Help! I Have Kids!

Pam Marshall
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Parenting

Help! I Have Kids! is the podcast for moms who are doing their best, asking all the right questions, and still wondering if something’s being missed. Hosted by Pam—a mom of five and pediatric occupational therapist with 35 years of experience—this show helps you trust your gut, advocate for your child, and partner with professionals without the overwhelm. Each week, you’ll get practical tips, real-life stories, and heartfelt encouragement from experts and fellow moms who’ve been in your shoes. Because, as moms, we are the head of our child's medical team! 

  1. 1d ago

    IEP vs. 504 Plan: Which One Does Your Child Actually Need?

    Send us Fan Mail Is your child struggling in school, but you aren’t sure what kind of support to ask for? Hearing terms like 504 Plan, IEP, RTI, and educational evaluations can feel overwhelming—especially when you just want your child to succeed. In this episode of Help I Have Kids, host Pam Marshall (pediatric OT with 35+ years of experience) sits down with special education teacher, BCBA, and mom Jill to break down everything parents need to know about navigating 504 plans and IEPs. Whether you’re just starting the evaluation process or wondering why a medical diagnosis wasn't enough to get school services, this episode gives you the exact tools and legal timelines you need to advocate with confidence. 💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Core Difference: Accommodations (504 Plan) vs. Specialized Instruction (IEP) and how to know which one your child qualifies for. The 10-Day Rule: How to make a formal parent request for special education testing (and the strict timeline schools must follow). Medical vs. Educational Diagnosis: Why a doctor’s diagnosis doesn’t automatically guarantee an IEP at school—and how to bridge the gap. Re-evaluations & Timelines: What happens during 3-year IEP re-assessments and what checklist items parents can request. How to build a strong partnership with your child's homeroom teacher to get data collected faster. Support the show

  2. Jul 29

    7 Back to School Tips as a Mom of 5 and Pediatric OT

    Send us Fan Mail Are you dreading the first day back to school because of the hard transition between summer and school schedules?  Believe me, I understand! As a mom of 5 and pediatric OT I have had many years to perfect the process of getting out of the door on the first day of school. Each year brings new challenges as my kids change and we just learn to adapt!  You know your child best, I'm just hear to give you my personal experience and clinical expertise to help you make the best decisions for your household!  In this episode, we talk about routines, visual schedules, skills your child can master before the start of school, appropriate shoes and backpacks, and tips to make the first day of school easier for everyone in the house!  Check out our other episodes to prepare you for back to school! - Backpacks, Routines & School Prep Tips from an OT Mom: https://youtu.be/IKRpDXSF0PY - Mentally Preparing for Back-to-School With an Anxious Child: https://youtu.be/91YCg8ZMyrg - Navigating 504 Plans, IEPs, and classroom accommodations: https://youtu.be/OWSLr1kBsN8 Support the show

  3. Jul 15

    Neuroanimation: Therapy That Grows the Brain

    Send us Fan Mail Have you hit an invisible wall with your child’s therapy? If you are a mom navigating the beautiful, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming world of raising a child with ADHD, autism, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or stroke recovery, you know what it feels like to plateau. You’ve done the speech therapy, the occupational therapy, the physical therapy—yet you’re left asking, "What now?" In this deeply personal, solo episode, Pam Marshall speaks directly from her heart to yours. Sharing the hard-won truths she wishes someone had told her years ago, Pam delivers a message of profound hope and a massive breakthrough that quite literally fell into her lap. Pam is introducing Neuroanimation—a revolutionary, science-backed therapy born out of groundbreaking research by neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins University. By using immersive, high-dose stimulation to spark the brain's natural ability to rewire itself (neuroplasticity), Neuroanimation is helping children and adults break through growth plateaus when traditional methods have stalled. Even better? Pam is bringing this world-class technology right here to Lexington, Kentucky. If you are ready to stop feeling stuck and want to explore a new path forward for your child, this episode is your invitation. Tune in to hear the science, feel the hope, and find out how you can book a free tour of the new Lexington facility to see the technology in action and get all your questions answered. Your child's next chapter of growth starts here. Check out the research and schedule a consult!  https://www.neuroanimation.com/landing-page-ads-pediatrics-v2/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23970382074&gbraid=0AAAABDlzrDEUtLtr3oOZ550ei4NuDueju&gclid=Cj0KCQjw39zSBhDhARIsANammDs6dGxcqruU_XB-xIZaYmKCSU_D5Jp5Ysfk17iH3kvUkMyCerq3qecaAhrpEALw_wcB Support the show

  4. Jul 8

    What Is AutPlay Therapy? A Mom's Guide to Autism-Affirming Play Therapy

    Send us Fan Mail Play therapy gets thrown around a lot — but most moms have no idea what it actually looks like, or whether it's even an option for their neurodivergent child. In this episode, Pam sits down with Allison, a marriage and family therapist working toward her Registered Play Therapist credential, who's also certified in AutPlay Therapy — a neurodiversity-affirming approach designed specifically for autistic and neurodivergent kids. Allison breaks down what a real play therapy session looks like, how it's different from talk therapy, how she reads a playroom, and why "meeting the child where they are" — not changing them — is the whole point. In this episode: - What play therapy actually is (and isn't) - Why play is how kids process their world, long before they can talk about it - What AutPlay Therapy is and how it supports autistic and neurodivergent kids specifically - What a typical session looks like, and how long treatment usually takes - How to know therapy is working - Pam's honest question every mom asks: "Is it really worth it?" - How to find the right play therapist for your child — and what to ask them Support the show

  5. Jul 1

    Will a Therapy Break Cause Regression? Caregiver Burnout & Therapeutic Breaks

    Send us Fan Mail Don't skip this episode because you hear "break in therapy" and think… "not for us." Stay with us for a minute. We see you. You're the nurse, the therapist, the caregiver, and the mom — all before lunchtime, most days. You've been white-knuckling it through every session for months, maybe years, and quietly wondering if you have anything left to give. But the second the word "break" comes up, something in you panics. What if my kid loses everything we've worked for? What if we lose our spot? What if I'm the reason they don't progress? So you keep going. Even when you're running on empty. Even when your kid is tired of it too. Even when some small, quiet part of you just wants permission to stop for a minute. This week, Pam sits down with Heather Anderson, PTA, who works with some of the most medically complex kids in the field — and she gently dismantles every fear you've been carrying about stepping back. In this episode: Why a therapeutic break almost never means starting from scratch — and what the research actually showsWhat to do (and who to call) if you do see regression, so you're never stuck waitingHow to ask for a break without losing your therapy spot or your therapistThe burnout that's just as real for you as it is for your child — and why it mattersSimple ways to keep the progress going at home, even without a weekly sessionYou are the nurse, the therapist, the caregiver, and the mom — and you are allowed to rest. Your child is allowed to just be a kid for a season. This episode is the permission slip you didn't know you needed. Support the show

  6. Jun 24

    Is It Sensory or Behavior? A Pediatric OT Explains Sensory Seeking, Picky Eating & Summer Meltdowns

    Send us Fan Mail Is your child's behavior actually sensory? Pam sits down with Kelly, OTD from Marshall Pediatric Therapy to break down sensory seeking vs. sensory avoiding, the real link between picky eating and sensory processing, why "shy" kids may actually be overwhelmed, and why summer makes it all worse. You'll get simple, no-equipment sensory strategies that help your child actually work through their sensory challenges — not just avoid them — plus a clear answer to one of the most common parenting questions: is this sensory or just behavior? If you have a sensory-seeking child, a picky eater, a shy kid, or a kiddo who melts down every afternoon this summer — this one's for you. 🎙️ 💜 New episodes every Wednesday. Share this with a mom who needs it. Support the show

  7. Jun 17

    Does My Baby Need a Helmet? Tight Neck & Flat Head

    Send us Fan Mail New Mamas! Before you spend thousands on beautiful nurseries and plastic baby gear, listen to this episode! Pediatric Occupational Therapists Pam and Kelly discuss how modern "baby containers" might be contributing to tight neck muscles and flat heads in newborns. Learn how to trust your mom gut, get easy home exercise tips (HEPs), and find out why a simple laundry basket might be your new secret weapon for healthy infant development. 🍼💪 If any of this sounded a little too familiar today, don't panic—just reach out! Connect with us at Marshall Pediatric Therapy to chat with a pediatric therapist who can answer your questions and give you the tools you need. We’re here to help your family thrive! Support the show

    Does My Baby Need a Helmet? Tight Neck & Flat Head

  8. May 20

    Can My Child with Autism Do Virtual Therapy?

    Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wondered, "Can my child with autism actually do virtual therapy?" you are not alone. It’s one of the biggest questions parents ask when considering telehealth. In this episode of Help! I Have Kids, guest host and speech-language pathologist Beth Blankenship teams up with special guest Liz, a mom to two sons with autism, to look at virtual therapy from both sides of the screen. Liz shares her honest journey from being a total telehealth skeptic to watching virtual sessions become a major contributing factor to her son's progress. Together, they dive into why telehealth at Marshall Pediatric Therapy is a total game-changer. Beth breaks down how virtual therapy allows families to completely skip long clinic waitlists, avoid the stress of missed appointments, and use the comfort of home to unlock big breakthroughs. Tune in to find out how virtual therapy can deliver the exact same high-quality care as an in-person clinic, right from your living room! Join Our Community! You don’t have to figure this out alone! Join our Help I Have Kids Facebook Community to connect with other moms, ask questions, and get expert insights in a supportive space. Subscribe to the podcast, follow us on YouTube at @HelpIHaveKidsPodcast, and share this episode with a friend who needs a little less stress in her life. We’re all in this together! Support the show

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Help! I Have Kids! is the podcast for moms who are doing their best, asking all the right questions, and still wondering if something’s being missed. Hosted by Pam—a mom of five and pediatric occupational therapist with 35 years of experience—this show helps you trust your gut, advocate for your child, and partner with professionals without the overwhelm. Each week, you’ll get practical tips, real-life stories, and heartfelt encouragement from experts and fellow moms who’ve been in your shoes. Because, as moms, we are the head of our child's medical team! 

Information

  • Creator
    Pam Marshall
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Help! I Have Kids!
  • Show Website
    Help! I Have Kids!

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