Notes Due at Midnight

You tried deep breathing, the calm-down corner, sensory tools, counting, choices, and your most patient parenting voice...but your child is still completely overwhelmed. What are you supposed to do when none of the strategies seem to work?In this episode of Notes Due at Midnight, pediatric occupational therapist Casey Openshaw explains why children cannot always access familiar coping skills during a meltdown. She shares practical ways to prioritize safety, reduce stimulation, use fewer words, maintain necessary boundaries, and support recovery without trying to force calm.Sometimes success isn’t stopping the meltdown. Sometimes it’s getting through the moment safely, reconnecting afterward, and trying again tomorrow.

Your child is screaming, throwing things, or refusing to move... and you’re wondering: Are they overwhelmed, trying to get their way, or simply misbehaving?In this episode of Notes Due at Midnight, pediatric occupational therapist Casey Openshaw explains the differences between meltdowns, tantrums, and challenging behavior; without labeling children as “bad.” She shares how to look beneath the behavior, recognize possible sensory or emotional overload, maintain boundaries, and teach better responses once everyone is calm.Because behavior is communication... but that doesn’t mean every behavior is acceptable.

From basket weaving to artificial intelligence, occupational therapy has come a long way... and this week, I’m reflecting on all of it.I’m sharing our visit with Korro and the testimonials we provided, my upcoming opportunity to present with Ensora at Pedsapalooza, and the full-circle moment of watching my stepdaughter Reagan and niece Sarah head to Husson to begin their OT journeys.Plus, a little OT history, how World War I helped shape the profession, and the time I excelled at basket weaving while my very artistic mom…had a different experience. 😂An episode about new beginnings, a busy practice, and remembering why we love this profession.Sources & resources:AOTA: Occupational Therapy’s HistoryAOTA: Reconstruction Aides During World War IAOTA: OT’s Arts-and-Crafts RootsKorro: Occupational Therapy Platform

Content warning: This episode discusses the Lindsay Clancy case, child deaths, suicide, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, and parental mental-health crises.The N in COPEN has always stood for Nurture—and I’ve always put it last. But after following the Lindsay Clancy trial and reflecting on my own experience with postpartum depression, I’m starting to wonder if I’ve had it backward.In this heavier episode of Notes Due at Midnight, I talk about maternal mental health, parental capacity, and what it really means when someone says they’re “drowning.” I also share a part of my own postpartum story that I haven’t talked much about: being diagnosed with PPD, finding myself in a difficult situation far from home, living with a friend while waiting on the Colorado court system, and trying to care for baby Theo while my own family was changing around me.As an occupational therapist, I spend my days teaching parents how to understand and regulate their children. But this case made me ask a question I should probably be asking much sooner:Who is taking care of the person doing all of the taking care of?Maybe Nurture isn't bubble baths and self-care checklists. Maybe it's support, sleep, asking for help, accepting help, professional care when it's needed, and having someone notice when you're not okay.Maybe before we ask parents to co-regulate their children, we need to make sure someone is helping support them, too.Nurture may be the last letter in COPEN, but from now on, I think it needs to come first.

When did respecting our kids turn into letting them run the show? 😅This week, I’m talking about something I see both as a pediatric OT and a mom: kids need a voice, choices, empathy, and validation...but they also need boundaries.Your child is allowed to be mad at you. They’re allowed to hear “no.” They’re allowed to do things they don’t want to do. And sometimes, “I don’t wanna” simply isn’t a reason to change the plan.We’re talking about the difference between child-centered and child-controlled parenting, why big feelings don’t automatically mean a boundary is wrong, and why kids actually feel safer when the adults are confidently in charge.

This week, Theo joins me on the podcast.... and things go exactly as you’d expect when you hand a microphone to a seven-year-old. While repeatedly stopping to feed the dog an oatmeal cookie, he talks about going to occupational therapy himself, why he loves Fortnite, and his recent trip to the ER for stitches. It’s funny, honest, slightly chaotic, and completely unfiltered; just like life with Theo.

When did having fun become something adults have to schedule?After spending the day at the waterslides with Theo, I started thinking about play....not just why kids need it, but why adults do too. We spend so much time working, parenting, cleaning, answering emails, and checking off the next thing that sometimes we forget we're allowed to do things simply because they're fun.In this episode, we're talking about play as an important part of childhood, why boredom isn't always a bad thing, how play helps with regulation and connection, and why our kids need to see us having fun too.Go down the waterslide. Play the video game. Jump in the pool.The laundry will still be there.And the notes? Well…they can wait until midnight.

Why do kids melt down over the wrong color cup while adults melt down over an email that starts with "Just following up..."? The truth is, emotional regulation isn't just a kid problem; it's a human problem. In this episode, Casey dives into what emotional regulation really means, why behavior is communication, and how understanding what's underneath the behavior can change the way we parent, teach, lead, and even treat ourselves. Plus, learn why she created COPEN and how it helps families move from surviving to thriving.

What do lobster boats, blueberry fields, therapy sessions, and notes due at midnight all have in common? They all remind us that the most meaningful work usually happens when nobody's watching. In this episode, we're talking about showing up; through the hard days, the slow seasons, and the moments when the reward isn't immediate. From life in Downeast Maine to raising kids and building something that lasts, this episode is a reminder that consistency, resilience, and the quiet work behind the scenes are what truly shape our lives.

What do ADHD, parenting, and occupational therapy have in common? More than you might think.In this episode, I'm sharing how years of working with children with ADHD eventually helped me recognize it in myself—and how that journey inspired me to create COPEN (Coaching on Parenting and Emotional Navigation).We'll talk about why behavior is communication, why parents are the most important part of a child's therapy journey, and why I believe empowering caregivers creates lasting change.As a thank-you to families, COPEN is completely FREE during the month of August, with both virtual and in-person options available. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, questioned your parenting, or just wanted practical strategies that actually work, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Notes Due at Midnight, Casey shares the children she's never forgotten; from clients she worked with years ago in Texas to the foster children whose lives changed overnight, leaving only memories and unanswered questions. She reflects on how becoming Theo's mom changed the way she sees every family that walks through her clinic doors, why the best therapists educate and empower caregivers, and the reality of caregiver fatigue that so many families quietly carry.This is an episode about the power of showing up, being someone's safe place, and remembering that sometimes the most important work we do will never fit inside a therapy note.Whether you're a parent, therapist, teacher, foster parent, or simply someone who loves a child, this episode is a reminder that one caring adult can change the trajectory of a life, and that every caregiver deserves someone in their corner, too.

Episode 3: Nobody Prepares You to LeadEveryone talks about the exciting parts of owning a business—but no one talks about the messy middle.In this episode of Notes Due at Midnight, Casey shares the real story behind building a pediatric therapy practice in rural Maine, the incredible people who helped make it possible, and the leadership lessons she learned the hard way. From an employee introducing her to her husband, to dreaming about opening a clinic with a classmate in graduate school, to working alongside her brother, this episode is full of heartfelt stories, humor, and honest reflections.If you've ever led a team, owned a business, or simply wondered if you're "doing it right," this episode is a reminder that there is no perfect way to lead; only the courage to lead authentically.Grab your coffee, finish those notes, and join the conversation.

Episode 2: The Scenic RouteDid you know I changed my college major seven times? In this episode, I share the winding path that led me to occupational therapy, from art education and psychology to pharmacy, industrial design, and everything in between. We also dive into what occupational therapy really is, why it's about helping people live life to the fullest, and how sometimes the detours in life are actually preparing us for where we're meant to be.

Notes Due at Midnight is a podcast about showing up; even when life doesn't go according to plan. Join pediatric occupational therapist, business owner, speaker, and mom Casey Openshaw as she shares the real stories behind building a business, raising a child, navigating setbacks, chasing big dreams, and somehow still getting the notes done before midnight. Expect honest conversations, laughter, lessons learned the hard way, occupational therapy insights, and reminders that sometimes the scenic route leads to the best view. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, underestimated, or one step behind, this podcast is for you.