Beautifully Complex

There’s a quiet tension many of us carry as parents of neurodivergent kids: Am I helping my child or am I holding them back? That line between supporting and enabling can feel blurry, emotional, and constantly shifting, especially when executive function challenges are part of the picture.In this episode, I sit down with parent coach and educator Cindy Goldrich to bring clarity and compassion to that question. Cindy offers a powerful, practical definition that reframes everything: enabling is doing something for someone else without a plan to help them eventually do it themselves. Support, on the other hand, can include stepping in — when it’s intentional, temporary, and part of a bigger skill-building plan.Through real-life examples, like the familiar “forgotten violin” scenario, we unpack how parents often get labeled as enabling when they’re actually prioritizing, scaffolding, and responding to the child they have in front of them. Cindy reminds us that we can’t fix everything at once, and trying to do so only increases anxiety for both parent and child.We also dig into how executive function delays, working memory challenges, and developmental lags can masquerade as defiance or irresponsibility. When we understand what’s really happening in the brain, we can shift from judgment to curiosity, and from pressure to problem-solving.This conversation is an invitation to release guilt, trust your instincts, and give yourself permission to support your child without shame. It’s about parenting with intention, grace, and a long-term vision for independence, one small, thoughtful step at a time.🎧 Listen in for a grounded, validating conversation that helps you confidently navigate the balance between supporting and enabling.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/340Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

There are moments in parenting when hope doesn’t feel light or motivating — it feels heavy. Like something we’re expected to carry when we’re already exhausted. If you’re walking into a new year feeling worn down instead of inspired, this episode is for you.I recorded this specifically for New Years, a day filled with pressure to feel optimistic, goal-driven, and ready for a fresh start. But the truth is, I wasn’t feeling hopeful. I was tired. Uncertain. Emotional. And rather than masking that or forcing a shiny version of hope, I wanted to talk honestly about a different kind of hope — one that doesn’t require belief, certainty, or high energy.This episode is about redefining hope in a way that actually works for parents of neurodivergent kids. Hope that sounds like: I don’t know how this will turn out, but I’m still here. Hope that lives in tiny steps, support, steadiness, and permission to begin without confidence.We talk about burnout as information, not failure. About why pushing harder never lifts burnout, and what actually does. About capacity instead of goals, responsiveness instead of consistency, and support instead of pressure. And about why your child doesn’t need a “new year, new you” — they just need you, depleted less and supported more.If you’re starting this year feeling heavy, unsure, or worn thin, you’re not alone. You don’t need optimism to take the next step. You need care. Support. And a reminder that you don’t have to do this alone.Listen in for a grounding, compassionate reframe that meets you exactly where you are.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/339Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

Some of the most meaningful shifts in parenting don’t arrive with fireworks or finish lines. They arrive quietly, in the moments we almost miss. I’ve been noticing how much growth hides beneath the surface, both in our kids and in ourselves. And honestly, most of it looks nothing like the traditional markers of success we’re conditioned to watch for.Our neurodivergent kids build skills slowly, internally, and often invisibly. Their progress lives in nervous system shifts, not milestones. It’s in the way they repair a little faster after a rupture. It’s in the moment they come back to the table after taking a breather instead of refusing altogether. It’s in how we pause before reacting, catch our breath, and choose connection over correction. Those small things are not small at all. They’re the roots of emotional intelligence, resilience, and long-term regulation. And roots take time.This episode is an invitation to see the tiny glimmers you’ve overlooked this past year, because you have moved forward, even if it didn’t look dramatic from the outside. You’ll hear why the nervous system learns through repetition, not grand gestures; how micro-wins compound like a snowball; and how the tiniest cues of safety create a very real pathway toward thriving.I’m also sharing a short year-end reflection practice to help you notice the moments that mattered, soften self-doubt, and step into 2026 with intention, compassion, and doable hope.You are not alone. And you’ve done more than you think.Press play to hear the full 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/338Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

There’s a moment so many of us experience standing in the kitchen, staring at the backpack explosion on the floor, the socks in the hallway, the half-finished bowl of cereal on the table and wondering why our kids can’t seem to follow through. It’s not laziness. It’s not defiance. It’s executive function. And for our neurodivergent kids, especially those with ADHD, those invisible skills we rely on to get through the day can feel like climbing a mountain without a map.In this episode, I’m joined by two members of The Childhood Collective, Mallory Yee and Katie Severson — clinicians, moms, and deeply empathetic guides who truly “live it.” Together, we break down what executive functioning actually is (spoiler: it’s your brain’s internal GPS), why so many of our kids struggle with tasks that seem “easy,” and how we can shift from doing everything for our kids to doing things with them in realistic, sustainable ways.We talk about everyday EF supports like creating “homes” for items, teaching kids to close their own loops, using declarative language, and narrating our internal problem-solving so they learn to build theirs. Katie and Mallory share generously from both their clinical lens and their lived experience, reminding us that nothing is wrong with our kids… their brains just need time, scaffolding, and connection.This conversation is hopeful, practical, and validating, especially if you’ve ever wondered why your child can’t “just get ready” or why every day feels like a string of side quests.Tune in for simple strategies, compassionate reframes, and support that meets you right where you are.Press play and let’s walk this path 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/337Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.

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.