🎧 Episode 14 – Development wins, School Wobbles & Hair Hammocks

This week, Ben and Dan unpack another emotional rollercoaster in the NeuroDadverse. From Oscar's snack-time independence (and a perfectly sassy strut) to Mabel navigating school photo overwhelm and GCSE prep, this one’s full of vulnerability, advocacy, and the everyday nuance of neurodivergent parenting.

Meanwhile, Dan reflects on quiet but meaningful wins with Frankie, making strides in his toilet journey and growing more confident around spiders.

It’s a week of celebrating progress that doesn’t always shout but matters deeply.

There’s also a difficult medical appointment, a bath-time product trial (hello hair hammock!), and the ever-present challenge of balancing encouragement with emotional regulation. But there are also wins, from Oscar processing emotions out loud to paperwork milestones for Mabel’s EHCP process.

As always, the podcast is equal parts chaos, catharsis, and community. Let’s go again.

💬 Topics This Episode

• Emotional regulation & overwhelm at school photos
• Mabel's GCSE prep and school-based anxiety
• Communicating with schools as ND parents
• Advocating for EHCP support and access
• Oscar’s snack-time standoff & learning emotional repair
• Sibling wins and bedtime routines
• Frankie’s toilet training and growing bravery around spiders
• ND parenting & professional identity conflicts
• Home systems, hyperfocus, and filling out forms
• Household language, silly phrases, and neurodivergent routines
• Sunday football, burnout, and solo parenting shifts

⏱️ YouTube Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 14

01:00 – Week in 3 Words: Opinions, Academics, Antithesis

03:00 – School photo overwhelm & Mabel's advocacy

06:00 – GCSE pressures, opting out & emotional safety

09:00 – The education system's capacity & limitations

12:00 – Medical appointments & difficult professional encounters

15:00 – Sunday football missing & emotional dysregulation

18:00 – Oscar’s snack prep meltdown and emotional repair

21:00 – Independence, strutting away & feelings in action

24:00 – Parent reactions, late-night regret & repair moments

27:00 – Frankie’s spider bravery & emotional growth

30:00 – Toilet journey progress & quiet milestones

33:00 – Laura’s EHCP paperwork hyperfocus win

36:00 – Hair hammocks, shampoo changes & bedtime routines

39:00 – Clothing independence, sibling support & sensory prep

42:00 – ‘Bum back’ language & ND household humour

45:00 – Parenting trade-offs, solo shifts & weekly rhythm

48:00 – Final reflections & listener thanks

Like what you heard? 

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Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/neurodadverse/id1828520219

Spotify 

https://open.spotify.com/show/0dcFZNbAX4eixDu3vLLPWF?si=ee285ea2e8ab4fb7

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