On The Hard Days

Latest Episodes:

BONUS: Ep. 214 All Things 'Community' With The Ladies of "Moms Talk Autism"! Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Hi guys! I'm interrupting this hiatus with an exciting bonus episode, when I was recently featured on the "Moms Talk Autism" podcast. Please give it a listen!

Happy New Year! We’ve got a special bonus episode to kick off 2026. This is the year to build your support system and create a strong community around you and your family. Let’s go!

Mothers Together is a first-of-its-kind global community supporting moms of neurodivergent kids. Their mission is to improve the mental health of moms by fostering deep connections and true friendships in a judgment-free space. Megan Champion, creator of Mothers Together, joins us to talk about the importance of friendship and to answer our questions about how this community might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Open House enrollment happens quarterly, with the first opportunity of the year on January 7th. This free, virtual event is a chance to meet moms in the community, ask questions, and see what Mothers Together is all about. We hope to see you there!

Ep. 213 Mom Jen on Becoming Empowered to Learn How to Advocate For Her Gifted Child - How She Fought For Services and Won (the Second Time) Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

"It's what we have to do. This is the fight, right now." Mom Jen tells the story of learning how to advocate for her gifted child - it's a powerful, super relatable conversation. If you've ever had to fight for services for your kid, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we talk about:

Life with her child: Gifted, with ASD, ADHD, and SPD
Being denied an IEP because her child was "smart" (after the school recommended he get tested!)
The mental health ripple effect of being denied services - feeling like a failure
How finding her people in Mothers Together helped her learn how to advocate for her kid
Recognizing that showing anger and frustration at meetings helped her get the IEP eventually
The importance of support for moms, and how it leads to empowerment
Find Jen @ makeagoodmess.com!

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"Wow, listening to this was so validating!" <--- Sound like you? Please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more moms - just like you - who need the support and validation to get through the hardships of parenting ND kids.

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

...is coming up on JULY 16th! Open House is primarily a validation-based event, where you and I can connect and chat, and I'll support you, along with my Host Mom "tour guides", as we introduce you to the warm and welcoming Mothers Together community.

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Click HERE to join us at Open House NOW and save your spot - the next Open House isn't until OCTOBER! See you there!

Ep. 212 Mom Lisa on Finding Time to *Care* About Herself Through a Very Unique Journey to Motherhood May 20, 2025

Show notes

"I just wanted to be a mom. I always wanted to be a mom." Mom Lisa's journey to motherhood was definitely an interesting one! Be sure to tune in!

In this episode, we talk about:

Life with 3 kids with various diagnoses & needs: Down Syndrome, ODD, ASD
After infertility, the gift of motherhood in fostering and adoption
How she helped others in her church community with fostering and adoption
How she got her "Post-It Note Baby" - yes, really.
Why Lisa believes in keeping the biological family involved if possible
The importance of therapy and true "self-care"

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Click HERE to join us at Open House NOW and save your spot - the next Open House isn't until OCTOBER! See you there!

Ep. 211 Mom Emily on Implementing the "Spoon Theory" Into Her Child's Day, and How Curiosity & Research Has Helped Her Grief & Acceptance May 13, 2025

Show notes

"I'm loving the information I'm gathering, even though it's really hard." Today's episode is with Emily, and I just LOVE her insight and vulnerability! Ever heard of the "Spoon Theory"? Be sure to listen in on this one!

In this episode, we talk about:

The anxiety of *not knowing* when the other shoe will drop
The stress of continuous medical issues: Asthma, pneumonia, cleft
When the medical issues turned into behavioral challenges
Getting the diagnosis: Level 1 ASD with PDA profile
How she plans out her son's day using the "Spoon Theory"
How she uses curiosity and her desire to learn to help herself get through hard times
The grief component to not being able to take your kid to do certain things
Co-regulation - exhausting. Worthwhile, but exhausting.
How she uses her background as a pediatric OT to understand her child

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Click HERE to join us at Open House NOW and save your spot - the next Open House isn't until OCTOBER! See you there!

Ep. 210 Mom Sarah on Re-Imagining & Re-Shaping Her Life to Understand How to Support Her ND Kids May 06, 2025

Show notes

"I was providing for my family, and I was dead inside." Today's episode is with Sarah, whose motherhood journey will sound VERY relatable to many of you! Don't miss this one!

In this episode, we talk about:

What it's like being the "breadwinner" AND the co-regulator.
When your kids have overlapping, opposite needs.
Raising ND kids who go to 3 different types of schools
Her kids' various challenges - anxiety, giftedness, PDA, etc.
The family dynamics of a stay-at-home Dad!
Coming to the realization that there is no perfect school - and coming to terms with that.
Autism in girls - and how different it is than in boys.
Unlearning a "Type A" personality through burnout.
How she embraced a unique form of exercise to help her mental health

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Click HERE to join us at Open House NOW and save your spot - the next Open House isn't until OCTOBER! See you there!

Ep. 209 Mom Dalynn on Putting in the Work on *Herself* to Lead Her Family With Love & Understanding, Instead of Yelling & Anxiety Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Today's episode is with Dalynn, who shared some really vulnerable, tough stuff in this conversation. It's a powerful episode not to be missed.

**Trigger Warning: Talk of hitting/physical abuse at the 21:00 mark**

In this episode, we talk about:

What it's like raising 5 teens/young adults
When you're raising an ND kid with grandparents
Raising a kid with severe sleep challenges
How her prior cancer journey helped her handle the challenges in parenting
How lack of sleep and severe anxiety led to her lashing out
How she learned how to "gentle parent" in therapy
How she's coming to terms with the load she carries

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Click HERE to join us at Open House NOW and save your spot - the next Open House isn't until OCTOBER! See you there!

Ep. 208 Mom Stephanie on the "Survival of Self" While Getting Divorced & Helping a Struggling Teenager Who Doesn't Want Help Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

"I've had a whole parenting life of doing it all by myself." Today's episode is with my good friend Stephanie, who has been with me in Mothers Together since (almost) Day 1! Don't miss it!

**Trigger Warning: Talk of suicidal ideations at the 45:00 mark**

In this episode, we talk about:

When giftedness shows itself in preschool
Why it's frustrating when educators can't share if they feel a diagnosis is present
When your partner doesn't think there's anything wrong
What the motherhood load looks like when a marriage is breaking
The challenges of finding the right school for a gifted child with ADHD
Where ADHD, OCD, and depression overlap
When your ND kid is old enough to refuse medication
When your child's baseline for what's okay doesn't match yours
When you're the one who picks up all the pieces, all the time.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Click HERE to join us at Open House NOW and save your spot - the next Open House isn't until OCTOBER! See you there!

Ep. 207 Mom Sandi on Helping Her PDA Child Come Out the Other Side of Severe Burnout (and What She Learned About Herself Along the Way) Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

"PDA kids don't bend...they break. And I'm not breaking my kid again." Today's episode with mom guest, Sandy, is REALLY, really good. Don't skip this one!

In this episode, we talk about:

How the professionals *missed* the signs early on
How girls' neurodivergence often goes under the radar
What PDA looked like in her young son
What school refusal looked like with a supportive school
The lack of professional support about PDA, especially in emergencies
How she became a PDA leader in Mothers Together

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

...is coming up on April 2nd! Open House is primarily a validation-based event, where you and I can connect and chat, and I'll support you, along with my Host Mom "tour guides", as we introduce you to the warm and welcoming Mothers Together community.

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Ep. 206 Mom Becky on Learning to Understand Her Neurodivergent Kids Through the Joy of Support Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

"All the things I knew to do weren't working...I was perpetually annoyed." Today's episode with mom guest, Becky, is a powerful one! Don't miss it!

In this episode, we talk about:

Her family: One adult child and 3 elementary age - 2 adopted from foster care, and all with a wide range of needs and challenges: ADHD, Autism, 2E, Anxiety, OCD, and more.
How she felt crazy when all the strategies didn't work
How she reclaimed joy in the Mothers Together community
A virtual community vs. in-person
Finding support in MT first about her children, but then about *her*.
How she utilized the resources provided in MT

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Ep. 205 Mom Dorothy on Accepting Your *Lack* of Control, Being Realistic About Hope, and Using Your Master Negotiation Skills To Get Help Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

"Even though my son is 18, he will forever be 8 to 10 years old." Today's episode with mom guest, Dorothy, is a powerful one! Don't miss it!

In this episode, we talk about:

Her child's life with Tourette Syndrome, Autism, intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, and a gene mutation affecting medication
What tics were like at the beginning of a Tourette journey
The challenge of adoption without knowing the genetics of the birth parents
How her child cannot tolerate medications for more than a short time
Even after having been to the top specialists and clinics, life is still unpredictable

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

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