Mixed Needs Mama Podcast

Terrie Hellard-Brown
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

A podcast for Christian mamas of mixed-needs families with children who are neuro typical and neuro divergent. We discuss family culture, faith, and parenting joyfully even in the challenges of life.

  1. 3d ago

    Fidget Rings for Kids, Teens, and Adults: What to Buy and How to Make Your Own

    Discreet fidget rings for anxious kids, teens, and adults: favorite store-bought picks, plus easy wire-and-bead rings you can make together at home. Show notes In the third episode of our crafting series, Terrie shares one of her adult children's favorite calming tools: fidget rings. Rings are less obvious than a fidget toy, so they work well for teens and adults who want something quiet to calm themselves without drawing attention. Terrie covers three store-bought options. One is a men's black spinner ring with a small cross. Another is a "Faith Over Fear" spinner ring in silver or gold, a reminder for anyone dealing with anxiety. The third is an inexpensive 12-pack of colorful rotating rings for younger kids. For crafty families, Terrie walks through the wire-and-bead rings she makes herself. These include a horseshoe-style ring with beads in the center, a ring with beads that slide along a separate wire, and a coiled dragon ring with beads inside the coil. She also shares the tools you'll need and points to a tutorial for advanced crafters who want to make a true metal ring-within-a-ring. Making these with your kids is a chance to laugh and talk together. If they get frustrated along the way, it's also a chance to teach perseverance and patience. Chapters 00:00 Store-bought fidget rings for kids, teens, and adults 03:02 Handmade rings: spinning beads, a coiled dragon, and tools 05:08 Two easy wire-and-bead designs to try 06:33 Crafting together: connection, calm, and perseverance 08:12 Closing thoughts and future craft episodes In this episode: Why fidget rings work well for teens and adults Three affordable store-bought fidget rings How to make simple wire-and-bead fidget rings at home Tools and supplies you need for DIY rings Using craft frustrations to teach perseverance Resources mentioned: Men's black spinner ring with cross: https://link.amazon/B0iowX4cc  "Faith Over Fear" spinner ring (silver/gold): https://link.amazon/B0643HSQn  Kids' rotating fidget rings, 12-pack: https://link.amazon/B0brHVqPW  Horseshoe bead ring tutorial (also the base for the dragon ring): https://youtu.be/o-GgHGRJys8?si=Q7_bImaNRZNmrhQd  Sliding-bead ring tutorial (three wires across): https://youtu.be/hFkD5VrXImk?si=Ict6ztT7mBh_Rb0K  Another ring customers really like that they can fidget with: https://youtu.be/oJTnrtC9poA?si=GTnSZj9SojyYW6ak  Coiled dragon charms: https://share.temu.com/Cyrzvwy9lAC  Metal ring-within-a-ring tutorial for advanced crafters: https://youtu.be/qbgAt05cePs?si=Pjckpm47dSlo-njL  Tools/supplies:     24 gauge wire: https://link.amazon/B0gs1tm4H     16 gauge wire: https://link.amazon/B0bJh4GeK      rawhide hammer: https://link.amazon/B07vHMaq2 (you only need one of the hammers, but I have both and use both)     metal hammer: https://link.amazon/B08tjCPA9 (you only need one of the hammers, but I have both and use both)     ring mandrel: https://link.amazon/B0cqOHFgk      bent nose pliers: https://link.amazon/B09GM4MYm      needlenose pliers: https://link.amazon/B0ieCYGIQ      round nose pliers: https://link.amazon/B030j1cNC      seed beads: https://link.amazon/B023aZWrh      crystal beads: https://link.amazon/B08rqhZaU   Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave it in the YouTube comments. We read and respond to every one.

    Fidget Rings for Kids, Teens, and Adults: What to Buy and How to Make Your Own

  2. Oct 23 ·  Video

    Car Sickness Help for Kids: Make an Acupressure Bead Bracelet

    Does your child get car sick or nauseated on trips? In this episode of Mixed Needs Mama, Terrie walks you through making a simple acupressure bracelet with your kids, one they design themselves with beads they pick out. It gives them a tool to use when nausea hits and something to focus on besides how they feel. In this episode: Choosing the right elastic cord (thick vs. thin, and why you stretch it first) The binder-clip trick that keeps beads from sliding off while kids work Why the bracelet needs one bead larger than all the rest Finding the acupressure point on the inner wrist and how to use the bead on it Sealing the knot kid-safely with glue instead of a lighter, and hiding it inside a bead Peppermint as a second go-to for nausea Chapters 00:00 Introduction to parenting mixed needs families 00:19 Overview of practical tips for nausea relief 01:04 How to make a nausea relief bracelet 02:07 Choosing the right elastic thread and beads 03:00 Using acupressure points for nausea relief 04:36 Tips for sealing and customizing bracelets 06:41 Additional remedies and engaging children 20:41 Options for purchasing pre-made bracelets 22:02 Supporting neurodivergent children and building family culture Finding the spot: The point is called P6 (Nei Guan). It's on the inside of the forearm, about three finger-widths below the wrist crease, between the two tendons. Press or roll the large bead there when nausea starts. Here's a video that shows you: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JwpxHe6ir/  Want one made for you? Email Terrie at contact@terriehellardbrown.com with the colors you'd like and the wrist measurement. Bracelets are $8 + shipping. Prefer to buy one? https://link.amazon/A01WOtvvJ or https://link.amazon/B0g3QJmrq (Amazon has more styles as well) Amazon also recommends these items to help children with motion sickness: Tummy Pops: https://link.amazon/B0bZVW8gm,  Travel Ease: https://link.amazon/B04wWvJ3n  Herbal Gummies: https://link.amazon/B06n2jrUU  Patches: https://link.amazon/B06Rvmkbv  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Resources: Scritchy Scratchy SOCKS: a picture book to help kids understand sensory differences and build empathy Shop books and family discipleship resources at terriehellardbrown.com Join the weekly newsletter and get free downloads, including more crafts that support your neurodivergent child: signup here Have a topic you'd like covered? Leave a comment here.

  3. Oct 16

    DIY Zipper Bracelets: A Quiet, Wearable Fidget for Kids Who Stim

    Fidget toys are wonderful, but buying lots of them gets expensive fast. In this episode, Terrie shows you how to make zipper bracelets. They're colorful, inexpensive fidgets your kids can wear all day and zip and unzip whenever they need to. They're quiet until they're in use, they don't draw attention, and they're simple enough for older kids to make on their own. In this episode: Why fidgets and stimming still matter for older kids and adults The three supplies you need: zippers, clasp fasteners, and embroidery floss How to cut, fold, and sew the ends so the bracelet won't come apart Why a sharper needle works better than a blunt embroidery needle How to break in a stiff new zipper Other ways to wear them, including as a double ring Using them as a family craft or a Christmas stocking stuffer 📚 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Supplies: Zippers: https://link.amazon/B0cNSD0Cq Clasp fasteners: https://link.amazon/B0fJ1B7Xf Embroidery floss: https://link.amazon/B05DYjDAQ Sharp large-eye needle: https://link.amazon/B00CLFv7F Fidget toys we love: ONO fidgets (great for teens and adults): https://getono.com/ Amazon favorites: https://link.amazon/B0iYgz9N5 https://link.amazon/B0jawEBJq https://link.amazon/B0eyYL5Vw Original tutorial and video: https://www.momsandcrafters.com/how-to-make-a-zipper-bracelet/ (She also has the products she used linked on her site so you can click from there as well. Scroll down on her page for the video demo) Join the conversation: What does your child use to fidget or stim? How do you handle it in public or at church? Share your quiet fidget ideas in the comments, along with any topics you'd like us to cover on a future episode. Affiliate disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Fidget Toy Ideas 02:01 Step-by-Step: Making the Zipper Bracelets 03:21 Tips for Securing the Fidget Bracelets 04:56 Creative Uses and Variations of Fidget Bracelets 06:16 Encouraging Kids to Make Their Own Fidgets 07:12 Closing Remarks and Resources  🔗 CONNECT Website: https://terriehellardbrown.com/ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mixed-needs-mama-podcast/id1865657564  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5T3VUhFFpSQxfdOOGqwB6X?si=1ea25d34f095457b  Mixed Needs Mama and Sparking Everyday Discipleship are part of The Whole Family, encouragement for families raising kids with different needs. #MixedNeedsMama #christianparenting #fidgettoys

    DIY Zipper Bracelets: A Quiet, Wearable Fidget for Kids Who Stim

  4. Oct 9

    The Discipline Conversation I Wish I'd Had with My Kids

    The Discipline Conversation I Wish I'd Had with My Kids In a mixed-needs home, fair discipline doesn't always mean the same discipline. Terrie disciplined her children privately to protect their dignity, and she tailored consequences to each child. A favorite device taken away for five minutes reached her neurodivergent kids in a way timeout never did. For her social-butterfly daughter, staying home was the consequence that mattered most. But there was a loophole she didn't see until her kids were grown. Her neurotypical daughter never saw her siblings being disciplined, so she assumed they were getting away with everything and that she was held to a higher standard. One conversation could have prevented years of hurt feelings. In this episode: Why private discipline protects your child's dignity and your relationship, and the blind spot it can create Why neurodivergent kids often don't connect a consequence to what they did, and what to do instead Matching consequences to each child's personality and needs Why explaining the why builds true discipline, not just compliance, and reflects God's heart behind His boundaries The family conversation about expectations and consequences that keeps siblings from feeling cheated Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Parenting and Discipline 01:52 Discipline Approaches in Public and Private 03:08 Different Needs of Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Children 04:19 Effective Discipline Techniques for Different Children 05:08 The Power of Explaining the 'Why' 06:24 Discipline as a Reflection of God's Heart 07:17 The Importance of Clarifying Discipline Reasons 08:32 Tailoring Discipline to Each Child 09:25 Having Ongoing Family Expectations Discussions 10:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Terrie is currently writing Parenting from God's Heart, which goes deeper into discipline as discipleship.

    The Discipline Conversation I Wish I'd Had with My Kids

  5. Oct 2

    Hygiene Struggles with Autistic Kids: What Actually Helps

    Hygiene is one of the hardest things to teach when you're parenting kids on the spectrum. You teach it, they do it, and the next day it's like it never happened. In this episode of Mixed Needs Mama, Terrie Hellard-Brown shares what has actually worked in her mixed-needs family, from potty training through the teen years and into adulthood: • Why routines beat checklists for many neurodivergent kids • The detangling brush that ended the hairbrushing battles • Sensory-friendly options for teeth, periods, and cleaning chores • "Clutter blindness": why your child may not see the mess, and how to teach them to • Why patience and modeling matter more than reminders Chapters: 00:00 Why hygiene is so hard to teach 1:40 Routines vs. checklists 02:04 Sensory-friendly hair brushing 05:05 Potty training, periods & sensory-friendly options 07:22 Teeth: electric brushes, rinse & checking in 10:00 Teaching laundry and chores 11:25 Clutter blindness: teaching kids to see the mess 13:33 Modeling the habits you want 14:26 Gloves and tools for germ-averse kids 15:16 What's worked for you? + closing prayer What has helped your kids? Share it in the comments. Your idea might be exactly what another parent needs. 📚 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE. 🔗 Detangling hairbrush: https://link.amazon/B06dqz4zd 🔗 Potty training blog post: https://www.twentyonedandelions.com/blog/a-moms-guide-to-potty-training-your-child-with-special-needs 🔗 The Whole Family: https://thewholefamily.love Mixed Needs Mama helps Christian parents in mixed-needs homes move from survival mode to sustainable peace. #MixedNeedsFamily #AutismParenting #ChristianParenting

    Hygiene Struggles with Autistic Kids: What Actually Helps

  6. Sep 24

    Protecting Your Child's Childhood: A Discussion on Parentification

    Summary In this episode, Annie shares her personal experience with parentification, exploring how taking on adult responsibilities as a child affected her development and relationships. Her insights offer valuable guidance for families navigating similar dynamics.   Key Topics Parentification and its effects on children Personal stories of childhood caregiving Balancing responsibility and childhood innocence Advice for families dealing with parentification The long-term impact on sibling relationships Sound Bites "Responsibility is not bad, but it should be shared equally." "Children should not have to carry adult burdens." "Let kids fall forward to learn and grow." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Parentification and Annie's Background 00:22 Early Memories of Taking on Parental Roles 00:42 The Year of Overwhelming Responsibility in Taiwan 00:45 The Emotional Toll of Parentification 00:46 Advice for Families Facing Similar Challenges 00:48 The Role of Translator and Cultural Responsibilities 01:03 The Impact on Annie's Personal Development 01:08 Moving to America and the Loss of Purpose 01:25 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward 01:53 The Importance of Allowing Children to Fail 02:02 Recognizing and Avoiding Enabling Behaviors 02:03 The Long-Term Effects on Adult Relationships 02:26 Encouragement for Parents and Caregivers 02:28 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

    Protecting Your Child's Childhood: A Discussion on Parentification

  7. Sep 17

    Deleting Diagnosis Paralysis: Waiting for a Diagnosis

    Summary This episode offers guidance for parents navigating the uncertain period before a child's diagnosis, emphasizing prayer, observation, and trusting God's wisdom to support their children's needs. Key Topics Waiting for a diagnosis and what to do during this time The importance of prayer and trusting God's wisdom Observing and understanding your child's cues and stress signals Recognizing signs of stress, shutdowns, and ticks in children The impact of environment and social situations on children Helping children express emotions and build vocabulary The importance of love, respect, and trust in family dynamics Practical resources for emotional regulation and expression The role of discernment and listening to children Encouragement and faith during uncertain parenting times Sound Bites "Trust on the wisdom of God to give us insight" "Wisdom is putting knowledge into practice" "The most important thing we can do is pray for our children" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to navigating diagnosis uncertainty 00:20 The importance of observing and trusting God's wisdom 01:19 What to do while waiting for a diagnosis 02:37 Recognizing stress signals and ticks in children 04:47 Dealing with trauma and social challenges 07:11 Understanding sensory issues and helping children 08:46 The power of prayer and seeking God's guidance 10:10 Building a foundation of love and respect 11:06 Resources for emotional expression and regulation 12:24 Encouragement and trusting God's plan

    Deleting Diagnosis Paralysis: Waiting for a Diagnosis

  8. Sep 11

    Deleting Diagnosis Paralysis: 5 Steps and the Grace to Take Them

    Summary In this episode, Terrie Hellard-Brown discusses navigating diagnosis paralysis in families with special needs children, emphasizing early intervention, emotional resilience, and trusting God's plan. Key Topics Diagnosis paralysis and its impact on families Importance of early intervention for neurodivergent children The grieving process and acceptance in diagnosis Building a support team and community Praying for wisdom and guidance in parenting Balancing accommodations and fostering independence Trusting God through the journey of special needs parenting Takeaways Grieve the loss of the expected family life to accept new realities. Early intervention can dramatically improve outcomes for children with autism. Surround yourself with understanding friends and professionals. Pray consistently for wisdom, patience, and strength. Balance accommodations with encouraging independence. Sound Bites "Early intervention makes a huge difference." "Grieve the loss to embrace acceptance." "Trust God in every step of the journey." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to diagnosis paralysis and its effects 01:57 The importance of early intervention for neurodivergent children 04:01 Personal stories of diagnosis and the impact of early treatment 08:02 Managing the wait for diagnosis and emotional responses 11:48 Building a support network and community resources 15:50 Praying for wisdom and trusting God's plan 20:05 Letting go and trusting God as children grow older 22:01 Walking step by step and avoiding overwhelm 22:51 Encouragement and closing thoughts

    Deleting Diagnosis Paralysis: 5 Steps and the Grace to Take Them
See All (42)

About

A podcast for Christian mamas of mixed-needs families with children who are neuro typical and neuro divergent. We discuss family culture, faith, and parenting joyfully even in the challenges of life.

Information