Calm Connection Parenting | Meltdowns, Neurodivergence, Emotional Regulation, DMDD, Autism, SPD, Defiance, Angry Behaviors

Helping siblings understand neurodivergence can be hard, especially when one child needs more flexibility, support, attention, or a different response. In this episode, we talk about what to do when siblings say, “Why does he get away with everything?” or “That’s not fair!”

You’ll hear about:

• Why fair does not always mean equal in a neurodivergent family
• How to validate a sibling’s frustration without turning one child into the problem
• What siblings should not be expected to carry or manage
• Simple ways to protect connection, space, and trust between siblings

If one child’s needs seem to shape the whole household, this episode will help you explain the differences without dismissing anyone’s feelings. The goal is not to make everything look the same, but to help every child feel seen, supported, and understood.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

Feeling defeated as a parent of a neurodivergent child can hit hard. In this episode, we talk about the emotional exhaustion, discouragement, and pressure that can build when parenting feels like an unpredictable roller coaster…and why sometimes you need to feel what is hard before you try to fix it.

You’ll hear about:

• Why parents sometimes need to function in the moment and process the emotions later
• How unaddressed stress can quietly pile up over time
• Why giving yourself space to feel does not mean getting stuck there
• Simple ways to release some of the emotional pressure when you feel worn down

If you’ve had a parenting day that left you discouraged, embarrassed, exhausted, or wondering whether anything is really changing, this short episode offers permission to stop problem-solving for a moment, acknowledge what you’re carrying, and give your weary heart a little room to breathe.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

How do you reconnect with a neurodivergent child who seems to push you away? In this episode, we explore what connection can really look like after meltdowns, hurtful words, emotional dysregulation, sensory overload, or everyday moments when your child seems distant or uninterested.

You’ll hear about:

• Why pushing you away does not always mean your child doesn’t want connection
• How well-meaning attempts to talk, reassure, or fix things can sometimes add more pressure
• What small, everyday moments can help rebuild safety and connection
• Why space, shared interests, validation, and curiosity can sometimes work better than a big heart-to-heart

If you’ve ever wondered whether your child really wants closeness with you, or felt hurt when your attempts to connect seem to backfire, this episode will help you look at connection differently and find practical ways to meet your child where they are.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

Why do good parents still lose their cool, yell, or overreact...even when they want to stay calm? In this episode, we talk about parent anger, emotional regulation, common parenting triggers, and how to repair after a hard moment without getting stuck in guilt or shame.

You’ll hear about:

• Why certain parenting moments can trigger such a strong emotional response
• How stress, exhaustion, and feeling powerless can quietly build toward an explosion
• Why repair after yelling or overreacting can still teach something valuable
• How to recognize your own warning signs before you reach the breaking point

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t like the way I’m handling my anger,” this episode will help you understand what may be driving those reactions, take responsibility without spiraling into shame, and find a more intentional way forward.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

What do shutdowns, arguing, defiance, and meltdowns really mean for a neurodivergent child? In this episode, we talk about how parents can look beyond the behavior and better understand what may be happening inside a child’s brain and body.

This episode is all about what your child may wish you knew...but may not yet have the words to explain.

You’ll hear about:

• Why a child can know what to do and still struggle to access that skill in the moment
• How sensory and emotional overload can change the way a child responds
• Why fewer words, more processing time, and a calmer environment can make such a difference
• How curiosity can help parents move from reacting to behavior toward understanding what it may be communicating

If you’ve ever wondered whether your child is ignoring you, being defiant, or simply refusing to cooperate, this episode will help you consider what else may be happening beneath the surface, and how understanding can become a better starting point for growth and connection.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

Does parenting a neurodivergent child sometimes look too permissive, too protective, or inconsistent from the outside? In this episode, we talk about the reality of raising a child with ADHD, autism, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, executive functioning challenges, and other forms of neurodivergence...and why responsive parenting may not always look the same from one day to the next.

You’ll hear about:

• Why a child may be able to handle something one day and struggle with the exact same thing the next
• How outside judgment can miss the invisible work and decision-making happening behind the scenes
• Why explaining your child’s needs is not always the same as making excuses
• What parents and outsiders can both do to replace judgment with greater understanding

If you’ve ever questioned whether you are being too flexible, too protective, or not “consistent enough,” this episode will help you look at your child’s needs, capacity, and regulation with more clarity...and parent the child in front of you instead of parenting for the people watching.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

What does neurodivergent actually mean and could it describe your child? Neurodivergence includes far more than autism and can affect attention, sensory processing, emotional regulation, executive functioning, learning, behavior, and the way a child experiences the world.

In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, we break down neurodivergence in simple, parent-friendly language and explain why understanding your child’s unique wiring can bring clarity instead of fear.

You’ll hear about:

• Why the term neurodivergent is broader than many parents realize
• Some of the ways different wiring may show up in everyday life and behavior
• Why understanding your child does not mean lowering expectations
• How greater clarity can help you move from frustration toward curiosity and connection

If labels or diagnoses have ever felt scary, limiting, or confusing, this episode offers a different way to look at them...not as a final destination, but as a helpful starting point for understanding where your child is and what support may help them grow.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

Parenting a neurodivergent, anxious, emotionally intense, or special-needs child can bring a kind of grief that many moms feel but rarely talk about. When parenting looks different than you imagined, even fun family experiences can become filled with stress, emotional dysregulation, disappointment, and guilt

In this episode of Calm Connection Parenting, I share a personal story about a trip that brought those emotions to the surface and what helped me move through the grief without getting stuck in it.

You’ll hear about:

• Why grief can show up even when you deeply love and appreciate your child
• How to recognize when anger, frustration, or disappointment may be covering something deeper
• A practical way to shift from the idealized picture in your head to the reality your child’s nervous system can manage
• How support, acceptance, and hope can help you move forward without pretending the hard parts don’t hurt

If you’ve ever thought, “This isn’t what I imagined,” this episode will help you make space for what is true right now while still holding onto hope for what can grow and change ahead.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

Parenting a neurodivergent or high-needs child can leave moms carrying more than anyone else realizes. The exhaustion, advocacy, grief, worry, and constant need to stay one step ahead can become so normal that we forget how heavy it really is.

After the very first Calm Connection Moms Retreat in Loveland, Colorado, I came home reflecting on what happened when a group of moms raising children with big emotions, neurodivergence, and mental health challenges finally had space to rest, connect, laugh, cry, and be understood.

In this episode of Calm Connection Parenting, we talk about five important things moms of neurodivergent kids may need more of, not because all the hard things suddenly disappear, but because sometimes the support we receive changes how we walk back into them.

You’ll hear about:

• Why constantly staying strong may be costing you more than you realize
• What can happen when moms finally have space to acknowledge what they’ve been carrying
• Why feeling understood can be more powerful than receiving another piece of advice
• How one small shift in support, rest, or connection can help you return to the same life differently

Nothing at home may change overnight. But with the right support, something in you can.

Listen in and then choose one thing you need more of this week—and one small next step toward finding it.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

In this episode of Calm Connection Parenting, we discuss how to move out of panic and into curiosity when the first few weeks of school start getting harder. You’ll learn how to gather better information, listen without rushing to fix, and decide when it may be time to involve the school.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why the first days of school can sometimes look easier than the weeks that follow
• How to spot patterns that may point to stress, overwhelm, or a more specific struggle
• Simple ways to help your child open up without feeling judged, pressured, or immediately “fixed”
• How to know when it may be time to move from listening and observing into calm, thoughtful advocacy

If your child is dealing with back-to-school anxiety, emotional dysregulation, ADHD, autism, sensory overwhelm, homework battles, or after-school meltdowns, this episode will help you approach the struggle with more clarity, connection, and confidence.

Instead of assuming, “Here we go again,” you may discover that your child is simply giving you new information—and that information can help you decide what support comes next.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

Back-to-school can be exciting, but for kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, executive functioning challenges, or emotional dysregulation, the transition can also bring overwhelm, meltdowns, exhaustion, and big emotions.

In this episode we talk about practical ways to help neurodivergent kids adjust to school routines, reduce after-school dysregulation, prepare for common trouble spots, and build stronger communication with teachers from the start.

You’ll learn how to:

• Recognize when back-to-school behavior may actually be overwhelm or nervous system overload.
• Reduce unnecessary demands while your child adjusts to a new schedule and environment.
• Support executive functioning with simple routines, visual tools, and predictable systems.
• Protect after-school decompression time to help prevent meltdowns and emotional explosions.
• Identify common trouble spots before they become daily battles.
• Communicate proactively with your child’s teacher in a positive, collaborative way.
• Watch patterns, gather information, and respond with curiosity instead of panic.

Jami also shares a printable teacher information form you can complete and give to your child’s teacher to highlight strengths, sensory needs, triggers, helpful supports, and important information that can help the school better understand your child.

A difficult first week does not mean you are headed for a difficult year. With a little preparation, realistic expectations, and the right supports, you can help your child begin the school year with more calm, connection, and confidence.

Listen now and start setting your child, and yourself, up for a stronger back-to-school transition.

Get your Teacher Form and don't forget to join the Calm Connection Parenting Facebook Group

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

Maternal mental health, medication, postpartum depression, and the stigma surrounding treatment can already feel overwhelming. When a tragic mental-health story dominates the headlines, it can stir up even more fear for moms and parents trying to make thoughtful decisions for themselves or their children.

In this episode of Calm Connection Parenting, Jami shares encouragement from her own experience with postpartum depression, depression during motherhood, and advocating for a child struggling with mental health. This is not medical advice, but a calm reminder that fear, stigma, and other people’s opinions should not make these deeply personal treatment decisions for you.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why mental-health headlines can be especially triggering for moms and parents already wrestling with depression, anxiety, or medication decisions

• How stigma and unsolicited opinions can quietly influence the way we think about mental-health treatment for ourselves and our children

• What healthy advocacy can look like when you have concerns, questions, or feel like you are not being fully heard

• How to filter fear from helpful information so you can move forward with greater confidence, discernment, and support

If current events have left you questioning mental-health treatment, feeling judged about medication, or remembering your own difficult season, this episode offers a calmer place to sort through the noise.

Seeking help takes courage. Asking questions does not make you anti-treatment. And advocating for yourself or your child can be an important part of getting good care.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

🎉 We made it to Episode 100! Calm Connection Parenting has now reached listeners in 120 countries and territories, with parents looking for help with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, sensory needs, anxiety, and the everyday realities of raising a uniquely wired child.

But this episode isn’t really about the numbers. It’s about YOU.

In this special 100th episode, Jami looks back at the most-listened-to episodes, shares meaningful listener reviews, and reflects on the message that has been at the heart of Calm Connection Parenting from the very beginning: behavior makes a lot more sense when we get curious about what’s underneath it.

We’re celebrating the parents listening in school pickup lines, late at night after hard days, from small towns, big cities, and places all over the world.

Inside this episode, we’re celebrating:

• 100 episodes of practical parenting support and encouragement
• Listeners in 120 countries and approximately 2,300 cities
• The topics parents keep coming back for most
• Powerful words from listeners who say the podcast has helped them feel seen, supported, and less alone
• The simple parenting shift that continues to shape nearly every conversation on the show
• And what’s coming next for Calm Connection Parenting

Most of all, this is a giant THANK YOU to every parent who has listened, shared an episode, sent a message, left a review, or simply pressed play on a hard day.

Here’s to 100 episodes, thousands of parents, and a whole lot more calm and connection ahead. ❤️

If Calm Connection Parenting has helped you, celebrate with us by leaving a five-star rating or written review on Apple Podcasts and sharing what the podcast has helped you understand differently about your child.

And remember—you’ve got this. And on the days you don’t, we’re in it together.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

How Churches Can Support Neurodivergent Children: ADHD, DMDD, Autism, and Sensory Needs

Many families raising children with ADHD, DMDD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, or other invisible disabilities want church to be a place of hope, belonging, and support. But sometimes these families are quietly struggling, slipping away, or unsure how to ask for help.

In this final episode of our three-part series, When Church Feels Hard for Neurodivergent Children and Families, we’re talking about how churches can better support neurodivergent children and their families with more awareness, compassion, flexibility, and practical care.

This episode is for parents who want a helpful resource to share with their church, and for pastors, children’s ministry leaders, youth leaders, volunteers, and church members who want to understand how to make church feel safer and more welcoming for families with unique needs.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why churches cannot rely only on parents to advocate before offering support
• How simple questions on children’s ministry or youth forms can open the door to better care
• Why different support does not mean unfair treatment, especially for kids with sensory needs, anxiety, ADHD, autism, or emotional dysregulation
• How churches can take one practical step toward helping families feel seen, supported, and able to belong

You’ll also hear practical examples for children’s ministry, youth group, church events, sensory needs, volunteer responses, and ways churches can begin supporting families without needing a perfect program or huge budget.

For free resources, coaching information, and support for parenting kids with big emotions, challenging behaviors, and unique needs, visit calmconnectionparenting.org.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

When church has hurt your family, it can bring up grief, sadness, and even shame. For parents of neurodivergent children or kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, DMDD, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, or challenging behaviors, Sunday morning may feel especially difficult when your child is misunderstood, labeled, excluded, or unsupported.

In this second episode of our series, When Church Feels Hard for Neurodivergent Children and Families, we are talking directly to parents who have experienced painful church situations or church hurt. If your child has said they hate church, if you feel judged by others, or if you are wondering whether to keep trying, ask for help, take a break, or find a different church, this episode will help you sort through the hurt with compassion and clarity.

You’ll learn the GRACE framework: Grieve what has been hard, Recognize the real barrier, Ask for specific support, Consider the response, and Evaluate the next right step.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why church hurt can feel especially painful when you hoped church would be a place of grace, support, and belonging
• How to separate your child’s struggle with church from their relationship with God or future faith
• How to use the GRACE framework to name the hurt, identify your child’s needs, and ask for specific support
• When to keep advocating, when to take a break, and when it may be wise to consider a church that can better support your family

This episode also includes practical scripts you can use when talking with a pastor, children’s ministry leader, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, or trusted church volunteer.

For free resources, coaching information, and support for parenting kids with big emotions, challenging behaviors, and unique needs, visit calmconnectionparenting.org.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

In this first episode of a three-part series, we begin an honest conversation about ADHD, DMDD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, church hurt, painful church experiences, and the hope of creating more understanding inside faith communities. Church is supposed to be a place of hope, grace, encouragement, and belonging. But for many families parenting neurodivergent or emotionally dysregulated children, Sunday morning can feel like one of the hardest parts of the week.

Many families come to church looking for support, but instead feel watched, judged, misunderstood, or alone when their child struggles with loud worship music, uncomfortable clothes, sitting still, children’s ministry, transitions, or social expectations. This episode is for parents who need to feel seen and for churches that want to listen, learn, and make room.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why Sunday morning can be so hard for neurodivergent children and families, even when faith and church matter deeply
• How painful church experiences can feel especially tender when families expected grace, support, and belonging
• Why behavior is communication, even at church, and what children may be telling us through meltdowns, refusal, anxiety, sensory overwhelm, or dysregulation
• How parents and churches can begin moving from judgment to curiosity, from hurt to conversation, and from isolation to hope

You’ll also hear a powerful post from Maggie Diemer, one of our summit panel speakers and a mom attending the Calm in the Chaos Mom’s Retreat, about what happens when a child does not fit the “church box” and why maybe the box needs to change.

For free resources, coaching information, and support for parenting kids with big emotions, challenging behaviors, and unique needs, visit calmconnectionparenting.org.

I recorded this episode twice, and both times, the thunder interrupted! LOL! I guess we will just think that was the heavens moving on our behalf! LOL!

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

Summer can be fun, but it can also throw the whole family out of rhythm. When routines are off, schedules are inconsistent, activities are full, and emotions are running high, parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, anxiety, autism, sensory needs, or emotional dysregulation can feel especially overwhelming.

In this short summer encouragement episode, Jami reminds parents that their own nervous system matters too. You’ll hear a simple reminder to prioritize emotional regulation, choose one small act of self-care, and revisit a few listener-favorite episodes that offer support for meltdowns, burnout, and big emotions.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why summer can increase emotional dysregulation for kids and stress for parents
• How to take one small step toward calming your own nervous system
• Three listener-favorite episodes to revisit when you need extra support
• A simple quick win for the week: choose one calming practice and one episode to listen to

For free resources and more support, visit calmconnectionparenting.org.

And if you're looking for a little extra support, please check out the upcoming Calm Connection Parenting Mom's Retreat! Yes, taking place in Loveland, CO August 27-31. It's going to be a load of fun! Visit https://www.calmconnectionparent.com/retreat2026

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

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Just Believe

If you are parenting a neurodivergent child or a child with ADHD, autism, anxiety, DMDD, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, or big behaviors, vacation can bring up a lot of stress before you ever leave the driveway.

The packing. The car ride. The restaurants. The hotel. The transitions. The sleeping somewhere new. The waiting. The crowds. The change in routine. And sometimes, the judgment from others when your child struggles in public.

In this episode, we are talking about how to prepare for vacation in a way that supports your child and helps your family have more realistic expectations. You’ll learn how to think through transition points before they happen, build in downtime without guilt, give your child appropriate choices, pack comfort and sensory supports, and quietly notice the wins along the way.

Vacations with a neurodivergent child may look different. They may require more planning, flexibility, and breaks. But different does not mean bad. Your child can still enjoy the trip. Your family can still make memories. And you can still find moments of calm in the chaos.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How vacation transitions can trigger meltdowns or shutdowns
• Why downtime, alone time, and even a little TV time may help your child reset
• How giving your child small choices can reduce power struggles
• Why sensory tools, comfort items, and familiar snacks can make travel easier
• How to handle judgment from strangers, family, or people who do not understand
• Why noticing small wins can help your child feel seen and encouraged

For more support, free parenting resources, and information about the Calm Connection Parent Coaching Program, visit calmconnectionparenting.org.

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

Happy and Joyful Children by Free Music • Happy Children Background Music / Joyful U... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/free-... Music promoted by Audio Library • Happy and Joyful Children – Free Music (No... ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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Just Believe

Are you preparing for an IEP or 504 meeting and wondering what to ask, what to document, or what to do if you feel dismissed by the school?

In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami Kirkbride continues her conversation with Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, about how parents can advocate with more confidence and clarity at the IEP or 504 table.

If you have ever walked out of a school meeting feeling confused, rushed, overwhelmed, or unsure of what you just agreed to, this episode will help you understand how to stay focused on your child’s needs and take the next best step.

Karen Mayer Cunningham has been advocating on behalf of children for over 25 years. Her passion is training, educating, and empowering everyone who sits at the 504 and IEP table so children can have successful outcomes at school. Her advocacy journey began as she fought to get needed services for her own son, and along the way, she found a calling to educate, equip, and train families and educators to successfully navigate the special education system.

In Part 1, Karen helped parents understand where to begin when a child may need more school support. She explained the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP, how children can struggle even when their grades look okay, and why behavior may point to an unmet support need.

In this second part of the conversation, Karen helps parents think through what happens when they are actually at the table. How do you show up as part of the team without feeling powerless? What should you bring? What questions should you ask? What should you document? And how can you follow up after the meeting to make sure everyone is clear on what was decided?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What parents need to understand about their role at the IEP or 504 table
• How to show up as part of the team without feeling powerless
• What to bring to an IEP or 504 meeting so you feel more prepared
• What questions to ask when you are not sure the plan matches your child’s needs
• What to do if your concerns are dismissed, minimized, or met with “wait and see”
• Why documentation matters before, during, and after a school meeting
• How to keep the conversation focused on your child’s actual needs
• What to do after the meeting so everyone is clear on next steps
• How to check whether accommodations are happening without sounding like you do not trust the team
• One quick win if you have an IEP or 504 meeting coming up this fall

This episode is especially helpful for parents of children with ADHD, DMDD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, challenging behaviors, or other school-related support needs.

This episode is also part of the special series leading up to the Mom’s Retreat, It Is Well… Finding Your Calm in the Chaos, happening August 27-31 in Loveland, Colorado.

The retreat is for moms raising emotionally intense, uniquely wired, neurodivergent, or struggling children. It is a small, personal retreat created to help moms step away, be encouraged, connect with others who understand, learn practical tools, and return home with more calm, clarity, and hope.

There are only a couple spots still available, and early bird pricing is ending soon.

Learn more or register here:
CalmConnectionParent.com/retreat2026

Join the Calm Connection Parenting Group and find free parenting resources at:
CalmConnectionParenting.org

Send a text and share your thoughts!

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

Happy and Joyful Children by Free Music • Happy Children Background Music / Joyful U... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/free-... Music promoted by Audio Library • Happy and Joyful Children – Free Music (No... ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/

Just Believe

Is your child struggling at school, but you are not sure whether they need an IEP, a 504 plan, accommodations, evaluations, services, goals, or a behavior plan?

In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami Kirkbride talks with Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, about IEP and 504 help for parents who do not know where to start.

If you have ever wondered whether your child needs more school support, what the difference is between a 504 plan and an IEP, or how to begin advocating without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated, this conversation will help you take the next best step.

In this first part of a two-part conversation, Karen helps parents understand where to begin when a child is struggling at school. You’ll hear how to think about IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, accommodations, services, goals, behavior plans, and the parent’s role in the process.

This episode also speaks directly to parents raising children with ADHD, DMDD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, or challenging behaviors, especially when those needs show up at school in ways that may be misunderstood.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The first step parents can take when they suspect their child needs more school support
• The difference between a 504 plan and an IEP in simple, parent-friendly language
• Why behavior may be connected to an unmet support need
• Why so many parents feel intimidated walking into an IEP meeting
• What to do if you are afraid of being seen as difficult, pushy, or “that parent”

This episode is part one of a two-part conversation with Karen Mayer Cunningham. In Part 2, we’ll talk more about how to advocate at the IEP table, what to do when you feel dismissed, what to ask, what to document, and how to keep the focus on your child’s needs.

This episode is also part of the special series leading up to the Mom’s Retreat, It Is Well… Finding Your Calm in the Chaos, happening August 27-31 in Loveland, Colorado.

The retreat is for moms raising emotionally intense, uniquely wired, neurodivergent, or struggling children. It is a small, personal retreat created to help moms step away, be encouraged, connect with others who understand, learn practical tools, and return home with more calm, clarity, and hope.

A few spots are still available, and early bird pricing is ending soon.

Learn more or register here:
CalmConnectionParent.com/retreat2026

Join the Calm Connection Parenting Group and find free parenting resources at:
CalmConnectionParenting.org

Send a text and share your thoughts!

Send a text and share your thoughts!

• Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
• Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.

*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.

Happy and Joyful Children by Free Music • Happy Children Background Music / Joyful U... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/free-... Music promoted by Audio Library • Happy and Joyful Children – Free Music (No... ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/

Just Believe