School Refusal, Big Emotions & Unexpected Wins | NeuroDADverse Ep.25

🎧 Episode 26 of The NeuroDADverse, Ben and Dan open up about a week full of twists, school decisions, sickness bugs, sensory waves, and the unpredictable rhythms of raising neurodivergent children.From navigating college open days to managing school refusal, advocating for reasonable adjustments, supporting anxious teens, and finding small yet meaningful wins, this episode is a grounded, honest chronicle of ND family life.We talk about:• Why sudden staff changes in services can feel devastating• How ND kids often self-advocate before we realise• School refusal vs genuine burnout• Supporting siblings in different emotional places• How anticipation & predictability reduce dysregulation• Sensory needs, stimming tools, and grounding aids• Bath-time scores (including a LIVE result!• Celebrating the small wins that don’t look like wins to anyone elseYouTube Chapters00:00 – Intro01:08 – Weekly Check-In & Three Words02:30 – Sickness, Fatigue & Emotional Load of the Week03:20 – College Open Days & Supporting Teen Decision-Making05:17 – Staff Changes, Transitions & The Anxiety They Create06:43 – Reasonable Adjustments & Preparing for Change09:22 – Managing Change & Behaviour Around New Staff10:30 – Sleep, Proximity & Emotional Co-Regulation12:29 – Teens, Nurture & Independence Cues15:17 – Encouraging Independence vs Overguiding17:03 – School Refusal: Early Signs & Emotional Fatigue19:21 – Sibling Experiences: Oscar’s School Choices20:28 – Reasonable Advocacy vs Avoidance: Finding the Balance22:27 – Behaviour at the End of Term: Why Everything Unravels23:24 – Wins of the Week24:30 – Anticipation, Stability & Building Predictability26:14 – Reducing Dysregulation Through Planning27:43 – The Power of Being Calm as a Parent28:48 – Reflecting on Early Years30:10 – Teens, Conversation & Collaborative Reasoning31:04 – Frankie Joins the Podcast (Guest Appearance!)33:13 – Stimming Tools, Pain Stims & Grounding Aids38:01 – Navigating Social Expectations Around Extended Family41:26 – Curiosity vs Judgement in ND Interactions45:53 – Wins, Food, Appetite & Unexpected Joys46:53 – Looking Ahead to the Week Ahead48:30 – Family Christmas Meals & Managing Overwhelm49:53 – Football, Community & Shared Experiences50:45 – Inclusive Christmas Spaces & Future Ideas51:41 – Bath-Time Scores55:07 – Hair Dryers, Sensory Needs & Hot/Cold Overwhelm57:47 – A Big Score and Big Smiles58:47 – Auto-Zoom Madness & End-of-Episode Laughter59:59 – Wrap-Up💡 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:linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.