Mixed Needs Mama Podcast

Terrie Hellard-Brown
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  • Parenting
  • Updated 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

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Sep 3

    When Sensory Issues Become an Issue: Episode 36

    Summary In this episode, Terrie Hellard-Brown discusses how understanding and accommodating sensory issues in children with neurodivergence can significantly improve their well-being and family harmony. She shares practical tips, personal stories, and resources to help parents support their children's sensory needs.   Key Topics Sensory issues in children with autism and ADHD Practical accommodations for sensory needs The importance of understanding sensory overload Tools and resources for sensory regulation Building family culture around neurodiversity Takeaways Accommodations like sensory-friendly clothing and tools can greatly improve a child's focus and mood. Understanding that sensory issues are real and not spoiled behavior is crucial for effective parenting. Recognizing the eight senses beyond sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch helps in addressing sensory challenges. Simple, inexpensive tools like fidget rings and pressure bracelets can help children manage sensory overload. Creating a regulation station and listening to children's needs can be life-changing for managing sensory issues. Sound Bites "Imagine a little dude poking you all day, driving you crazy." "Recognizing hunger, thirst, and pain is a serious sensory issue." "Showing grace and understanding is key to loving our children." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to mixed needs families and the podcast's purpose 02:03 Overview of sensory issues and their impact on children 03:31 Practical accommodations for sensory sensitivities 06:26 Understanding the eight senses beyond the traditional five 08:20 Recognizing overstimulation and seeking professional help 10:33 Tools and resources for sensory regulation 14:10 The importance of understanding and grace in parenting

    When Sensory Issues Become an Issue: Episode 36

  7. Aug 27

    3 Tips for Improving Your Child's Critical Thinking

    Summary In this episode, Terrie Hellard-Brown explores practical strategies to help children develop critical thinking skills, especially in the context of parenting children with mixed needs. She emphasizes modeling thought processes, leveraging special interests, and using a consistent framework to foster reasoning and discernment.   Key Topics The importance of modeling thought processes for children Leveraging children's interests to teach critical thinking Using a consistent decision-making framework The role of faith and discipleship in critical thinking Practical strategies for parents to implement immediately Sound Bites "Model your thought process out loud" "Support their evidence and support their opinion" "Guess the wrong thing and fall for lies" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Critical Thinking in Parenting 02:20 Modeling Thought Processes in Daily Life 04:41 Normalizing Multiple Choices and No Wrong Answers 07:49 Strategy 2: Use Special Interests as Training Grounds 10:37 Valuing Children's Interests as Gifts 13:31 Strategy 3: Consistent Use of a Framework 14:20 Reinforcing the Framework for Every Decision 15:08 The Three Questions: Know, Guess, Find Out 16:08 Applying the Framework to Real-Life Situations 17:00 Encouraging Truth-Seeking and Critical Analysis 18:45 Going to Primary Sources and Recognizing Heresy 20:42 Guarding Against Cultural and False Teachings 21:24 Building Confidence and Reducing Fear in Decision-Making 22:38 Using Facts to Reduce Stress and Overwhelm 23:29 Teaching Civil Discourse and Recognizing Opinions 24:41 Teaching Children to Weigh Evidence and Support Claims 25:53 Faith as a Discipleship Strategy 26:41 Modeling Discernment and Grace 27:07 Practical Assignment: Think Out Loud Daily 28:20 Join Our Community and Resources

    3 Tips for Improving Your Child's Critical Thinking

  8. Aug 19 ·  Video

    Your Neurodivergent Child Is Already a Critical Thinker

    Summary In this episode, Terrie Hellard-Brown explores the importance of critical thinking in children, especially neurodivergent kids, and how parents can support their development. She shares personal insights, practical strategies, and faith-based encouragement to help children grow in this vital skill. Key Topics What critical thinking is and how children demonstrate it The importance of understanding neurodivergent children's unique ways of thinking Common misconceptions about children's critical thinking abilities How to recognize critical thinking in children's behavior and arguments The role of consistency, predictability, and emotional safety in developing critical thinking The impact of past correction and correction culture on children's willingness to think independently Practical strategies for fostering critical thinking in everyday moments The connection between faith, wrestling with God, and critical thinking Sound Bites "Peace comes from God and involves being open, raw, and real." "Love the Lord your God with all your mind, heart, and soul." "Let your children wrestle with their faith and grow closer to God." Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Critical Thinking in Parenting 01:14 Why Critical Thinking Matters for Children 02:55 Recognizing Children's Critical Thinking Skills 09:17 Building Peace Through Faith and Open Dialogue 15:34 Neurodivergent Children and Critical Thinking 24:26 Common Struggles in Developing Critical Thinking 28:25 Creating a Safe Space for Questions and Wrestling 32:31 Faith, Questions, and Wrestling with God 37:30 Practical Tips for Supporting Critical Thinking 38:34 Next Steps and Encouragement

    Your Neurodivergent Child Is Already a Critical Thinker
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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.

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