Low Demand Parenting

Amanda Diekman

The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. Hosted by Amanda Diekman—author, autistic adult, and mom of three—this podcast isn’t about perfection or expert advice. It’s about learning together how to drop the demands that weigh us down and find the ease we crave in our families. Whether you’re navigating neurodivergence, challenging behaviors, or simply the highs and lows of life, this show offers honest conversations, practical insights, and a whole lot of compassion. Let's thrive, even when it feels like life is on level 12 hard.

  1. hace 2 d

    Part 2: Deep-diving PDA

    In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Katherine Olson, we deep dive into PDA and why so many of the strategies we're told to use can backfire for PDA kids. We talk about autonomy, neuroception, connection, and the invisible energy underneath our words—and why relationship is probably the most powerful intervention we have. -- ABOUT KATHERINE: Dr. Katherine L. Olson is a licensed clinical psychologist who lives and works on the central coast of California. She is a part-time psychologist and full-time mom and caregiver to two wonderful, neurodivergent kids, one of whom is PDA. Despite her years of training in neurodevelopment, she continually learns and unlearns so much more from her kids than she ever expected (or bargained for!). Through her private practice consultations, she has been privileged to work with many other PDA families along their journey, as well as other professionals who are hoping to better understand and support their PDA clients. Dr. Olson’s hope is to help bring autonomy focused, neurodiversity affirming care to the families who need it most. Learn more about her practice here: https://www.katherinelolsonphd.com/  -- Additional Resources: Explore the new book - the Parent's Handbook for Kids in Burnout Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!  Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward! Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!  Instagram Facebook Pinterest The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!

    Part 2: Deep-diving PDA
  2. 5 oct

    Part 1: Deep-diving PDA

    In this first part of a deep dive into PDA from a professional's lens, I’m talking with Dr. Katherine Olson, a clinical psychologist with extensive training in autism, early childhood intervention, and neurodevelopment. But Katie is also a parent who had to completely rethink what she thought she knew clinically, when her own child didn't fit the frameworks she'd been trained to use. Next week we'll talk more about the definition of PDA itself and why so many common parenting strategies fail so spectacularly for PDAers. -- ABOUT KATHERINE: Dr. Katherine L. Olson is a licensed clinical psychologist who lives and works on the central coast of California. She is a part-time psychologist and full-time mom and caregiver to two wonderful, neurodivergent kids, one of whom is PDA. Despite her years of training in neurodevelopment, she continually learns and unlearns so much more from her kids than she ever expected (or bargained for!). Through her private practice consultations, she has been privileged to work with many other PDA families along their journey, as well as other professionals who are hoping to better understand and support their PDA clients. Dr. Olson’s hope is to help bring autonomy focused, neurodiversity affirming care to the families who need it most. Learn more about her practice here: https://www.katherinelolsonphd.com/  -- Additional Resources: Explore the new book - the Parent's Handbook for Kids in Burnout Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!  Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward! Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!  Instagram Facebook Pinterest The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!

    Part 1: Deep-diving PDA
  3. 28 sept

    The radical freedom of trusting our kids

    Listen in as I talk with somatic coach and artist Jo Kelly about what happens when we practice truly trusting our children (and ourselves) for the long haul. Jo shares her experience stepping away from traditional schooling and choosing a radically child-led educational path for her children, who are now young adults, including what she learned about feeling our feelings, self-trust, curiosity, and the ways children flourish when we release the expectation of conformity. We talk about how conditioning teaches us to disconnect from our own bodies and feelings, why so many of us struggle to trust our instincts as parents, and what it can look like to create a life where our children are allowed to follow their interests, honor their needs, advocate for themselves, and become who they already are. What if our work isn't to fix or heal our children, but to stop interrupting the incredible humans they already are?  About Jo: Jo Kelly is the founder of To Be Or Not To Act and creator of the 33-Day Reset Journey. For over 30 years, she has explored human instinct, emotional freedom and the conditioning that disconnects us from our natural intelligence. With an MBA specialized in systemics and human resources, her work looks beyond the individual to the family, education and social systems that shape how we learn to behave, express ourselves and trust our own internal signals. She is also directing the documentary Why Isn’t Everyone Dancing?, exploring what happens to our natural freedom and expression as we learn to behave, perform and fit in. Website: https://www.tobeornottoact.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobeornottoact_jokelly/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jo.kelly.77/  About the Podcast: Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!  Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward! Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!  Instagram Facebook Pinterest The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!

    The radical freedom of trusting our kids
  4. 24 ago

    Parenting a gamer

    DISCOVER THE LOW DEMAND COURSE This powerful 8-week course hones your parenting intuition, builds your self-trust, supports collaborative work with your kid, and yields massive shifts in families. I love it. I hope you love it too. Find out more here.   ABOUT ANDREW Andrew Fishman, LCSW, is a licensed mental health professional in Chicago, where he specializes in the impact of video games on mental health. He earned a master’s degree in social work at Loyola University and is certified to counsel gaming disorder by the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization. His new book, Parenting a Gamer, is a comprehensive guide to all the challenges of parenting a gamer. Andrew has written extensively for Psychology Today, and he has been featured in interviews with outlets including The Wall Street Journal, AJ+ and Fintech Beat, among others. Connect with him online.   Additional Resources: Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!  Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward! Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!  Instagram Facebook Pinterest   The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!

    Parenting a gamer
  5. 9 jul

    Maternal ambivalence: when you love your kids and sometimes hate parenting

    In this episode, I talk with psychotherapist and researcher Dr. Margot Lowy about maternal ambivalence—the reality that parenting often holds both joy and grief, love and frustration, freedom and limitation all at the same time. We explore why these difficult feelings remain so taboo, how perfectionism and social expectations keep parents isolated, and why naming our experiences can be profoundly healing. Margot shares insights from decades of research and clinical work, reminding us that parenting isn't meant to be perfect. It's messy, interrupted, loving, and deeply human. ABOUT DR. MARGO LOWRY: Dr. Margo Lowy is a psychotherapist and researcher specializing in motherhood and women’s reproductive health. She holds a PhD and Research Masters from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, with a focus on maternal ambivalence and infertility. Her newest book, Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments & Bitter Truths of Motherhood (Post Hill Press, 2025), examines the complex emotions that accompany motherhood. She is also the author of The Maternal Experience: Encounters with Ambivalence and Love (Routledge, 2020), which grew out of her doctoral research, and a contributor to Psychology Today. Through her writing and clinical work, she aims to disrupt the silence surrounding the unspoken realities of motherhood.  Learn more:   - https://drmargolowy.com    - https://www.instagram.com/drmargolowy   - https://www.facebook.com/drmargolowy

    Maternal ambivalence: when you love your kids and sometimes hate parenting
  6. 22 jun

    Helping sensory-sensitive kids thrive

    When we think about demands, we often think about the obvious ones: brush your teeth, sit at the table, get dressed, go to school. But what about the demands we can't see? In this conversation with pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix (known online as The OT Butterfly), we explore how sensory experiences place demands on the nervous system—and why understanding those demands can completely change how we support our kids! We talk about: Why sensory tools don't work all the time The difference between accommodations and demands How to observe your child like a scientist Why "good behavior" can actually be a sign of distress The hidden costs of lights, sounds, textures, and environments The concept of a "nervous system budget" Why sensory sensitivity increases during burnout How to support kids even when you don't fully understand their experience This episode is a powerful reminder that our kid's behaviors aren't a "problem." They're showing us what the kid is carrying, often unseen, and giving us important clues of what it looks like to support them into thriving. ABOUT LAURA: Laura Petix is a Filipino American, neurodivergent pediatric occupational therapist, author, and nationally recognized voice in sensory processing and nervous system–informed behavior support. She is the founder of The OT Butterfly, a leading education platform trusted by hundreds of thousands of parents, educators, and clinicians for translating neuroscience into practical, real-world strategies. With a background spanning clinical practice, research, and large-scale digital education, Laura is known for making complex sensory science accessible, affirming, and actionable. You can find her kids book, podcast, and all her helpful resources at www.theotbutterfly.com. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!  Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward! Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!  Instagram Facebook Pinterest The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!

    Helping sensory-sensitive kids thrive

Información

The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. Hosted by Amanda Diekman—author, autistic adult, and mom of three—this podcast isn’t about perfection or expert advice. It’s about learning together how to drop the demands that weigh us down and find the ease we crave in our families. Whether you’re navigating neurodivergence, challenging behaviors, or simply the highs and lows of life, this show offers honest conversations, practical insights, and a whole lot of compassion. Let's thrive, even when it feels like life is on level 12 hard.

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