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Psyched2Parent: Turning Brain Science into Tiny Wins for Parents

Psyched2Parent: Turning Brain Science into Tiny Wins for Parents

Auteur(s): Dr. Amy Patenaude Ed.D. NCSP
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À propos de cet audio

 Welcome to Psyched2Parent, turning brain science into Tiny Wins. I'm Dr. Amy Patenaude, a school psychologist and parent coach. I work in the real-life intersection of big feelings, nervous system regulation, executive function, learning, and school supports. This podcast is for parents raising big-feeling, strong-willed, big-hearted kids, especially the ones who keep it together at school and unravel at home. If you're exhausted from the daily loop of meltdown, guilt, over-accommodating, and trying again tomorrow, you're in the right place. If you're constantly wondering "Is this ADHD? Anxiety? Autism? A learning difference? Or just temperament?" you're in the right place. If school emails make your stomach drop and you don't know what to ask for in an IEP, 504, or parent-teacher meeting, you're in the right place. Here's what you'll get from this show: * You'll learn what's happening under the behavior, not just how to react to it * You'll stop taking every meltdown personally and start seeing patterns * You'll have a plan for the hardest moments of the day, not a pile of advice you can't implement * You'll respond with warmth and boundaries, without over-functioning or walking on eggshells * You'll feel clearer and more confident when talking to teachers, counselors, and school teams We talk about the stuff parents are living: * After-school meltdowns and restraint collapse * Morning chaos and slow launching * Transitions, "no" moments, and boundary blowups * Homework shutdowns, perfectionism spirals, and "I can't" tears * Anger, anxiety, worry loops, and bedtime battles * Screen-time conflict and emotional whiplash * Executive function challenges like planning, flexibility, impulse control, and emotional regulation * The school side of the mountain: IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, accommodations, executive functioning supports, and how to advocate without burning out Most episodes follow the same calming, repeatable format so you can binge and actually use what you learn: * What's happening in the brain and nervous system, explained in parent-friendly language * Tiny Wins, three max, because your life is already full * A script you can steal for the exact moment things are going sideways * School Translator Minute, where I decode school language and give you a simple next step for emails and meetings This is a specialist show for parents who want practical tools, not perfection. My promise is that you'll finish an episode with at least one small thing you can do today that makes home feel steadier and school conversations feel less scary. If you're parenting a child with big feelings and big reactions, or you suspect ADHD, autism, anxiety, or learning differences, subscribe and come climb with me. Tiny steps add up. You're not here because you need "better parenting hacks." You're here because you're carrying a lot. * You're trying to keep mornings from imploding and evenings from escalating * You're managing school expectations while your child is masking all day * You're second guessing yourself after every tough moment * You're worried about whether your child is falling behind socially, emotionally, or academically * You're tired of advice that assumes your kid is being defiant when they're actually overwhelmed This podcast helps you move from survival mode to steadier ground. The goal isn't a perfectly smooth day. The goal is recovery and repair. The goal is fewer power struggles, more connection, and a clearer path forward. Because when you understand the why, you can choose the how. * You can set boundaries without lighting the fuse * You can respond to anxiety without feeding it * You can support your child's nervous system without doing everything for them * You can stop over-accommodating and start building skills in tiny reps * You can walk into school meetings with a plan, the right words, and the confidence to advocate If you're looking for practical support with: * Parenting strong-willed kids without constant conflict * Parenting kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory sensitivity, or learning differences * Emotional regulation, big feelings, and explosive meltdowns * Executive functioning support for kids and teens * School support, accommodations, and special education navigation * IEP meetings, 504 plans, psychoeducational testing, and reading the evaluation results without feeling overwhelmed * Scripts for boundaries, transitions, homework, bedtime, and hard conversations You'll feel at home here. Subscribe for Tiny Wins for big feelings, at home and at school. Educational content only. This podcast does not provide therapy, diagnosis, or medical advice. If you're concerned about safety or your child's wellbeing, please contact a licensed professional in your area.2025
Épisodes
  • You're Not the Cruise Director: A Sanity-Saving Winter Break Guide

    You're Not the Cruise Director: A Sanity-Saving Winter Break Guide
    Dec 17 2025
    Bonus Episode 1 — You Are Not the Cruise Director: A Sanity-Saving Guide to Winter Break Episode Description

    Winter break can turn parents into full-time cruise directors: planning, entertaining, smoothing… and still ending the day fried. In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude explains why over-functioning fuels burnout, why boredom is actually brain-building for kids, and how to step back without everything collapsing. You'll leave with simple scripts and Tiny Wins that make break feel calmer and more doable.

    New here? Start with…
    • If you feel like you're carrying the whole break (and getting resentful), start with Cruise Director → Guide Mode.
    • If "I'm bored" is running your house, start with the Boredom Menu.
    • If everyone's dysregulated and everything feels heavy, start with Planned Bare Minimum Days + a Good-Enough Day definition.
    In this episode, you'll learn
    • Why Cruise Director Parenting spikes burnout and makes everyone pricklier (even with loving intentions).
    • Why boredom isn't a moral failing—it's a brain-based opportunity for executive functioning and internal motivation to grow.
    • Why autonomy-supportive structure works best: clear boundaries + simple choices + predictable rhythms.
    • How a Good-Enough Day metric can reduce pressure (and improve behavior).
    • How to use the Boredom Menu and planned Bare Minimum Days as guardrails (not "giving up").
    Tiny Wins (pick 1–2)
    • Define your Good-Enough Day: everyone ate, everyone moved a little, everyone connected once.
    • Make a Boredom Menu with your kids during a calm moment—and redirect to it when boredom shows up.
    • Schedule 1–2 Planned Bare Minimum Days and announce them as intentional.
    • Pick only one "big thing" per day and protect white space.
    Scripts you can borrow (quick wins)
    • Cruise Director → Guide Mode: "I'm not here to entertain all day. I will help you make a plan."
    • Boredom reframe: "Boredom is your brain looking for something to build. Let's check the Boredom Menu."
    • Autonomy + boundary: "You can choose A or B. I'm not adding option C."
    • Good-Enough Day anchor: "Today's goal is simple: eat, move, connect. That's success."
    • Bare Minimum Day wording: "Today is a Bare Minimum Day on purpose. We're protecting our nervous systems."
    Episode quotes
    • "Boredom isn't the enemy—over-functioning is what burns everyone out."
    • "You don't have to make winter break magical to make it meaningful."
    • "Clear boundaries plus simple choices is the sweet spot."
    Free resource

    Join the Tiny Wins email list and download the free Big Feelings Decoder here: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder

    Big Feelings Decoder helps you translate intense kid behavior (like constant "I'm bored," whining, snapping, or meltdowns) into what might be happening underneath—plus calm, nervous-system-friendly scripts to try right away.

    Disclaimer

    This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health, medical, or educational advice.

    Links
    • Big Feelings Decoder: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder
    • Instagram: @psyched2parent
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    17 min
  • After-School Meltdowns: Why Big-Feeling Kids Fall Apart at 3:30 (and What Helps)

    After-School Meltdowns: Why Big-Feeling Kids Fall Apart at 3:30 (and What Helps)
    Dec 15 2025

    After-School Meltdowns: Why Big-Feeling Kids Fall Apart at 3:30 (and What Helps)

    If your child holds it together all day and then falls apart the second they're home, you're not alone—and your child isn't "being difficult." In this episode, we unpack why after-school meltdowns are often a tired "air traffic control" brain + an overflowing stress bucket… and why it usually spills out with the person they feel safest with.

    You'll leave with a few simple scripts and Tiny Wins that make the after-school window kinder for your child's nervous system… and yours.

    In this episode, you'll learn
    • Why meltdowns spike when executive function is maxed out
    • What "after-school restraint collapse" is (and why it often lands on you)
    • Why strong-willed, big-feeling kids can experience the day at volume 10
    • How a short after-school "landing strip" reduces power struggles
    • How to be warm and boundaried at the same time
    Tiny Wins (pick 1–2)
    • Name the pattern (even silently): "This is after-school collapse."
    • Protect the first 20–30 minutes: snack + chill before demands
    • Decode the feeling first: "What might this behavior be trying to say?"
    • Try High / Low / Silly to connect without a heavy debrief
    Scripts you can borrow (quick wins)
    • Landing strip: "Your brain worked really hard today. First we're doing snack and chill—then we'll talk about homework."
    • When they snap at you: "Oof. That came out sharp. I'm going to stay close and keep everyone safe."
    • Warm + boundaried: "I won't let you hit. You can be mad, and I'm right here. Let's stomp/push the wall/pillow."
    • Transition to homework: "Do you want 10 minutes and then start, or start now and be done sooner?"

    Join the Tiny Wins email list + download the free Big Feelings Decoder:

    If you're parenting a big-feeling, strong-willed kid and you're thinking, "What is happening right now?" — I made something for you. Get simple, brain-based support for parenting big feelings—plus a quick guide to help you decode what's really going on underneath meltdowns and shutdowns.

    https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder
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    16 min
  • Over-Functioning Parent in Recovery: How to Stop Rescuing and Build a Capable Kid

    Over-Functioning Parent in Recovery: How to Stop Rescuing and Build a Capable Kid
    Dec 15 2025
    Over-Functioning Parent in Recovery: How to Stop Rescuing and Build a Capable Kid

    Have you ever "helped" so much that you ended up doing 80% of the work—homework, emails, projects, the whole thing? In this episode, we talk about why over-functioning is so tempting (especially with anxious, big-feeling kids) and how it can quietly chip away at kids' confidence.

    You'll learn the simple CAR metaphor for motivation—and walk away with scripts + Tiny Wins to shift from rescuer to coach, without turning into a cold "figure it out" parent.

    In this episode, you'll learn
    • Why over-functioning lowers short-term stress but can block long-term confidence and skill-building
    • The CAR motivation metaphor: Control/Choice, Ability, Relationship
    • Why autonomy-supportive parenting (warm + structured + choice) supports motivation better than psychological control
    • How family accommodation can reduce anxiety in the moment but increase it over time
    • How to change the pattern while staying emotionally supportive: "I love you, and I believe you can do small brave steps."
    Tiny Wins (pick 1–2)
    • The 30-Second Empathy Pause (before anything instructional)
    • Choice inside a boundary (2–3 real choices within the non-negotiable)
    • Pick one low-stakes thing you will not rescue this week
    • Try a systems-focused repair line: "If it goes sideways, we need a better system. We'll figure it out together."
    Scripts you can borrow (quick wins)
    • Empathy pause: "This feels hard. I'm with you."
    • Choice inside a boundary: "This is getting done. Do you want to start with the easy part or the hard part?"
    • Ability scaffold: "Let's do the first one together, then you try the next."
    • Warm + boundaried: "I won't do it for you, and I won't leave you alone with it. I'll stay close while you practice."
    • Coach mindset: "You are more capable than you feel right now—and I'm right here while you try."
    • Systems repair: "If it goes sideways, we need a better system. We'll figure it out together."
    Episode quotes
    • "Think of your child's motivation like a CAR they are trying to drive through school and life."
    • "You are more capable than you feel right now, and I am right here while you practice."
    • "Where am I climbing into the driver's seat of my child's CAR—and what's one small place I can slide back into the passenger seat this week while staying close?"

    Join the Tiny Wins email list + download the free Big Feelings Decoder:

    If you're parenting a big-feeling, strong-willed kid and you're thinking, "What is happening right now?" — I made something for you. Get simple, brain-based support for parenting big feelings—plus a quick guide to help you decode what's really going on underneath meltdowns and shutdowns. Big Feelings Decoder
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    21 min
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