD — author of "Reversing Underachievement: A Practical Guide for Parents of Underachieving Gifted Children," is one of those students. He graduated high school with a 2.2 GPA and a real disinterest in school and learning. Yet, he went on to get a law degree and co-found a multimillion-dollar company. In this episode of the Parenting ADHD Podcast, Alex shares what sparked his eventual school success and what parents can do to help their underachieving students find their own spark.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Aug 25, 2021 • 34min
PAP 140: What It’s Like to Grow Up with Undiagnosed ADHD, with Lia McCabe
What I most wanted to know when my son was little was what it was like to have ADHD. I wanted to know his experience so I could be as helpful as possible. I asked as many ADHD adults as I could what would be helpful for my son. Lia McCabe is sharing these same insights as an adult who grew up with undiagnosed ADHD in this episode of the Parenting ADHD Podcast. She shares her story with you to help you understand your child and what they need from you most. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Aug 18, 2021 • 34min
PAP 139: How to Talk When Kids Won’t Listen, with Julie King
Many parents feel like their kids simply won’t listen to them. And when you have a kid with ADHD (or autism), it feels like they won’t listen most of the time, but you can change that. In this episode of the Parenting ADHD Podcast, I’m talking with Julie King, co-author of the newest book in the famed “How to Talk” parenting series, How to Talk When Kids Won’t Listen. Join us to learn the three basics of getting kids to listen, as well as many strategies to foster a family dynamic where kids are primed to listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Aug 11, 2021 • 33min
PAP 138: Finding Joy in Parenting Kids with ADHD, with The Childhood Collective
No one disputes that raising kids with ADHD is more challenging. There’s a definitive struggle that can often overwhelm parents and family. But, that doesn’t mean your parenting life and family journey has to be devoid of joy. Quite the opposite! Join me and the ladies of The Childhood Collective — Lori Long, Mallory Yee, and Katie Severson — as we discuss the process necessary for parenting with intention and creating joy. Learn to see the beauty of the storm.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.