"It’s not about ability—it’s about capacity."

In this mid-season premiere of The Affirming Village Podcast, Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright dive into the "January Slump." If the transition back into school routines has felt harder than expected for you, your students, or your children, this episode is a deep exhale.

Instead of pushing to just "get back on track," Destiny and Lisa unpack the physiological and emotional reality of the return to school after a period of rest. They discuss why capacity isn't a fixed state and how the pressure to "perform" in the second half of the year can lead to burnout and punitive cycles.

Inside this episode, we explore:

• Ability vs. Capacity: Understanding why a child who can do something on Tuesday might not be able to do it on Wednesday.

• The "You Know Better" Trap: How our expectations as adults shift in the second half of the year and why that can be damaging to neurodivergent learners.

• Adult Triggers & Self-Regulation: Identifying the specific behaviors that dysregulate us as caregivers and how to "tap out" when needed.

• Curing Safety in the Classroom: Why meeting a struggling student with humanity actually stabilizes the entire group rather than causing "chaos."

• The Impact of "Ableist Trash": A real-life look at how a learner’s capacity is stripped when they are met with judgment instead of understanding.

Key Takeaway: Routines are meant to support the person, not control the behavior. When we lower the pressure, we actually create the safety required for a learner to thrive.

Connect with us: Follow the show to never miss an episode as we continue Season 1 with even more deep dives into neuroaffirming advocacy and parenting.

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