As parents of neurodiverse kids, navigating the holidays can be…. a lot. Trying to get our kids to tolerate all the events, all the activities, and all the routine changes on top of everything else is exhausting, frustrating, and quite frankly, maybe not worth it for us and our kids. And who says we actually have to do all of this stuff anyway?

In today’s episode, we’re sharing our best holiday tips for surviving the holiday season, including managing schedules, adjusting the gift-giving process, and resetting expectations for what a fun holiday looks like. The truth is, the holiday season doesn’t have to look any certain way. We get to decide what works best for our families and how we want to enjoy this precious time we get with them.

If you’re already feeling a little overwhelmed by the holiday season coming up, this episode is for you!

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[02:19] Why the holiday break is so different from summer break when it comes to the change in routine for neurodiverse kids

[08:04] How managing –and not overscheduling– events during the holiday season can help your stress level during the holiday season

[13:20] Why you might want to rethink your process of gift-giving for neurodiverse kids

[16:34] Why Legos are absolutely magical for neurodiverse kids during the holiday season

[18:09] Why prioritizing your favorite holiday activities can be so helpful and why it’s okay to let go of the ones that don’t work for your family

[24:12] Why letting go of societal expectations and embracing what works for your unique kids can make the holidays so much more enjoyable

[28:04] Aaaaand that includes letting go or adjusting formal dinners if you need to

[30:44] The Last Word

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-16-legos-alone-time-adjusted-expectations-how-to-survive-the-holidays-with-neurodiverse-kids

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Sometimes the best-laid plans… fall flat. And when you’re raising a neurodivergent young adult, those pivots can feel like earthquakes.

In this episode, Gwen and Kristen get honest about something big: Rylan is back home from college and the beautiful, carefully supported experience that seemed guaranteed… wasn’t.

This isn’t a story of failure. It’s a story of real parenting: the kind that requires grit, grief, and the courage to start again.

If you’ve ever tasted disappointment after believing things were finally turning a corner… this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[00:04:00] The shift from excitement to concern at Beacon College
[00:05:00] Red flags around how staff responded to Rylan’s Tourette syndrome
[00:08:00] When supports promised didn’t match supports delivered
[00:10:00] The reality of still needing to be the executive functioning engine
[00:13:00] Why bringing Rylan home became the right decision
[00:17:00] The intense grief spiral that happened afterward
[00:22:00] The brain dump whiteboard + learning to not fix everything at once
[00:25:00] Rylan’s self-initiated job applications
[00:27:00] Recognizing that the real pivot is the parents

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-31

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/

TW: This episode discusses suicide. Please listen with care.

It's suicide prevention month and we know that our population of neurodiverse youth and adults are impacted greatly by suicide, by suicidal ideation, and mental health issues because of bullying and other social challenges. It’s a vital topic, and one that’s hard to discuss, but we really have to do it because it’s so important.

In today’s episode, we have our very first guest. We’re so excited to talk to Anne Moss Rogers, a suicide prevention trainer, author, and advocate. Anne Moss tells the story of losing her son to suicide and why she’s become to passionate about suicide prevention and bringing awareness to parents and schools. We also discuss why parents are afraid to ask their kids about suicidal thoughts, how social challenges can lead to suicidality for neurodiverse kids, and the importance of having a safety plan in place.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[01:44] An introduction to our very first guest on the podcast, Anne Moss Rogers, and how she became so passionate about suicide prevention

[21:31] Why parents are afraid to ask their kids about suicidal ideation

[30:01] How the research shows that social challenges can lead to suicidality for neurodiverse children, and why we need to be able to talk about it

[39:19] The importance of having a safety plan for instances of suicidal thoughts

[45:02] How parents of neurodiverse children who experience suicidal ideation can take care of themselves

[52:34] The Last Word

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/12-suicide-prevention-for-the-neurodiverse-population-with-anne-moss-rogers

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/