On The Hard Days

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 74 Mom Charity Howard on Consistently Modeling Positivity, Despite the Hardships in Raising Neurodivergent Kids Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

About This Episode: Mom Charity SO inspired me with her consistent positive and optimistic thinking, despite a really challenging life in raising four neurodivergent kids. She was honest and vulnerable, yet so moving! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-What is DMDD?
-Trauma of parenting explosive children
-Setting tiny goals to get through each day
-Showing weakness as a mom to help others learn kindness
-The stigma around asking for help
-Modeling positive thinking
Please shower Charity with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 73 Mom Marjorie Ludwig on the Gifted/Autism Overlap and the Difficulties in Meeting Academic Needs Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

About This Episode: This is one of those episodes where, if you're raising a neurodivergent child, you'll be constantly nodding your head in awe as you listen. It's SO relatable. Mom Marjorie shares the struggles she and her family face with raising their son - especially with regards to being both gifted and Autistic, and how to meet his needs academically. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-Lesser known Autism symptoms
-Gifted vs. Autism vs. ADHD
-The gray area between different types of neurodivergence
-Inflexible thinking
-Masking in school - even with Autism
-Finding the right schooling for your child
Please shower Marjorie with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 72 Mom Jill Matsumoto on Viewing Giftedness Through the Lens of Neurodivergence Feb 21, 2022

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About This Episode: Mom Jill's child reminded me SO much of my own. Yet I love how Jill holds space for him to just be who he is! This conversation was a wonderful reminder to love our kids for who they are, despite the challenges.
Please shower Jill with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 71 Mom Barbara on the Struggle to Find Answers for Your Child in Uncommon Diagnoses Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

About This Episode: Mom Barbara is raising a neurodivergent child whose story was VERY much like my own. However, where she lives, answers on certain diagnoses are hard to come by, making the journey that much more lonely. Despite this, she stays so positive and accepting of who her child is. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-Sensory Processing Disorder and the U.K.
-Doctors' office questionnaires miss the subtle things!
-Primitive Reflexes - when your child is missing them!
-Awkwardness of asking family and friends to accommodate your child's needs
Please shower Barbara with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 70 Mom Melissa Ayres on Feelings of Inadequacy and Being Constantly In Tune to the Needs of Our Children Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

About This Episode: Mom Melissa is such a rockstar of a mother, yet she doesn't often believe it. With the never-ending needs of her children, Melissa explains vulnerably how she constantly feels like she's dropping the ball. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-Gentle parenting a neurodivergent child
-Blaming yourself for your child's struggles
-Mom-guilt because you can't do all the things!
-Finding those little moments and underrated strengths
Please shower Melissa with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 69 Mom Marisa Humbracht on Holding Space and Giving Grace to Neurodivergent Kids Through Goal Setting and Family Values Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

About This Episode: Mom Marisa is an inspiration. Her kids range in age from preschool to adulthood, including foster children and. The way that she shows her out-of-the-box children to love and value themselves just blew me away. You're going to want a notepad for this one, because she gives a TON of "start now" tips and strategies. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-When "good enough" is perfect
-How to open the lines of communication
-Sticking to a tight schedule
-Teaching kids how to protect their hearts
-Politeness, manners, and simple decency
You can find Marisa via email: Marisajanovsky@gmail.com
Please shower Marisa with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 68 Mom Avril Brown on Doing the Work of Internal Healing in Order to Love Our Neurodivergent Kids Unconditionally Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

About This Episode: Okay, my friends - if you've never listened to an episode of On The Hard Days before - THIS episode is a great place to start. I have never personally felt more seen and heard than after chatting with the amazing Avril Brown. She gets it. Moment after moment of our conversation is filled with insight into accepting ourselves in order to truly accept our kids. So many lightbulb moments. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-Being triggered by your child's intense emotions
-Guilt from lack of joy in motherhood
-Unconditional love - even during challenging times
-Prioritizing yourself as a mother
-Motherhood perfectionism and rage
-Practice the pause
You can find Avril on FB under her name, Avril Brown.
Please shower Avril with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 67 Mom Laura Petix on Accepting Our Anxiety Around Our Kids' Big Emotions Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

About This Episode: What a validating conversation I had with Laura, aka The OT Butterfly. She and I view parenting our neurodiverse kids in a similar light, and I truly loved hearing about her mindset shift around how to handle a meltdown. Here are just some of the things we discussed:
-Balancing motherhood and being a professional in the field of neurodiversity
-Meltdowns will happen - stopping the behavior is not the goal!
-Difference between tantrums and meltdowns
-Generational differences in emotional regulation
You can find Laura on IG @theotbutterfly. She's also launching a FREE masterclass called the Sensory Meltdown Masterclass for Parents - check it out at www.theotbutterfly.com/masterclass. Please shower Laura with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 66 Mom Ellenia Lyons on Bringing Awareness to Severe Mental Health Struggles in Children Through Honesty and Advocacy Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

*Trigger Warning* Mention of Child's Suicide Attempts
About This Episode: Wow - this mom, Ellenia Lyons, is a powerhouse. She and her family have had to endure a lot of trauma and struggles - including dropping her then 9-year old off at a psychiatric facility. Instead of shying away, Ellenia is here to discuss how she consistently shows up for her kids through honesty and advocacy. This one is not to be missed. Here are just some of the things we discussed:
-Finding the right treatment in the right setting
-Raising a child with OCD and intrusive thoughts
-Medication-sensitivity in kids
-Supporting the whole child
-Ending the stigma around mental health
Please shower Ellenia with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

Ep. 65 Mom Sharon Gordon on Being a Steady Ship in Our Kids' Stormy Seas Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

About This Episode: What an episode to kick off a new year! Oh MY this conversation with mom Sharon Gordon is freaking amazing. SHE is amazing and inspired me many different times. We zigzagged on different topics, but a few of my favorite parts came at the very end - so make sure you listen to the whole thing! Here are just some of the things we discussed:
-Early signs of neurodiversity and ADHD
-Fear of being judged by others and yourself
-Switching your mindset around having a neurodiverse child
-What angry anxiety looks like
-Finding clarity in your own authority
-Frontloading your child to plan for success
-Filling in the educational gaps and a reason to send our kids to school
The best way to shower Sharon with love and support is by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!
MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts. *Please leave a review* to spread the word to other moms around the world!

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