🎧 Episode 4 – Fashion Shows, Solo Dads & Emotional Throwbacks
In this episode of The NeuroDADverse, Ben tackles two nights of solo parenting that include a sensory-triggered meltdown, an emotional bathroom floor moment, and a makeshift fashion show to help Oscar choose clothes for a beach trip.
Meanwhile, Dan shares a massive win with Frankie around self-initiated haircuts a sensory success with a touch of comic timing. The pair also explore emotional regulation, parent shame, lanyards in public spaces, and the quiet victories we rarely get to celebrate out loud.
💬 Topics this episode:
•Solo parenting while managing autistic meltdowns
•Clothing anxiety, sensory needs, and scaffolding through play
•“I’m stupid” moments and the power of calm connection
•Reflecting on old regulation routines and unexpected regression
•Self-initiated sensory management (like requesting a haircut!)
•Soft play, safety strategies, and meltdown management in public
•Using lanyards, laminated cards, and subtle advocacy in social spaces
•Teen independence, impulsivity, and boundary learning
•Diagnosis delays and the emotional weight of reflection
👇 CHAPTERS BELOW for easy navigation.
00:00 – Welcome back (plus a bit of flu)
01:30 – Visual mimicry and parenting pick-ups
03:00 – Weekly check-in: Three-word summaries
05:00 – Challenge: Solo parenting and preparing for a beach trip
06:30 – Clothing anxiety and sensory overwhelm
07:30 – Fashion Show Game: Scaffolding through fun
09:00 – The Pokemon hat dilemma
10:00 – Bedtime anxiety and “what if I get bullied?”
11:00 – Curtain drama and negative self-talk
12:30 – Emotional dysregulation in the bathroom
14:00 – Calm breathing, mirror affirmations, and flashback parenting
15:00 – The return of old behaviours and coping tools
16:30 – How the beach trip actually went
17:00 – Jellyfish, crabs, and thumb-middle day ratings
18:30 – Win: Frankie self-initiates a haircut!
20:30 – Sensory wins and father-son bonding
22:30 – Self-advocacy in action (and what it really means)
25:00 – ND parenting = challenge + joy
26:00 – Teens, Tesco, and spontaneous impulse dinners
27:30 – Structure, routines, and parenting styles
29:00 – Challenges of handing over control as kids grow
30:00 – Mabel's smooth transition to new school timetable
32:00 – When the meltdown doesn’t come (and that’s the win)
34:30 – Ben’s soft play story: masking, cards, and safety systems
38:00 – Do you carry meltdown info cards in public?
40:30 – Why people don’t always notice ND traits (and why that matters)
43:00 – Solo parenting at social events and what’s actually “normal”
45:00 – Talking about SEND in public: advocacy or judgement?
47:00 – The morbid fascination with “how hard it really is”
49:00 – Diagnosis check-in: avoidance, fear, and self-reflection
52:00 – Dan's not-ready-yet moment: reflection fatigue
53:00 – Looking ahead: Sports Day, England football, and no sleep
56:00 – Bath Time Scores: When timing and hairdryers collide
58:00 – Final thoughts, closing laughs, and “just spilled lemon & honey”
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