The Untypical Parent Podcast

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What happens when we throw away the parenting rulebook and embrace our authentic, imperfect selves? In this fascinating conversation with Jen Wilson (aka Irregular Jen), we explore the radical idea that perfect parenting is not only impossible—it's not even desirable.

Jen, founder of the International Day of Consent and self-described "rebel with a cause," challenges conventional parenting wisdom with refreshing honesty. "Anyone who claims they're the perfect anything can get lost," they declare early in our discussion, setting the stage for a liberating conversation about parenting beyond rigid authority.

We discuss consent. Far from the limited understanding of consent as merely sexual permission, Jen reveals how consent touches every aspect of family life, from what we eat to how we communicate boundaries.

It's a must listen for parents feeling trapped in cycles of perfectionism or overwhelmed by societal expectations; this episode offers permission to embrace your wonderfully irregular self. After all, what better gift could we give our children than modelling authentic, imperfect humanity?

You can find Jenn on social media;

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrregularJennPage

Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/irregularjenn/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irregularjenn

Jenn also has a new membership launching 'The Irregular Membership', you can find more information here: https://bemore.irregular.org.uk/membership

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Parenting while dyslexic introduces unique challenges—especially when kids outstrip you in literacy. In this opening instalment of a two-part series, I share my personal journey navigating dyslexia in a family where words don’t always come easily.

We’ll cover:

• The emotional impact of having children who read faster or more fluently than you do

• Why everyday logistics and planning can feel overwhelming when dyslexia is in the mix

• How teamwork and honesty build a strengths-based family culture

• Letting go of shame and discovering pride in your differences

 This episode is for dyslexic parents—or parents of dyslexic kids—who want to nurture openness and confidence in their families. 

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Ever felt like you're the only parent struggling while everyone else seems to have it all figured out? Then this raw, honest conversation with Mark is exactly what you need.

A self-described "undiagnosed neurotypical" dad raising three neurodivergent children. 

Mark candidly shares when he stopped seeing his son's behaviour as defiance and started understanding it as communication. Mark talks about how he learned to meet his children where they are rather than forcing them to meet expectations.

We talk about the complicated emotions that come with diagnosis (both relief and grief), the freedom that comes from creating a home where neurodivergent kids can truly unmask, and why finding your tribe can be the key. 

Listen now, and discover how letting go of "perfect parent" ideals might be exactly what your family needs.

You can find Mark on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/
And Neuroshambles podcast: https://www.neuroshambles.com

We spoke about the book The Explosive Child by Ross Greene and the support group that Mark found so helpful was mASCot: https://www.facebook.com/ascmascot

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I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at:
[email protected]

Support the show

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

Plans can provide safety, reduce anxiety, and create a sense of control for parents in additional needs families when everything feels chaotic. They help reduce cognitive load and mental demand, giving us space to be more present with our children.

• Plans work best when they're flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances
• Written plans take pressure off our working memory, especially during stressful moments
• Types of plans include burnout recovery, community outings, safety during dysregulation, and exit strategies
• Planning ahead helps manage the constant "what if" thinking that comes with additional needs parenting
• Having plans doesn't mean being rigid - it means being prepared while remaining adaptable
• When we're in stress responses (fight/flight/freeze), our brains can't plan effectively
• Parents are the family linchpin - if we don't take care of ourselves, everyone suffers
• Start small with planning rather than trying to plan everything at once
• Sometimes we need help creating plans when we're overwhelmed, and that's not failure

If this episode had you going "that's so me" or feel a little less alone, why not buy me a coffee? Just click the link in the show notes. It's a small way to show your support and keep this podcast going.

                    https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot                

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at:
[email protected]. I love to hear from listeners about the podcast and any ideas for the future. 

Take care

Liz 

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In this episode I talk with Clare Baker from Restlessminds UK.
Clare and I go deep into the raw realities of parenting, neurodivergence, and the often unseen emotional toll of navigating a broken education system. Clare shares her powerful story of becoming a mum at 19, being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and why she chose to remove her daughter from mainstream education to protect her mental health.

We unpack:
💥 Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
💥 Advocacy for SEN children and neurodivergent families
💥 Clare’s experience with ADHD, and raising neurodivergent kids
💥 The problem with current attendance policies and the push for punitive "solutions"
💥 How empowerment starts with informed parenting and challenging outdated systems

Clare also opens up about masking, burnout, and the importance of showing up authentically—as a parent, practitioner, and person. Her lived experience and fierce advocacy are a lifeline for families stuck in survival mode.

🔥 If you're a parent, educator, or practitioner walking the line between compassion and bureaucracy—this episode is essential listening.

You can find Clare here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restlessmindsuk
Website: https://restlessmindsuk.org/


I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at:
[email protected]

Support the show

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

The Untypical Parent Talks to Herself

Why we often say "no" even when we desperately need support? 

In this episode, I’m talking about something so many of us struggle with—accepting help. You know that pressure to have it all together and do everything ourselves? Yep, that. I get into how thinking of help as some kind of transaction can actually make it harder to let people in, and how sometimes we push support away so much that people stop offering altogether. I share what I’ve learned about figuring out the kind of help that actually feels supportive (and not just like one more thing to manage), and why having clear expectations with the people around us makes a big difference. I also look at why we were never meant to parent or live in isolation—there’s real history behind that! I’m working on seeing help as a form of connection, not failure, and I’ll share some practical ways I’ve been trying to get more comfortable with receiving it. Plus, a reminder that support comes in many forms—not just the obvious or practical stuff. 

The link for this month's parenting pause moment: The Sensory Side to Parenting: Unlock the Sensory Secret to Smoother Parenting and More Peaceful Moments
https://info.the-untypical-ot.co.uk/sensory-side-of-parenting

🔗 To connect with Liz, find all the details on her Linktree:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

☕ If you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot⁠⁠

Topics: If you have a request for a particular topic when it comes to parenting in additional needs families, please just drop the podcast an email at [email protected]

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Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

What happens when your perfectly planned approach to parenting collides with the unpredictable reality and it doesn't end up fitting the job description! Helen Buzdugan knows this territory intimately. As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, careers advisor, and founder of True To You Careers, Helen shares her raw, emotional journey from parenting, discovering not only hers but her children's neurotype, from juggling work and parenting, to burnout and then recovery.

Helen's story begins with a self-confessed perfectionist approach to parenthood, to her noticing the diverging paths between her experience of parenting and those of other parents, whose challenges seemed to ease while hers intensified. Helen's experience ultimately led her to create her business helping parents in neurodivergent families find employment that accommodates their complex lives.

Helen brings a unique perspective to the workforce challenges facing parents and carers in neurodivergent households, highlighting the valuable transferable skills parents develop through advocacy, from research abilities to negotiation tactics honed in countless school meetings. Her practical advice includes understanding workplace rights like emergency leave for dependents, separating immediate crisis management from long-term career planning, and building essential support systems.

Ready to transform your approach to balancing career and family? Connect with Helen's free resources and community support to discover work that truly works for your neurodivergent family life.

You can find Helen on: 

Facebook, LinkedIn and her links page

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits. 

To connect with me you'll find all my links on Linktree:

The Untypical OT Linktree

If you would like to contact me about the podcast please email me at:

[email protected]

Support the show

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

Welcome to The Untypical OT Talks to Herself—the mini podcast for typically untypical parents! Bite-sized episodes packed with real talk about parenting in additional needs families. No fluff, no judgment—just honest conversations about the stuff that truly matters.

💡 This week’s episode: My top tip for managing burnout, overwhelm, and stress at work. This also works at home. It's all about the boundaries! Do you know where your boundaries are? Are they hard boundaries or flexible ones? How easy are they to put in place? Join me for a mini podcast to think about your boundaries. 

🎧 Are you ready? Come join me.

🔗 To connect with Liz, find all the details on her Linktree:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

☕ If you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot⁠⁠

Topics: If you have a request for a particular topic when it comes to parenting in additional needs families, please just drop the podcast an email at [email protected]


Take care

Support the show

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

What happens when we stop trying to fit neurodivergent children into a neurotypical world? In this eye-opening conversation, Helen Daniel—author, late-diagnosed neurodivergent, and sensory expert, —challenges everything we've been taught about "perfect parenting" and reveals how societal expectations create unnecessary struggles for neurodivergent families.

Helen shares her theory of neurosensory divergence, which sees autism not as a deficit but as sensory abundance—a richer way of experiencing the world that brings unique ways of learning and thinking, moving away from stigma and highlighting the strengths of neurodivergent minds.

She dives into the everyday struggles neurodivergent kids face in schools, where traditional methods often don’t work for different sensory styles. Whether a child focuses deeply on one sense or takes in everything at once, both can feel out of place in typical classrooms.

This conversation is full of practical insights for parents, teachers, and professionals alike. By understanding sensory needs, we can create better learning environments, support self-advocacy, and build a world that embraces neurodivergence instead of trying to "fix" it.

Helen's book Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Languages: A Roadmap To An Equitable Life For Autistic Children, is available to buy. 

You can find Helen on her social media platforms: 

Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits. 

To connect with me you'll find all my links on Linktree:

The Untypical OT Linktree

If you would like to contact me about the podcast please email me at:

[email protected]

Support the show

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

Welcome to The Untypical OT Talks to Herself—the mini podcast for typically untypical parents! Bite-sized episodes packed with real talk about parenting in additional needs families. No fluff, no judgment—just honest conversations about the stuff that truly matters.

💡 This week’s episode: My top tip for managing burnout, overwhelm, and stress in the family home. If you’re feeling stretched thin, this one's for you!

🎧 Are you ready? Come join me.

🔗 To connect with Liz, find all the details on her Linktree:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot⁠⁠⁠⁠

☕ If you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

Topics: If you have a request for a particular topic when it comes to parenting in additional needs families please just drop the podcast an email at [email protected]

Support the show