👉 Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

Anxiety and ADHD go together like coffee and chaos — they just show up together. In this raw, relatable episode of Chaos & Caffeine, host Danielle Kelly sits down with psychologist Dr. Laura Van Schaick-Harman, founder of Meaningful Psychological Services, to unpack the tangled mess of ADHD + anxiety in kids.

Dr. Laura brings her deep experience as a school psychologist, CBT and mindfulness expert, and board-certified telemental health provider to share practical, science-backed strategies parents can actually use—not just print out and forget on the fridge.

We dig into:
 ☕ How to tell if your child’s meltdowns are ADHD, anxiety, or both
 ☕ Why bedtime is often the trigger for spirals (and what CBT-I can do about it)
 ☕ Real-life ways to teach kids the difference between “real danger” and “brain drama”
 ☕ What “consistency” actually looks like when executive function is in the toilet
 ☕ Affordable, do-at-home mental health support when therapy isn’t an option

If you’re an ADHD parent trying to stop the 3 a.m. worry spiral, this episode is your new comfort listen.

🎧 Tune in, take a deep breath, and remember — you’re not failing, you’re parenting with a wiring manual nobody gave you.

Connect with Dr. Laura 👉 www.meaningfulpsychservices.com

This Month’s Sponsors:

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

🧮 Pop Sugar Cafe 

The printable shop saving ADHD parents everywhere from pure morning meltdown chaos. Their visual schedules, routine charts, and emotion trackers are actually cute and neurodivergent-friendly. Head to Pop Sugar Cafe and grab the tools your kid will actually use — because structure shouldn’t suck. 

🪑 Ted Kangaroo

A line of science-backed sensory furniture and tools designed for kids who feel everything — loudly, quickly, and all at once. Ted Kangaroo’s patented chairs, vests, and rockers give your child a safe, calming, multi-sensory space to refocus, self-soothe, and regulate their emotions. 

🎁 Play Therapy Supply

Because sometimes the best gifts aren’t found in the toy aisle. Play Therapy Supply curates sensory-friendly tools, fidgets, and therapeutic toys that actually help kids calm their bodies and connect with their feelings.

👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips 

Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive!

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show

Welcome back to Chaos & Caffeine, where we toss the parenting rule-book and embrace the beautiful, messy reality of raising kids when our brains (and theirs) don’t do “normal.” In this episode, I’m so excited to bring on the brilliant Emry Kettle — a child-behavior specialist, trauma-informed coach, and neuro-affirming badass who works deep with ADHD brains (kid and parent alike).

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a loop of meltdowns, shame spirals, or “but why won’t they just listen?” ruminations—this one’s for you. We dive into:

• Why traditional discipline tactics kill connection (and what actually works)
• How to tailor behavior strategies when your kid’s wired differently (hello ADHD, autism, sensory overload)
• The communication scripts and mindset shifts that save your sanity instead of eroding it
• And the radical truth: you, your kid, and your family aren’t broken — you’re doing the hardest job there is with zero manual.

Emry brings over 20 years in the trenches as nanny, educator, and coach who knows the fatigue, the guilt, the overwhelm. But also the hope, the connection, the real tools that don’t require perfection.

Grab your coffee, lean in, and let’s rewrite the parenting playbook — for our brains, for our kids, for the chaos.

Connect with Emry 👉 emrykettle.com or on IG: @emrykettle

This Month’s Sponsors:

👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips 

Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! 

🧮 Pop Sugar Cafe 

The printable shop saving ADHD parents everywhere from pure morning meltdown chaos. Their visual schedules, routine charts, and emotion trackers are actually cute and neurodivergent-friendly. Head to Pop Sugar Cafe and grab the tools your kid will actually use — because structure shouldn’t suck. 

🪀 Play Therapy Supply 

A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show

So… your kid just got an ADHD diagnosis. You’re overwhelmed, half-relieved, half-panicking, and 100% Googling “what do I do now.”

Take a deep breath, grab your caffeine of choice, and pull up a seat at the Chaos & Caffeine table — because this is the episode every ADHD parent needs.

In this raw, real, and laugh-through-the-tears guide, host Danielle, ADHD mom and chaos navigator, walks you step-by-step through what actually happens after the diagnosis. From decoding ADHD itself to navigating 504 plans, finding the right treatment, and building a community that gets it — this is your roadmap for raising a neurodivergent kid in a world that still doesn’t fully understand them.

This 90-minute episode blends science, storytelling, and soul — the practical tools you need, with the emotional permission you didn’t know you were missing.

You’ll learn:
☕ What ADHD really is (and why awareness alone isn’t enough)
☕ How to build school support that’s legally sound and emotionally sane
☕ The truth about ADHD medication — no shame, just facts
☕ How to find your people (and why that changes everything)
☕ Why “that mom” — the advocate, the squeaky wheel — is a freaking hero

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or deep in the IEP trenches, this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and a little less alone.

Because this journey isn’t about fixing your kid.
 It’s about understanding them — and realizing you were never broken either.

🎧 Listen now — and don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join the Chaos & Caffeine community for more unfiltered ADHD parenting talk.

This Month’s Sponsors:

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

🧮 Pop Sugar Cafe 

The printable shop saving ADHD parents everywhere from pure morning meltdown chaos. Their visual schedules, routine charts, and emotion trackers are actually cute and neurodivergent-friendly. Head to Pop Sugar Cafe and grab the tools your kid will actually use — because structure shouldn’t suck. 

🪑 Ted Kangaroo

A line of science-backed sensory furniture and tools designed for kids who feel everything — loudly, quickly, and all at once. Ted Kangaroo’s patented chairs, vests, and rockers give your child a safe, calming, multi-sensory space to refocus, self-soothe, and regulate their emotions. 

👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips 

Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive!

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show

If you’ve ever wondered why your ADHD kiddo can’t just “calm down” — or why you can’t either — this episode is your new favorite form of therapy.

This week on Chaos & Caffeine, host Danielle sits down with Dr. George Hu, a U.S.-licensed clinical psychologist, Director of Counseling & Wellness at Duke Kunshan University, and President of the Shanghai International Mental Health Association — to unpack the real science behind self-regulation and sensory processing.

We’re breaking down:
 👉 Why some kids need more sensory input to feel calm and focused
 👉 How occupational therapy tools (like fidgets, swings, crash pads & weighted blankets) actually rewire the nervous system
 👉 How parents can model self-regulation without losing their own cool
 👉 Kid-friendly ways to explain why sensory tools work
👉 And what to do when your child refuses the very things that could help them

Dr. Hu brings warmth, humor, and hardcore neuroscience to help ADHD parents understand what’s happening in those tiny (and sometimes tornado-level) bodies — and how to teach regulation with compassion, not control.

If you’ve ever felt alone, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you’re “doing enough,” this episode will remind you that you’re not broken — you’re learning the language of regulation.

Grab your iced coffee, your noise-canceling headphones, and maybe your own fidget spinner — because this one’s going to change how you see your child… and yourself.

Connect with Dr. Hu 👉 [email protected] and check out the sensory products he referenced!

This Month’s Sponsors:

👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips 

Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! 

🧮 Pop Sugar Cafe 

The printable shop saving ADHD parents everywhere from pure morning meltdown chaos. Their visual schedules, routine charts, and emotion trackers are actually cute and neurodivergent-friendly. Head to Pop Sugar Cafe and grab the tools your kid will actually use — because structure shouldn’t suck. 

🪀 Play Therapy Supply 

A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show

Are your afternoons filled with gaming, only for bedtime to turn into a wrestling match with your child’s brain? In this no-BS episode, I’m going deep (with laughs and tears) into how screen time, sleep routines, and physical activity are the secret levers behind ADHD symptoms.

I share a raw story from my own home—how two hours of gaming ruined bedtime, and how a simple bike ride or soccer kick fixes it. Then I drop the science:
 • Why 4+ hours of screen time is a red flag for ADHD, anxiety & behavior problems
 • How movement—especially skill-based activity—is literally brain medicine for ADHD
 • Why consistent sleep routines are your covert weapon
 • How parenting style (gentle, directive, not drill sergeant) can buffer symptoms

You’ll walk away with actionable strategies (no fluff) to tweak your child’s routines starting tonight, plus mindset shifts so you don’t lose your sanity fighting every bedtime. This episode is your blueprint for rescuing evenings, saving sleep, and giving your ADHD child a fighting shot.

Tune in if you’re an ADHD parent who is done with chaos and ready for real help—but still laughs at your own mess.

Resources mentioned 👉 Bark Parental Controls 

Let’s get your kid (and your brain) off the hamster wheel.

Hosted by Danielle, on Chaos & Caffeine—your ADHD parenting lifeline.

This Month’s Sponsors:

👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips 

Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! 

🪀 Play Therapy Supply 

A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

✨PTS Coaching 

Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. 

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Support the show

Do you ever feel like your child’s ADHD, anxiety, or sensory meltdowns are out of your control — like you’re wandering blind in a world full of triggers? I hear you. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Pejman Katiraei (of Wholistic Kids / Stella Center background) and we rip the roof off of what mainstream parenting advice isn’t telling you.

We unpack how environmental forces — from toxins, food, and unpredictable sensory input to unresolved trauma and nervous system dysregulation — can fuel ADHD, autism traits, anxiety, and sensory overwhelm. Dr. Katiraei brings his unique experience from Stella techniques (yes, that trauma-informed, nervous system work you’ve been hearing whispers of) and gives us real, actionable tools — the ones you can start using tonight.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why meltdowns might not be “behavior problems” — they’re signals.
• What to look for in your child’s environment (and body) that may be turning the volume up on their brain chaos.
• Simple shifts you can make (in diet, daily surroundings, routines, sensory setup) that actually help.
• How to reframe who’s “in charge” — your child’s nervous system, not you, sometimes.

This is not a fluff episode. It’s for parents who are desperate for more than bandaids. It’s for you if you’re ready to be curious, not guilty.

👉 Connect with Dr. Katiraei or on Instagram! 

Products Dr K Mentioned: Spectrum Needs, My Myco Lab, The Dust Test and NeuroProtek

This Month’s Sponsors:

👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips 

Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! 

🪀 Play Therapy Supply 

A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

✨PTS Coaching 

Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. 

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at

Support the show

Parenting ADHD is messy, imperfect, and full of mistakes you wish you could undo. In this raw, unfiltered episode of Chaos & Caffeine, host Danielle Kelly shares the biggest ADHD parenting fails she regrets—impatience, homework wars, punishment flops, diet traps, comparison spirals, bribery gone wrong, and more.

This isn’t about shame. It’s about honesty, solidarity, and learning together. From meltdowns in Target to failed screen bans and creating a “tiny mob boss” through too many bribes, Danielle opens up about the mistakes that made her a more compassionate, informed ADHD mom.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I screwing this all up?” this episode is for you. You’ll laugh, cringe, and most importantly—you’ll feel less alone. ADHD parenting doesn’t need perfect parents. It needs parents willing to try again.

☕ Tune in for relatable ADHD parenting stories, hard-earned lessons, and tips you can actually use—because laughter is cheaper than therapy, and solidarity is everything.

This Month’s Sponsors:

👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips 

Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! 

✨PTS Coaching 

Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. 

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

🪀 Play Therapy Supply 

A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show

If you’ve ever ugly-cried in your car after an IEP meeting—welcome, you’re in the right place.

Today on Chaos & Caffeine, I’m joined by Tonya Wollum, founder of Water Prairie
and host of the Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast. Tonya is a powerhouse advocate for parents raising neurodivergent kids—from ADHD to autism and everything in between. She’s on a mission to arm families with the tools, confidence, and community they need to not just survive the education system, but to flip the script and thrive in it.

We’re digging into:

• How to walk into IEP meetings without fear (and walk out with actual results).
• The biggest mistakes parents make when advocating for ADHD & neurodivergent kids—and how to fix them.
• Tonya’s real-life stories that prove you are absolutely NOT alone in this.
• Practical, doable strategies to help your child shine—without burning yourself out.

This is the pep talk, strategy guide, and big-sister hug every ADHD parent needs. So grab your coffee, toss the guilt, and let’s get into it.

👉 Learn more about Tonya and her incredible resources at WaterPrairie.com

Subscribe, share, and join me in turning homework chaos into something manageable—maybe even fun.

This Month’s Sponsors:

✨PTS Coaching 

Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. 

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show

It’s back-to-school season… which means the emails, the phone calls, and the “your child is struggling” meetings are about to roll in. And if you’ve got an ADHD kiddo, or even a suspected ADHD kiddo, this season can feel like diagnosis season on steroids.

Recently, one of our Chaos Crew got a little offended when I called it “ADHD diagnosis season” on social media. And listen, I’m not here to water down the chaos or rebrand myself into Pinterest-perfect parenting. But I am here to talk about what’s really going down this time of year—and why so many parents (myself included once upon a time) completely miss the signs before school starts shining a blinding spotlight on them.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• The ADHD symptoms I missed before my kiddo started school (meltdowns, outbursts, social struggles, and all the in-between).
• The red flags teachers are trained to spot—and why you might get “that” call or email in the next few weeks.
• Why this season feels overwhelming (hint: it’s not just you).
• And how to make sense of it all without losing your mind in the carpool line.

Grab your coffee, babe. You’re gonna need it for this one.

👉 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Taking Charge of ADHD by Dr. Russell Barkley 
• Mindful Parenting for ADHD by Dr. Mark Bertin 

If this episode felt like a lifeline, share it with your favorite mom-friend drowning in school emails. And if you’re new here—welcome to the Chaos Crew.

This Month’s Sponsors:

✨PTS Coaching 

Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. 

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show

If you’re raising a differently wired child — ADHD, autism, gifted, learning differences, or anything that makes them zig when the world zags — today’s episode is going to feel like a giant exhale.

Danielle sits down with the legendary Debbie Reber, founder of Tilt Parenting, host of the Tilt Parenting Podcast, and author of the bestselling book Differently Wired. Together, they dive deep into what it really means to parent kids who don’t fit inside the “typical” box — and why that’s not a problem, but a power.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Why Debbie created the Tilt Parenting movement and how it’s helping thousands of families raising ADHD and differently wired kids
• What parents need to hear on the hardest days of raising kids with ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergences
• How to reframe parenting challenges into opportunities for connection and growth
• AND (the best part!) how you can read Differently Wired with Debbie herself in her upcoming book club

Whether you’re knee-deep in meltdowns, battling school systems, or just craving reassurance that your kid is exactly who they’re meant to be, this episode is your permission slip to exhale and keep going.

Connect with Debbie and join the book club! 👉 https://tiltparenting.com/bookclub

This Month’s Sponsors:

✨PTS Coaching 

Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. 

💊 NeuroNeeds

A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 

🪀 Play Therapy Supply 

A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 

Resources:

Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 

📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Support the show