🎧 Episode 20 - Happy Halloween! 🎃👻

This week’s episode lands just in time for Halloween and it’s full of the real-life trick-or-treat moments of parenting neurodivergent kids.

Dan opens up about a tough week navigating the fallout of Frankie’s haircut last week and the emotional sting that comes when connection feels lost. Ben reflects on his own experiences with Oscar’s dysregulation, gaming frustrations, and how staying calm in the storm takes constant patience and navigation (his “VPN” week!).

But amid the chaos come real wins:

🎃 Picture Day success, sensory-safe trips out, and a full-on away-day football adventure that tested regulation in the loudest of environments.

🎥 A family cinema night brings unexpected emotional parallels — cancer survival, grief, and art as emotional expression — all hitting home in ways they never saw coming.

🧩 Plus, the dads unpack the subtle victories of social growth, independence, and why even six out of ten weeks can still be progress.

If you’ve ever felt that parenting a neurodivergent child is a constant balance between love, guilt, and resilience — this one’s for you.

Key Topics Covered

•Emotional aftermath of sensory-triggering experiences (haircuts, meltdowns)

•How ND parents manage guilt and reconnection after setting boundaries

•Gaming frustration as a window into dysregulation and patience

•Building independence through small routines (bath time, hygiene)

•Navigating public sensory overload (football matches, restaurants, cinema)

•The importance of safe spaces and knowing regulation cues

•Emotional storytelling through children’s art and media

•Balancing family dynamics during holidays and celebrations

•Recognising progress even in “six-out-of-ten” weeks

⏱️ 4️⃣ YouTube Chapter Breakdown (62 min total)

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to The NeuroDADverse (Halloween Edition)

02:00 – Three Words of the Week: “Victory, Patience, Navigation”

04:30 – Dan’s Challenge: The Haircut Moment and Emotional Fallout

10:00 – When Love Hurts: Feeling Disconnected After Doing the Hard Thing

13:00 – Ben’s Reflections: Remembering Boundaries & Emotional Recovery

18:00 – Navigating Dysregulation: Gaming Day Frustrations and Breakthroughs

23:00 – Outings and Overwhelm: Family Day Trips, Sushi Wins & Sensory Crashes

29:00 – Wins of the Week: Picture Day, KFC Trips & Social Progress

36:00 – Live Football with Mabel: Sensory Regulation in the Stands

40:00 – Cinema Trip: Movie “Sketch,” Emotional Parallels & Family Healing

47:00 – Halloween Plans & Upcoming Birthdays

52:00 – Trick-or-Treating with ND Kids: Social Scripts & Sweet Honesty

56:00 – Parenting Score of the Week: Managing Bath Time Independence

59:00 – Reflections: Meeting the Need & Accepting Imperfect Progress

61:00 – Outro: Follow, Review, and Remember – You’re Doing Great

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

💡 If this episode resonates, whether you’re a zebra, a stripy horse, or still figuring it all out. There’s space for you in the NeuroDADverse.

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