🎧 Episode 21 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast

This week, Dan and Ben find themselves trapped between the chaos of roadworks, fireworks, overstimulation and somehow still manage to come out with a few surprising wins.

From drilling-induced dysregulation and unexpected sprinting escapes, to carved pumpkins and new friendship breakthroughs, the dads reflect on the difficult balance of structure, flexibility, and self-regulation for kids and for them.

Inside this one:

• Frankie vs the Roadworks: noise, shutdowns, and sprint escapes

• Fireworks anxiety and bedtime chaos

• Halloween and birthday overstimulation

• Sensory challenges and coat refusals

• Social wins for Mabel, Oscar & Frankie

• When parenting teenagers means letting go just enough

• Massive shoutout to a truly accommodating roadwork crew 🙌

. Key Topics Covered

• Auditory overwhelm from roadworks and fireworks

• Coat refusal, temperature regulation, and compromise

• Social and sensory growth moments (despite dysregulation)

• Navigating teenage ND parenting with evolving structure

• Club transitions, visual communication, and calm routines

• Unexpected kindness from local workers

• Carving pumpkins, dancing around overstimulation, and community wins

YouTube Chapter Breakdown (⏱️ Accurate Timecodes) Episode Duration: ~63 minutes

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 21

01:15 – Three-word week check-in (USP & UPS)

03:00 – Half-term rundown & solo parenting update

06:00 – Roadworks chaos: Frankie’s dysregulation explained

09:45 – Stimming, YouTube & coat resistance

13:30 – The sprint escape to Nanny’s house

18:00 – Fireworks and bedtime disruption

22:30 – Navigating coat refusal vs warmth

25:10 – Frankie’s communication growth through visuals

29:00 – Halloween prep & costume confusion

32:00 – The pumpkin carving miracle

35:30 – Ben’s challenge: parenting teens differently

39:10 – Letting go of structure (without giving up)

42:00 – Mabel’s birthday & social win

46:00 – Halloween trick-or-treat joy

49:00 – Frankie’s club transitions & unexpected ease

52:00 – Community kindness: the road crew MVPs

56:00 – Bath-time wins & toothbrushing milestones

59:30 – Forecast for fireworks weekend

61:00 – PSA: Dadspace.co.uk + outro reminder

🎙️ Two dads. One mission. Raising ND kids in a very NT world.

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