A Half term of Roadworks, Fireworks & A Birthday | NeuroDADverse Ep. 21

🎧 Episode 21 of The NeuroDADverse PodcastThis week, Dan and Ben find themselves trapped between the chaos of roadworks, fireworks, overstimulation and somehow still manage to come out with a few surprising wins.From drilling-induced dysregulation and unexpected sprinting escapes, to carved pumpkins and new friendship breakthroughs, the dads reflect on the difficult balance of structure, flexibility, and self-regulation for kids and for them.Inside this one: • Frankie vs the Roadworks: noise, shutdowns, and sprint escapes • Fireworks anxiety and bedtime chaos • Halloween and birthday overstimulation • Sensory challenges and coat refusals • Social wins for Mabel, Oscar & Frankie • When parenting teenagers means letting go just enough • Massive shoutout to a truly accommodating roadwork crew 🙌. Key Topics Covered • Auditory overwhelm from roadworks and fireworks • Coat refusal, temperature regulation, and compromise • Social and sensory growth moments (despite dysregulation) • Navigating teenage ND parenting with evolving structure • Club transitions, visual communication, and calm routines • Unexpected kindness from local workers • Carving pumpkins, dancing around overstimulation, and community winsYouTube Chapter Breakdown (⏱️ Accurate Timecodes) Episode Duration: ~63 minutes00:00 – Welcome to Episode 21 01:15 – Three-word week check-in (USP & UPS) 03:00 – Half-term rundown & solo parenting update 06:00 – Roadworks chaos: Frankie’s dysregulation explained 09:45 – Stimming, YouTube & coat resistance 13:30 – The sprint escape to Nanny’s house 18:00 – Fireworks and bedtime disruption 22:30 – Navigating coat refusal vs warmth 25:10 – Frankie’s communication growth through visuals 29:00 – Halloween prep & costume confusion 32:00 – The pumpkin carving miracle 35:30 – Ben’s challenge: parenting teens differently 39:10 – Letting go of structure (without giving up) 42:00 – Mabel’s birthday & social win 46:00 – Halloween trick-or-treat joy 49:00 – Frankie’s club transitions & unexpected ease 52:00 – Community kindness: the road crew MVPs 56:00 – Bath-time wins & toothbrushing milestones 59:30 – Forecast for fireworks weekend 61:00 – PSA: Dadspace.co.uk + outro reminder 🎙️ Two dads. One mission. Raising ND kids in a very NT world.💡 If this episode resonates, whether you’re a zebra, a stripy horse, or still figuring it all out. There’s space for you in the NeuroDADverse.🔔 Subscribe for weekly real-talk on neurodivergent parenting📢 Like, share, or leave a comment to help more families find us📧 Get in touch: [email protected]🌐 Find us in all the usual places or links belowlinktr.ee/NeuroDADverse🎧 Listen on: • Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/NeuroDADverseApple📺 Watch full episodes + clips:Spotify: bit.ly/NeuroDADverseSpotifyYouTube: youtube.com/@NeuroDADversePodcast📲 Follow & connect: • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neurodadverse • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurodadverse/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582530685142 • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neurodadverse-podcast/?viewAsMember=true 🔗 Hashtags:#NeurodiverseParenting #SENDLife #AutismAdvocacy #ParentingPodcast#NeuroDadverse #DifferentNotLess #ADHDDads #AutismFamily #EmotionalRegulation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.