Mindfully Parenting Atypical Kids Kate Lynch

Planning for day camp success with your neurodivergent kid!

I'm joined by Amy Weber, LCSW, to talk about practical steps you can take to sail through summer with less stress. Amy has been running a day camp for intense kids for 9 years through her interdisciplinary pediatric therapy practice in Brooklyn, New York: Speak, Learn, & Play.

Learn how to navigate summer day camp with neurodivergent kids in this insightful podcast episode. From mindful parenting to creating an inclusive environment, this episode covers it all. If you're a parent looking for tips on how to support your neurodivergent child at day camp and communicate with camp leadership, this episode is a must-listen! Mindfully parenting atypical kids has never been easier with these helpful tips.

Amy runs a camp for neurodivergent children every summer, so she has a unique perspective on the summer challenges of neurodiverse families. Amy also sees children for individual and group therapy sessions, and coaches parents too!

https://speaklearnandplay.com/

Here are a few tips we covered:

1. Know your kid. Do they have trouble with transitions?

2. Talk with camp directors.

3. Create a cheat-sheet on your kid. Share your expertise with counselors.

Partial disclosure is a great tool for summer camp advocacy. Here's a video of Dr. Stephen Shore explaining his 3-step process: https://youtu.be/TVSiJtLpMeo?t=327

1. Recognize a challenge

2. Disclose the specific need

3. Ask for an accommodation



https://katelynch.substack.com/p/navigating-summer-camp-neurodivergent-kids


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What questions do you have for a teen money expert who wants to help us teach our neurodivergent kids how to manage money?

Amanda L. Grossman isn't just an award-winning money expert with a passion for helping neurodivergent kids manage their finances. She's walking alongside us, raising her own neurodivergent kid.

In this episode, she shares a "wealth" of expert financial literacy advice for neurodivergent kids. As a parent of a neurodivergent child, Amanda understands the challenges and stresses that come with parenting our kids.

She's the founder of Money Prodigy, a platform that empowers children and teens to achieve financial independence. Featured on prominent sites such as Experian, Rockstar Finance, and Colonial Life, Amanda is on a mission to ensure every child grows up with the skills to manage their money confidently.

We discuss the importance of sharing our personal money stories—warts and all—to make financial conversations less intimidating and more relatable for our children. We'll explore the pros and cons of allowances, paid chores, and the general responsibilities kids can take on within a family setting. Amanda has fantastic tips on using visual supports and categorizing chores to help our kids understand these concepts better.

I do my best to answer her questions, and you can too:


When you think of teaching your child (kid or teen) about money, what do you think about doing?
What access to money does your child have? Is it consistent, or not consistent?
What does your child do with money in their lives?
What do you secretly get scared about when it comes to your child and money (the kind of thing that you tend to just "bury your head in the sand" about, or get anxious about at 3:00 in the morning)?”

We'll also discuss the delicate balance of allowing children the freedom to make their own spending decisions while setting boundaries and responsibilities to guide them.

At the end I'll guide you through an abundant breath to release any anxiety that may arise.

This episode will instill parents with confidence around teaching kids about money. Even if you never received a money education from your own parents, and maybe your finances aren't so great. You are perfectly suited for teaching your kids how to manage their money.

So, get ready to rethink how you approach financial education at home.

And don’t forget—if you find value in today’s episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps other parents discover this resource and join our mindful parenting community.

Read the full transcript, listen to the podcast, watch the video, and subscribe to the blog for more connection and support at Atypical Kids, Mindful Parents Blog:
https://katelynch.substack.com/⁠

Connect with Amanda: ⁠https://www.moneyprodigy.com⁠

Amanda's gifts for listeners:


DIY Money Summer Camp Calendar - Teens: https://moneyprodigy.ck.page/7b35b2f59f 
DIY Money Summer Camp Calendar - Kids: https://moneyprodigy.ck.page/cae5bf906f






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How We Can Help Our Kids and Ourselves Feel Safer Today

What have you heard about Polyvagal Theory?

I love sharing about how it informs my parenting. We're parents of neurodivergent kids. Of course we need nervous system regulation skills.

I’m so glad Matthew Sloane from Fatherhood Dojo invited me to talk with him about one of my favorite topics!

In this conversation, Matt and I get personal, sharing stories of our own struggles with managing our fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses. I offer tips to honor those survival instincts, including simple practices you can do in less than a minute.

You’ll gain practical techniques and transformative insights. Together, without judgment, we’ll climb the ladder of managing fear, starting with small steps.

Understanding why we're feeling overwhelmed or burnt out is helpful, but it’s not enough.

I’ll offer you hands-on strategies to find your calm before engaging with your kids…

…IF calm is what’s called for in the moment.

We examine the internalized judgment that can infiltrate our parenting, and the importance of self-awareness and self-compassion.

Listen to the podcast, watch the video, or read the transcript at https://katelynch.substack.com/p/helping-our-kids-feel-safer-polyvagal-theory and leave a comment on the blog.

But it's not all about the challenges - we also celebrate the moments of connection and beautiful memories that come with the territory of parenting. We underscore how Polyvagal Theory can help us differentiate emergencies from opportunities for growth for both us and our neurodivergent (or neurotypical) children.

It’s a reminder to all parents that, in the space between stimulus and response, there's room for growth and connection.

Thanks to Matt Sloane of fatherhooddojo.com for sharing the interview so that I could make it available to you here.






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How to find strength and acceptance in inclusive parenting with Sonali Vongchusiri.

A mindful exploration of belonging versus fitting in, and combating internalized ableism.

Sonali is a highly-sensitive mom with three deeply-feeling and strong-willed kids. She also happens to be legally blind and have albinism. With her heartwarming stories and profound revelations, Sonali teaches us that you don't have to fit in to truly belong. 

In this episode, we'll discuss the beauty of embracing one's true self, and the power of labels in accessing support and understanding. Sonali shares her journey of accepting her visual impairment, and transforming her internal struggle with albinism into strength. 

The compassionate way she and her children embrace their differences fosters a family dynamic rich in confidence, humor, and sensitivity to individual needs. 

By the end of the episode, you'll be able to answer these 3 questions:

1. How has Sonali's journey of embracing her albinism and visual impairment influenced the way she parents and advocates for her neurodivergent children? 

2. How can parents balance the need to tell their children about their disability without inducing feelings of being an outsider or internalized ableism? 

3. What are some strategies to create an environment of belonging for atypical kids, both within the family and in wider social settings? 

With her heartwarming stories and profound revelations, Sonali teaches us that you don't have to fit in to truly belong.

Read the full transcript, listen to the podcast, watch the video, and subscribe to the blog for more connection and support at ⁠Atypical Kids, Mindful Parents Blog⁠: ⁠https://katelynch.substack.com/⁠

⁠⁠⁠Connect with Sonali and Forward Together Parenting:

⁠Forward Together Parenting⁠

⁠Raising Your Strong Willed Child Facebook Group⁠ 

Mindfully Parenting Atypical Kids podcast helps parents feel less alone. Kate interviews parents and experts who share her mission to co-create a more inclusive future. 

Our podcast is a baby, and it needs your love to grow! If you appreciate the strategies, connection, and support here, help it reach other parents! Please give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review. 


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Happy Autism Awareness-Acceptance-Appreciation Month!

This popular episode from the archives of 2020 is worth a listen for the honest perspective of an autistic kid who can and does advocate for himself. Hearing that little high voice compared to the deep one he has now, I'm almost nostalgic...

...but not really!

_______

Advice for parents of atypical kids, from Ocean as he begins his 5th grade year, amid pandemic confusion.

He offers simple, logical suggestions about parenting anyone, really, in a mindful, observant and collaborative way. 

Ocean has some thoughts about when parents should tell their kid about their diagnosis. 

He has strong feelings about the way his ABA Pre-K tried to deal with his aversion to snaps and buttons. He did look adorable at his Aunt's wedding, but he definitely was NOT wearing a tie.

Then I share a mindfulness practice to help you appreciate the present moment, just in case you're like me and the millions of other parents who feel guilty from time to time. You are not alone. Ruminating about the past or expecting ourselves to be perfect parents isn't helpful. Befriend the feelings, learn the lessons, let it go.

Grab your Mindful Meltdown Cheatsheet here:

https://www.healthyhappyyoga.com/meltdown


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Why Curiosity Helps You SHINE as a Parent of Neurodiverse Kids

I had the pleasure of interviewing Valerie Arbeau, an inspiring life and health coach, and a resilient mom navigating the challenging yet rewarding journey of raising neurodiverse children. The result is a  moving podcast episode full of twists and turns, as we follow her 21-year parenting story. 

Valerie introduces us to the "SHINE Principle" that has guided her through the tumultuous parenting of her two neurodiverse children with grace and strength. From navigating her child's non-binary identity to pioneering ways for her non-verbal daughter to communicate, Valerie's story is a testament to the power of acceptance, support, and unwavering love. Valerie advocates for attentive parenting, learning to tune in to the diverse ways her children convey their needs, a skill she humbly admits wasn't always second nature.

We discuss how to overcome parental burnout. I asked Valerie about communication devices, low demand parenting, pathological demand avoidance, autism, adhd, cerebral palsy, and more.

The practical suggestions in her book, “The SHINE Principle," along with the relatable stories, will motivate you to care for yourself, which will positively impact your whole neurodiverse family.

https://amzn.to/3VeMWKj

As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Join us as we embrace the curiosity, compassion, and understanding that helps us SHINE as parents of neurodiverse kids. 

Coaching With Valerie Anne

https://bit.ly/3RL0da2

Read the transcript, watch the full youtube video, and subscribe for more connection and support:

Atypical Kids, Mindful Parents Blog: ⁠⁠https://katelynch.substack.com/⁠



Mindfully Parenting Atypical Kids podcast helps parents feel less alone. Kate interviews parents and experts who share her mission to co-create a more inclusive future.

Our podcast is a baby, and it needs your love to grow!

If you appreciate the strategies, connection, and support here, help it reach other parents! Please go to Apple Podcasts and give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review. 


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