TILT Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids

Debbie Reber
TILT Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids Podcast

TiLT Parenting, from parenting activist, speaker, and author Debbie Reber, features transformational interviews and conversations with authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents aimed at inspiring, informing, and supporting parents raising differently-wired kids (giftedness, ADHD, austim, 2e, learning differences, sensory processing issues, anxiety, and more). TiLT aims to help parents feel empowered and in choice in how they parent, have more peace in their daily lives, and parent and advocate for their child from a place of confidence and awareness so that our children can thrive in every way. https:/tiltparenting.com

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    TPP 404: Sara Olsher on Walking Children Through Hard Seasons of Life

    In today's episode, my guest reminds us that no one goes through life unscathed. We all face big, difficult challenges—it's part of being human. And when we encounter these challenges while parenting, it's up to us to help our kids make sense of things in healthy ways that foster resilience. But how exactly do we do that? My guest, author-illustrator Sara Olsher, is a strong advocate for talking to kids honestly about the big things happening in our families. She speaks from her own experience, having navigated difficult conversations with her daughter during a messy divorce, followed shortly by a cancer diagnosis. Despite her fears about using the word "cancer," Sara knew it was important for her daughter to understand what was happening with accurate information. As Sara explained in our conversation, “Developmentally, the whole world revolves around them. So if you don't talk with children about these things, they’ll invent a story that centers on them, and they may conclude it’s their fault.” I love talking with people who take their personal experiences and hard-earned wisdom and turn them into tools to help others feel more supported and confident. That’s exactly what Sara did, and today, she shares her journey with us. You'll hear how she navigated her divorce and used her daughter’s anxiety as an opportunity to learn the power of visual schedules and open communication in helping kids cope with tough situations. She also discusses the series of children’s books she’s written to help parents tackle heavy topics like chronic illness, hospice, cancer, and emotions. One thing that really stood out to me was how going through hard times can actually prepare our kids to live with uncertainty. In addition to her books, Sara is the founder of Mighty and Bright, a company that helps kids and adults manage their lives more easily with magnetic visual schedules. She shares how she discovered visual schedules almost by accident, but how they transformed her daughter’s anxiety overnight. They sound like a game changer for many families, so definitely check out her resources if they resonate with you. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Sara Olsher.   About Sara Olsher After surviving a divorce and cancer all before she turned 35, mom and author-illustrator Sara Olsher took the lessons she learned about helping kids through major life changes and wrote a book. Then another, and another. She now has twelve picture books under her belt, and is the founder of Mighty and Bright, a company that helps kids and adults understand and manage their lives more easily using magnetic visual schedules. Sara was chosen as a 2023 Remarkable Woman by Nexstar Media.   Things you'll learn Why open communication and honesty are crucial when discussing difficult topics with children How visual schedules provide a sense of control and security for children, especially when they’re experiencing anxiety related to life circumstances How children's books can be powerful tools for explaining complex concepts like chronic illness, divorce, and death Why ongoing communication and flexibility are key in supporting children as they foster adaptability How parents can heal their own trauma and create a deeper connection with their children by addressing difficult topics openly and honestly   Resources mentioned Sara Olsher’s website Mighty and Bright Mighty and Bright on Instagram Mighty and Bright on TikTok What Happens When… book series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  2. 10 SEPT

    TPP 403: The Connection Between Differently Wired Kids and Substance Use, with Brenda Zane

    Just as technology evolves rapidly, so too do the ways drugs are consumed. For parents, it can be challenging to recognize when our kids are using, especially since many products on the market now resemble harmless school supplies or candy. And then if we find our kids are engaging in drug use, how do we even begin to navigate that? That’s what we’re going to explore today with my guest Brenda Zane, whose oldest son struggled with an addiction to a high-risk lifestyle and illicit drugs for over five years. After nearly losing him to two fentanyl overdoses, Brenda left her marketing career to serve other families dealing with the fear, confusion, and feelings of helplessness of having a child who’s misusing drugs or alcohol, becoming a family advocate and co-founding the nonprofit organization Hopestream Community, where she serves parents of teens and young adults who struggle with substance misuse and mental health challenges. This is such a powerful conversation and one I truly recommend all parents to listen to, no matter the age of their children, as it’s important to understand the landscape for drug access and use in the lives of today’s kids. During this episode, Brenda and I talked about the importance of open communication and understanding the reasons behind drug use, the dangers of high-potency THC products in younger users, and the challenges parents face when their teenagers experiment with substances, as well as explore the idea that there is a difference between “typical experimentation” and problematic use when talking about marijuana. I know that this can be one of those uncomfortable topics that many of us would rather avoid thinking about, especially if we have a history of substance abuse in our families, but it’s important for our kids' safety that we do the research and create spaces for these conversations to be had at home. One last thing, please know that this episode contains references to drug abuse, overdosing, and mental health issues. So do what you need to do to take care of yourself if these are triggering themes for you.   About Brenda Zane Brenda Zane is a family advocate and co-founder of the nonprofit organization Hopestream Community. She’s passionate about serving parents of teens and young adults who struggle with substance misuse and mental health challenges. Brenda’s oldest son struggled with an addiction to a high-risk lifestyle and illicit drugs for over five years. After nearly losing him to multiple fentanyl overdoses, Brenda left her marketing career to serve other families dealing with the fear, confusion, and feelings of helplessness of having a child who’s misusing drugs or alcohol. You can hear Brenda weekly on the Hopestream podcast.   Things you'll learn How today’s marijuana is significantly more potent than traditional marijuana and how that can impact a developing adolescent brain Why parents need to stay informed about new drug delivery methods, such as vape pens and edibles, to effectively address drug use in their children What some of the reasons behind drug use are, including coping with social anxiety or seeking acceptance How leveraging a child's strengths in positive activities can help redirect their focus and prevent problematic drug use Why it’s critical that parents create a safe space for teenagers to talk about their experiences and the reasons behind their substance use When to seek support from therapists and communities that provide resources and guidance for parents navigating these challenges   Resources mentioned: Hope Stream Community website Hope Stream Community on Instagram Hope Stream Podcast Worried Sick: A compassionate Guide for Parents of Teens or Young Adults Misusing substances (free ebook) HINDSIGHT: Three Things I Wish I Knew When My Son was Misusing Substances (free ebook) The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence by Jessica Lahey Learn more about your ad ch

    49 min
  3. 3 SEPT

    TPP 401: Dr. Billy Garvey on Supporting Our Child’s Mental Health Through the Years

    My fall season is officially starting today and I’m kicking it off with a conversation with Dr. Billy Garvey on mental health. Billy, a developmental pediatrician with over 20 years’ experience working with children in Australia, met last year while he was traveling around the world on a fellowship to explore the connection between how children are parented and their mental health as adults. One of the outcomes of that fellowship is Billy’s new book, which is called 10 Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child's Mental Health, which he was kind enough to send me an advanced copy of. So I wanted to bring him on the show to talk about that, but really to expand on that initial conversation I had with him but so that you all could be a part of it, too. We covered a lot of ground in this extra long episode, including challenges of accessing mental health support in Australia, the need for true inclusion and what that actually means, the importance of unconditional love for kids, attachment and temperament, the role of self-esteem, and the limitations of certain diagnoses, and much more.   About Dr. Billy Garvey Dr Billy Garvey is a developmental pediatrician with over 20 years’ experience working with children in a number of settings. He is a senior specialist at one of the largest tertiary pediatric hospitals in the world where he sees families, trains clinicians and other professionals working with children and conducts research in child development and mental health. Dr Billy’s clinical and research interests include child development and mental health, multidisciplinary collaboration, improving health literacy and promoting community engagement to support all families. He holds clinical, advocacy and research roles in government and not-for-profit organizations at a national, state and local level. He is currently undertaking a PhD piloting a model to support child emotional and behavioral development in primary schools and is a Churchill Fellow exploring how social media can be used to support parenting. He is also the founder of Guiding Growing Minds, a social enterprise that aims to give all children the opportunity to reach their potential and live rich and meaningful lives. The Pop Culture Parenting podcast is part of this vision.   Things you'll learn Why access to mental health support for children in Australia is a challenge, with long wait lists and limited availability of specialists How unconditional love and support are essential for helping children develop a positive sense of self and navigate challenges, and what that looks like in action Why the younger generation shows promise in driving positive change and embracing neurodiversity How secure attachment and sensitive parenting contribute to promoting healthy child development, and ways attachment can be strengthened over time Why self-esteem is best cultivated through consistent support, celebrating successes, and providing opportunities for growth The negative implications (and unhelpfulness) of diagnoses like oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD)   Resources mentioned Dr. Billy Garvey’s website Guiding Growing Minds Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child’s Mental Health by Dr. Billy Garvey Pop Culture Parenting (podcast) Dr. Tina Payne Bryson Dr. Mona Delahooke Dr. Dan Siegel Dr. Bruce Perry Thomas Boyce’s The Orchid Child and the Dandelion (Talks at Google) Jurassic Park and Co-Regulation (Pop Culture Parenting podcast) Forrest Gump and Kids Who Are Different (Pop Culture Parenting podcast) Thelma & Louise and Mental Health First-Aid (Pop Culture Parenting podcast) Blade Runner and Neurodiversity (Pop Culture Parenting podcast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 0m

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TiLT Parenting, from parenting activist, speaker, and author Debbie Reber, features transformational interviews and conversations with authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents aimed at inspiring, informing, and supporting parents raising differently-wired kids (giftedness, ADHD, austim, 2e, learning differences, sensory processing issues, anxiety, and more). TiLT aims to help parents feel empowered and in choice in how they parent, have more peace in their daily lives, and parent and advocate for their child from a place of confidence and awareness so that our children can thrive in every way. https:/tiltparenting.com

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