Calm Connection Parenting | Meltdowns, Neurodivergence, Emotional Regulation, DMDD, Autism, SPD, Defiance, Angry Behaviors
Ranked in the top 2.5% of podcasts globally! Tired of walking on eggshells… dreading the next meltdown? Exhausted by big emotions. defiance, and disobediance? Wondering why “traditional" parenting advice backfires with your strong-willed child?
I’m glad you’re here. This podcast helps you understand what’s behind your child's behavior, so you can respond with calm, stop second-guessing yourself, and build real connection with your neurodivergent or uniquely wired child.
Hi, I’m Jami… a mom of seven, professional counselor turned parenting coach, speaker, and author. And yes, even with training, I found myself stuck in the same cycle so many parents live in: meltdown… reaction… guilt… repeat. I was doing all the things that were “supposed” to work… but they didn’t.
Everything changed when I stopped treating behavior like the problem and started looking underneath it. When I learned to understand my child’s unique wiring (personality, sensory processing, executive functioning, and emotional needs), I finally had a roadmap. I didn’t need more tips… I needed clarity and a plan. And that clarity changed things.
If you’re ready to ditch the overwhelm and stop parenting in survival mode, you’re in the right place. We’ll talk meltdowns, emotional dysregulation, defiance, ADHD, DMDD, anxiety, and more… along with practical steps that help your family move from chaos to calm… one episode at a time.
So grab your coffee, find your quiet spot (if you have one), and let’s jump in.
Start here: Take the FREE Emotional Forecast Quiz at CalmConnectionParenting.org and find your next best step.
Episodes
108 episodes
What Neurodivergent Kids Wish Adults Understood About Shutting Down, Arguing, Defiance, and Meltdowns
What do shutdowns, arguing, defiance, and meltdowns really mean for a neurodivergent child? In this episode, we talk about how parents can look beyond the behavior and better understand what may be happening inside a child’s brain and body....
Is It Permissive or Inconsistent Parenting? The Reality of Parenting A Neurodivergent Child
Does parenting a neurodivergent child sometimes look too permissive, too protective, or inconsistent from the outside? In this episode, we talk about the reality of raising a child with ADHD, autism, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, exec...
106. What Does Neurodivergent Mean Anyway? What People Need to Know About Neurodivergence
What does neurodivergent actually mean and could it describe your child? Neurodivergence includes far more than autism and can affect attention, sensory processing, emotional regulation, executive functioning, learning, behavior, and the way a ...
105. Hidden Grief with a Neurodivergent Child: 3 Ways to Move Through It When Parenting Looks Different Than You Imagined
Parenting a neurodivergent, anxious, emotionally intense, or special-needs child can bring a kind of grief that many moms feel but rarely talk about. When parenting looks different than you imagined, even fun family experiences can become fille...
104. 5 Things Moms of Neurodivergent Kids Need More Of-- Nothing at Home Changed… But Something in Us Did
Parenting a neurodivergent or high-needs child can leave moms carrying more than anyone else realizes. The exhaustion, advocacy, grief, worry, and constant need to stay one step ahead can become so normal that we forget how heavy it really is.<...
103. 7 Tips for When School Starts Getting Hard: Back-to-School Stress, Meltdowns and Anxiety in Neurodivergent, DMDD, or ASD Kids
In this episode of Calm Connection Parenting, we discuss how to move out of panic and into curiosity when the first few weeks of school start getting harder. You’ll learn how to gather better information, listen without rushing to fix, a...
102. Back-to-School Help for Kids with DMDD, ADHD, Autism and Emotional Dysregulation: Set Your Child Up for Success
Back-to-school can be exciting, but for kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, executive functioning challenges, or emotional dysregulation, the transition can also bring overwhelm, meltdowns, exhaustion, and big emotions.In thi...
101. Maternal Mental Health, Medication and Stigma: When Mental Health Headlines Trigger Fear
Maternal mental health, medication, postpartum depression, and the stigma surrounding treatment can already feel overwhelming. When a tragic mental-health story dominates the headlines, it can stir up even more fear for moms and parents trying ...
100. Parenting Podcast Celebration-100 Episodes, 120 Countries, and One Really Important Reminder for Parents of Children with ADHD, DMDD, ASD, and Emotional Dysregulation
🎉 We made it to Episode 100! Calm Connection Parenting has now reached listeners in 120 countries and territories, with parents looking for help with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, sensory needs, anxiety, and the e...
99. Family Support for ADHD, DMDD, Autism and Sensory Needs: How Churches Can Help Neurodivergent Children
How Churches Can Support Neurodivergent Children: ADHD, DMDD, Autism, and Sensory NeedsMany families raising children with ADHD, DMDD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, or other invisible disabilities want c...
98. When Church Has Hurt Your Neurodivergent Child or Family: Grace, Grief, Support, and What to Do Next
When church has hurt your family, it can bring up grief, sadness, and even shame. For parents of neurodivergent children or kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, DMDD, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, or challenging behaviors, Sunday morning ...
97. When Church Feels Hard for Neurodivergent Children: ADHD, DMDD, Autism, Sensory Needs, and Faith
In this first episode of a three-part series, we begin an honest conversation about ADHD, DMDD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, church hurt, painful church experiences, and the hope of creating more understanding inside faith communities. Churc...
96. When Summer Feels Out of Sync: A Quick Encouragement for Parenting Big Emotions and Special Needs
Summer can be fun, but it can also throw the whole family out of rhythm. When routines are off, schedules are inconsistent, activities are full, and emotions are running high, parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, anxiety, autism, sensory needs, o...
95. Preparing for Vacation with a Neurodivergent Child: Travel Tips for Transitions, Meltdowns, and Judgment
If you are parenting a neurodivergent child or a child with ADHD, autism, anxiety, DMDD, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, or big behaviors, vacation can bring up a lot of stress before you ever leave the driveway.The packing. The ...
94. How to Advocate at Your Neurodivergent Child's IEP Meeting When You Feel Dismissed or Overwhelmed
Are you preparing for an IEP or 504 meeting and wondering what to ask, what to document, or what to do if you feel dismissed by the school?In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami Kirkbride continues her conversatio...
93. IEP and 504 Help for Parents: Where to Start When Your Child Struggles with Special Education Boss, Karen Mayer Cunningham
Is your child struggling at school, but you are not sure whether they need an IEP, a 504 plan, accommodations, evaluations, services, goals, or a behavior plan?In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami Kirkbride talk...
92. What Kind of Support Do You Need to Stay Afloat When Parenting ADHD, DMDD, ASD or Challenging Behaviors?
Parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, ASD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns or challenging behaviors can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to carry it all without enough support.If you have ever wondered what kind of help ...
91. Is It Selfish to Take a Break When Parenting ADHD, DMDD, Emotional Dysregulation or Challenging Behaviors?
Is it selfish to take a break when parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, big emotions, meltdowns, or challenging behaviors?When your child needs extra support, extra patience, extra tools, and extra advocacy, it can...
90. Do You Feel Lonely or Isolated Parenting a Child with ADHD, DMDD, or Emotional Dysregulation?
Do you feel lonely parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, big emotions, or challenging behaviors?Even when you are surrounded by people, parenting a high-needs or neurodivergent child can feel isola...
89. Always on Alert? Why Moms of Neurodivergent Kids Struggle to Rest
Moms of neurodivergent kids, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, big emotions, or challenging behaviors often feel like they are always on alert and struggle to rest.In this episode we talk about why rest can feel so hard when your...
88. The Hidden Costs of Parenting a Neurodivergent Child with ADHD, Meltdowns, or Challenging Behaviors
Ever looked at your calendar, bank account, grocery bill, gas tank, and emotional capacity and wondered, “How are we supposed to keep doing this?”Parenting a neurodivergent child or a child with ADHD, DMDD, autism, emo...
87. Why Parenting a Child with ADHD, DMDD, or Challenging Behaviors Can Wear Down Even the Strongest Mom
Have you ever thought, “I should be able to handle this better…”Parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, big emotions, or challenging behaviors can wear down even the strongest mom. You may b...
86. How to Advocate Confidently for Your Child at School: IEPs, 504 Plans, and Accommodations
How do you know when your child needs more support at school… and what do you do next?If your child is struggling with ADHD, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, executive functioning challenges, school refusal, shutdowns, overwhelm, or aft...
85. Is Your Child Struggling at School… or Is Something Being Missed? Emotional Dysregulation, DMDD, ADHD, and the Signs Often Overlooked
Why is your child struggling at school? Learn what may be happening beneath ADHD behaviors, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, school refusal, shutdowns, executive functioning challenges, and after-school meltdowns. Is your child str...
84. Parenting Burnout, Anxiety, and PTSD: How to Calm Your Nervous System and Get Out of Survival Mode with Lori Owens
Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in survival mode as a parent?If you’re parenting a child with big emotions, emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or neurodivergent needs, it can feel like you’re constantly holding e...
