336: ENCORE: Lessons Learned: From Mom and Her Neurodivergent Kid, with Penny & Luke Williams
Every once in a while, a conversation lands in your heart in a way that stays. This encore episode is one of those for me. Luke was around twenty when we recorded it, and listening back now, I’m struck all over again by the grounded clarity he had about his neurodivergence, even in the places where life still felt messy or confusing. He spoke with such quiet certainty about seeing his differences as differences, not deficits. That mindset didn’t come from easy experiences. It came from years of feeling misunderstood, moments of being boxed in by systems not designed for him, and the slow, steady process of learning himself from the inside out.What I love about this conversation is how real it is. There’s no glossy “we figured it out” narrative here. Instead, Luke talks through the way school felt, the times he believed he was stuck, the pressure that shut him down, and the deep importance of finding people who truly see you. And I share what I learned right alongside him: how often I co-escalated without meaning to, how long it took to realize there was nothing to fix, and how essential it is to protect the relationship above everything else.If you’ve ever wondered what your neurodivergent child might say about their experience once they have more language for it, this episode is a gift. Luke’s perspective is honest, hopeful, and full of the kind of wisdom you only gain by living it.Settle in for this special encore and listen through two lenses — your parent heart and your human heart.Press play and join us for this tender, funny, deeply insightful conversation.You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/336Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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335: Navigating Existential "Crises" with Neurodivergent Kids, with Matthew Fishleder
Some of the hardest questions our teens wrestle with don’t have answers. Why am I here? What’s the point? Who am I becoming? When your neurodivergent tween or teen starts circling those big, existential questions, it can feel unsettling and even a little frightening. But what if this discomfort isn’t a crisis to fix—what if it’s an opening for connection?In this conversation, I talk with therapist and fellow neurodivergent parent Matthew Fishleder about helping teens navigate the messy, meaning-making side of adolescence. We explore how “not knowing” is part of growth, how regulation and connection support that process, and why your calm presence matters more than your wisdom or answers.Matthew shares powerful ways to shift from fixing to accompanying—to sit beside your teen in uncertainty instead of trying to solve it. Together we unpack how nervous system regulation, shared curiosity, and honest “I don’t knows” can turn existential anxiety into deeper trust and emotional safety.If your teen is questioning everything—and you’re not sure what to say—this one’s for you.Listen now and learn how to not know together.You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/335Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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334: The Real Work of Raising ND Young Adults (Part 2), with Debbie Reber
Launching a neurodivergent young adult rarely looks like what we imagined. It’s not a straight line toward independence but rather a winding journey filled with scaffolding, support, and deep personal growth for both parent and child. In this heartfelt conversation with my friend Debbie Reber of Full Tilt Parenting, we get real about what it means to companion our kids into adulthood, not push them off a cliff toward “independence.”We talk about the delicate dance of helping without overstepping, the invisible scaffolding we still build behind the scenes, and how to honor their timeline while protecting our own nervous systems. We also unpack what it feels like when society tells us we’re doing “too much,” and how to trust the long game of growth, connection, and mutual respect.If you’ve ever wondered where to draw the line between support and enabling — or how to be ok yourself while your young adult finds their footing — this conversation will bring relief, validation, and renewed hope.Take a deep breath, pour your coffee, and listen in for part two of this beautifully real dialogue on parenting through the young adult years. Part 1 is on Full Tilt Parenting at https://tiltparenting.com/session474.You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.Show notes and more resources at https://parentingadhdandautism.com/334Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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333: 5 Ways to Help Students with Writing Challenges, with Kelli Fetter
When writing becomes a daily battle, it’s not about laziness or lack of effort. It’s about overwhelm. Writing is one of the most complex tasks our brains can do. For kids with dysgraphia or other writing challenges, that cognitive load can feel crushing. In this episode, I talk with occupational therapist and handwriting expert Kelli Fetter about how to spot writing struggles early, what dysgraphia really looks like, and how you can support your child in simple, practical ways right now.Kelli shares her own journey — from an OT who hadn’t even heard of dysgraphia to a mom on a mission to help her daughter — and the powerful lessons she learned along the way. Together, we unpack five key strategies for helping kids build the foundations of writing without frustration or shame, from multisensory learning to quality practice and collaborative school partnerships.If your child avoids writing, melts down over assignments, or feels “stuck,” this conversation will bring both clarity and relief. It’s never too late to help your child feel capable and confident in expressing their ideas.Tune in to learn practical tools, empowering mindset shifts, and how to build success one letter at a time.You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/333Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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332: When the Honeymoon Period Ends — What to Do When School Starts Falling Apart
The first few weeks of a new school year can feel like a fresh start — hopeful, organized, maybe even easy. And then, just as the weather begins to cool, everything begins to unravel. Mornings turn chaotic again. Homework becomes a battle. The spark in your child’s eyes starts to fade. That October crash isn’t a failure, it’s actually biology.In this episode, I unpack why so many neurodivergent kids hit a wall a few weeks into the school year. The novelty that once lit up their brains fades, expectations rise, and their nervous systems grow tired from holding it all together. What looks like defiance or laziness is often a body saying, “I can’t keep doing it this way.” We’ll explore how to respond when school starts to feel like too much, without slipping into control or consequences. You’ll learn how to shift from asking “How do I make them do it?” to “What’s getting in the way?” and how safety, not structure, helps kids rebuild their capacity to cope.If your child’s school year feels like it’s coming undone, this conversation will help you reframe what’s happening and find your footing again. You’ll walk away with practical tools and a gentler mindset to navigate this season with compassion, connection, and calm. Listen now to learn how to meet your child where they are and bring hope back into the school year. You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/332Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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.
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