Episoder
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In this episode, Iâm talking with author and therapist Katie May about something so many parents are facingâand so few feel equipped to handle: what to do when your teen is engaging in self-destructive or self-harming behaviors. Because everything in us wants to stop it. Fix it. Control it. And yet, the strategies weâve been taughtâpunishment, consequences, taking things awayâoften make things worse. Katie helps us understand whatâs actually going on underneath these behaviors, why teens turn to them in the first place, and what they really need from us in those moments. We talk about how to stay connected even when youâre scared, how to create safety without control, and how to show up in a way that supports real healingânot just behavior change. If youâre parenting a teen who is struggling, this conversation will give you a different lensâand a place to start.
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ABOUT KATIE
Katie K. May is a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and group practice owner. She founded Creative Healing, a multi-location teen support center in the Philadelphia area, and wrote the #1 Amazon best-seller Youâre On Fire, Itâs Fine. With lived experience as a teen who turned to self-harm, Katie is one of only 11 Linehan Board Certified DBT Clinicians in Pennsylvania, the gold standard treatment for self-harm and suicidal behaviors. She equips parents and clinicians with practical, trauma-informed tools to decode behavior as survival and create lasting change.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativehealingphilly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creative_healing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiekmay
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekmay
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teensupportcenter
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In this episode, Iâm answering a listener question I hear all the time: What does low demand actually look like?
I walk through the foundations of low demand parenting by breaking it down into a clear, practical processâusing real-life examples to show how we identify whatâs too hard, drop demands that arenât doable, and increase accommodations in ways that actually bring relief. I explain how low demand isnât about âgiving upâ or being permissive, but about attuning to capacityâour kidsâ and our ownâand responding with intention instead of force.
I also introduce the six-step low demand process, unpack how demands work like a layer cake (surface demand â expectation â adult need), and share how learning to truly listen to our kidsâ communication changes everything.
If youâve ever felt confused, overwhelmed, or unsure whether youâre âdoing low demand right,â this episode is meant to give you clarity, structure, and reassurance that there is a path through this.
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Manglende episoder?
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What if the hardest part of low demand parenting isnât your childâs needs â but what their needs bring up in you?
In this solo episode, we will explore the deep inner work beneath low demand parenting: how many of us were taught to suppress our needs, feel ashamed of them, or believe they hurt other peopleâŚand how those old messages get activated when weâre raising kids with big needs of their own.
This episode unpacks why so many parents feel burned out, resentful, or stuck in a painful âitâs me or itâs my kidsâ mindset, and offers a different framework: your needs and your childâs needs are not in competition. They are deeply interconnected.
I share mindset shifts, lived examples, and practical steps for rebuilding a compassionate relationship with your own needs â without abandoning your child, without self-sacrifice, and without shame.
This episode is especially for all my beloved fellow parents who feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or quietly resentful. I hope that this episode helps you imagine a world where both you and your kids can be needy, sensitive, and deeply connected, all at once.
Additional Resources:
The Low Demand Reset - your gentle reflective guide to the new yearLow Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this episode, I sit down with my friend and neighbor Jeff Parrott to talk about parenting a PDA, pressure-sensitive child while letting go of the âtypicalâ parenting manual. Jeff shares their familyâs pivot from high academic expectations to unschooling, how discovering PDA reframed everything, and why consent became the key non-negotiable in their parenting. He walks me through his familyâs practical, proactive demand-drops (like rethinking laundry and mealtimes), handling criticism as a father, and the affirmation that anchors him: âconnection over correction.â If youâve ever wondered how to live out your low demand beliefs when your identity is tied to achievement, this conversation is a powerful roadmap.
About Jeff:Jeff Parrott is a proud father and husband in a neurodiverse family and is committed to learning from his lived experience practicing Low Demand. With a focus on personal growth, he is committed to the appreciation, understanding, and support of neurodiversity, sensory sensitivities, Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA), and Low Demand. Jeff has B.E. degrees in engineering (Biomedical and Electrical) and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Womenâs Health and Reproductive Endocrinology) and has much experience in academic and pharmaceutical development laboratories. A persistent problem solver, he strives to find everyday solutions that work for his beautiful, developing, gifted family. In this space, he identifies with the username @JeffAugmen. âAugmenâ is a Latin for âgrowth.
Mentions in this episode:
Occupational therapist Jenna Meehan, of Be Me OT in Durham, NC: https://www.bemeot.com/
PDA framing; âpressure-sensitive kidsâ (Dr. Naomi Fisher, reference by Jeff)Additional Resources:
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this episode, I sit down with writer and disabled parent Jessica Slice about what it looks like to practice low demand parenting⌠and also not. Jessica shares how parenting her autistic daughter showed her that âendless freedomâ actually made her child more anxious â and that loving, predictable structure was the real low demand move for their family. We talk about how disability culture dismantles shame, why some kids panic in the face of too many choices, how to build rules that are genuinely child-centered, and why no one on the internet gets to tell you whether youâre âdoing low demand right.â This conversation is a permission slip for families who need containers, timers, and posted rules on the wall, not because youâre trying to control your kid, but because thatâs what actually lowers demands in your unique family culture.
In this episode we talk about:
Why âlow demandâ canât be one-size-fits-allHow Jessica realized unlimited choice was actually the demand for her autistic daughterThe familyâs TV setup: timers, platform limits, and why it calms her kidUsing rules to reduce suffering, not to control behaviorParenting inside disability culture â naming needs without shameThe difference between âparent-imposed rulesâ and âkid-centered structureâLetting go of performing âgood parentingâ for outsidersWhy no one can look from the outside and decide whether what youâre doing is âlow demandâMy Guest:
https://www.jessicaslice.com/ https://bookshop.org/shop/jessicaslice https://jessicaslice.substack.com/
Jessica Slice is the Toronto author of four books about disability and has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, the Guardian, The Globe & Mail, LitHub, Alice Wongâs bestselling Disability Visibility, Slate, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and more. Sheâs also been featured in Vogue, The New Yorker, PBS, NPR, The Cut, the BBC, and more. She lives with her husband, two kids, and two dogs.Additional Resources:
Get the customized coaching you desire and deserve with my wonderful Low Demand Coaching Team!Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this solo episode, I get to dive into one of the most radical, healing, and countercultural practices in Low Demand Parenting: listening deeply to our kids. As the third step in the six-step Low Demand Method, listening is the heart of it allâthe bridge between understanding and letting go. Together we will explore how to listen when our kids wonât answer a single question, when what they say triggers us, and when their truth doesnât match what we wanted to hear. I share real-life stories, practical tools (like âbark if you love cereal!â), and deep reflections on the power of curiosity, differentiation, and radical humility. This episode will help you release the pressure to âget it right,â and instead, open your earsâand your heartâto what your child is really communicating.
Additional Resources:
Low Demand Coaching with our incredible team. Receive support and compassion; get un-stuck with practical help; find someone to talk to who fully gets it.Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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What happens when parenting meets the deep work of liberation? In this episode, I talk with Jaya Ramesh and Priya Saaral, authors of Parenting at the Intersections, about raising neurodivergent children of color, unlearning oppressive systems, and redefining what it means to love our kids exactly as they are.
Together, they explore how intersectionality shapes parenting, why âexpert cultureâ often misses the mark, and how resistance, both ours and our childrenâs, is a form of love. This is a tender, eye-opening conversation about healing generational wounds, honoring ancestral wisdom, and raising children who belong without apology.
About my GuestsPriya Saaral, LICSW, RPT-S is a proud mama, play therapist and parenting coach specializing in the emotional wellbeing of neurodivergent children and parents by helping them reconnect to their playful spirit amidst personal and structural adversity. She is a late-identified neurodivergent person with caste privilege and a first generation immigrant settler from India and Singapore, settled on Duwamish land (Seattle).
Jaya Ramesh, LMHC is psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in supporting BIPOC and neurodivergent individuals and couples in having more authentic relationships. She also runs a DEI consultancy supporting communities and organizations in creating more anti-racist spaces. She identifies as a caste-privileged Indian-American who is neurodivergent. She is married, raising two kids and an adorable dog and lives on the unceded lands of Duwamish (colonially known as Seattle).
Read "Parenting at the Intersections"Jaya Ramesh CounselingPriya Saaral - Play Therapy and Parent CoachingAdditional ResourcesLow Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this raw, tender conversation, Chris and Jasmine open up about navigating a âbig blended family crisis,â discovering PDA, and rebuilding connection in a stepfamily with three kids. They share the pressure cooker of custody battles, school expectations, aggression at home, and the moment low-demand and CPS (Ross Greene) reframed everything around autonomy and safety. We talk deconditioning from âgood parentâ scripts, stepmom complexity, marriage repair, and how Chrisâs autistic burnout changed the pace of their whole family. Itâs honest, nuanced, and deeply human.
đ Content note: brief mention of a childâs disclosure of self-harm early in the story.
Guest BioTen years married, Chris and Jasmine are an interracial couple raising three PDA kids aged 14,6 and 4 in Goolwa Beach, South Australia. They navigated an intense blended family crisis with intense child behaviors, catalysing their conscious parenting journey before discovering PDA. Chris is an entrepreneur and a coach who helps people reprogram their reality. Jasmine is the author of Behind That Shiny Resume. She supports stepmoms navigating complex family dynamics as well as neurodiverse couples.
Follow their journey at @unschooling.pda on InstagramFind stepmum support at Linktr.ee/stepmumcoachAdditional ResourcesLow Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this solo episode, I reframe âlow-demandâ beyond crisis triage and into a proactive, sustainable practice. I explain why dropping demands only in the moment can leave parents burned outâand how to move toward durable drops that create real ease and joy for everyone. Using a concrete âcanât get out of bed for schoolâ example, I show you how to become a demand detective, uncover the deeper beliefs and personal history driving our pressure, and design accommodations that actually work. We also tackle internally driven demands (especially with teens), dismantling the cultural âshoulds,â and why believing yourself is the first liberating step to building a life that fits your childâand you.
Additional Resources:Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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Parent coach, clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, and single mom Dr. Gila shares hard-won, compassionate guidance for solo parents of high-needs kids: naming the grief and stressors unique to single parenting, why stress is âthe great magnifier,â and how radical permission + perspective help us stay out of shame and make workable choices. We get concrete about the âtiger in the roomâ (what to do when the meltdown is happening right now), expanding what counts as support (yes, screens sometimes), asking for help when choice A isnât available, and building micro-practicesâaudio journaling, body-based resets, and communityâto keep one adult resourced when thereâs no one to tag in.
Meet our guest:Dr. Gila (she/her) is a Jai-certified parenting coach and certified Clini-CoachÂŽ, in addition to being a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. Most importantly, sheâs a single mom to a beautifully complex kid. Dr. Gila is passionate about parenting with connection, NOT perfection. She specializes in supporting single parents, and parents of strong-willed, spirited, or neurodivergent kids. Her motto is: Even if you're on your own, you don't have to do it alone!Biz name: Dr. Gila ParentingWebsite: www.drgilaparenting.com Email: [email protected]: www.instagram.com/drgila_parentingFB: www.facebook.com/drgilaparenting/Podcast Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-parenting-with-connection-not-perfection/id1840297689Facebook group: Single-Parenting with Connection, not Perfection (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/154KRmy72k/)Free Guided Meditation for Single Parents (or anyone who feels like one!): https://www.drgilaparenting.com/SP_meditationAdditional Resources:
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this conversation, therapist and long-time school advocate Keischa Pruden shares 25 years of hard-won wisdom on helping neurodivergent kids access safety and learning inside traditional schools. We talk whole-child lenses (bio-psycho-social), what actually derails learning (surprise transitions, sensory overload, inflexible expectations), and how to build a true âvillageâ between home and school. Keischa walks through the key components of practical school advocacyâand names the heavy load parents carry (and why support is non-negotiable). Itâs a compassionate, concrete guide to lowering demands at school without losing sight of what matters most: each childâs definition of a meaningful day.
Meet our guest:Learn more about Keischa Pruden here.Additional Resources:Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this rich, practical conversation, Rabbi Shoshana Meira FriedmanâPDA adult, rabbi, and creator of the PDA Safe Circleâmaps out a body-based way to understand PDA using her âsafe circleâ metaphor. We explore why capacity, not compliance, defines whatâs truly âsafe,â how trauma can sensitize antenna without being the cause of PDA, and what actually widens a nervous systemâs circle.
Learn more about Shoshana:
Experience a free week in the PDA Safe Circle communityDownload the PDA Safe Circle Coloring Book (for free!)Follow Shoshana on InstagramAdditional Resources:
Low Demand Course - a powerful 6 week course to learn the 6-step Low Demand approach and change your parenting journey! Enrolling now through September 15.Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow @LowDemandAmanda on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this episode, I welcome Dr. Angele Close, a psychologist, motherhood coach, and author, to discuss the transformative power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy in parenting. We explore how understanding and healing our internal parts can lead to more effective, compassionate, and empowering low-demand parenting. Dr. Close shares her personal journey with IFS, how it changed her approach to parenting her neurodivergent son, and offers practical insights into how parents can shift their inner dialogues to better manage triggers and stress. Our personal and raw conversation sheds light on the importance of unburdening ourselves from societal expectations and embracing the dynamic healing journey, which gifts us with a richer relationship to our children and ourselves.
Bio:
Dr. Angele Close is a clinical psychologist, motherhood coach, and certified mindfulness teacher who supports mothers and couples through the emotional challenges of parenting and partnership. A mom to a neurodivergent teen, she discovered the therapeutic model of Internal Family Systems (IFS) during her own parenting journey and found its tools transformational. Practicing and training in IFS helped her shift from chronic reactivity to greater clarity, calm, and compassion, for her kids and herself.
Dr. Close now brings this approach to her clients, guiding them to feel more grounded, connected, and confident through their own inner healing. She is the author of the forthcoming book Unburdening Motherhood and is passionate about helping parents apply IFS in everyday moments so they can not only show up with the steady, wise presence their children and relationships need most, but also experience more ease, joy, and fulfillment in parenting.
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Episode Resources:
5 part free video series - https://www.drangeleclose.com/coursesIFS Book: You Are The One You've Been Waiting ForIFS WorkbookDr. Close is also hosting a workshop/webinar for PDA North America August 21st (6pm CST) titled Finding Calm in the Chaos: How Internal Family Systems Can Shift the Way You Parent.-
Additional Resources:
When Siblings Feel Like Enemies - a DIY course for overwhelmed PDA families navigating constant sibling conflictLow Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom-
Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterest-
The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this episode, we delve into the intricate dynamics of sibling relationships in families with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Whether your family is neurodivergent or mixed neurotype, sibling interactions can be challenging. We'll explore practical strategies for creating a safe, compassionate, and understanding environment. Learn about the importance of repairing relationships, avoiding comparisons, and fostering open conversations about disabilities. Additionally, I introduce my self-paced course, 'When Siblings Feel Like Enemies,' designed to help you navigate these dynamics with tools and conversation guides.
When Siblings Feel Like Enemies - a transformative DIY course for PDA families with challenging sibling dynamics
Additional Resources:
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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I am joined by Amelia Nagoski, co-author of Burnout, for a deep conversation about autistic burnout, systemic stress, and why traditional self-care often fails. We both reflect on our personal experiences of autistic burnout and how healing can begin by dropping unrealistic expectationsâespecially those rooted in systemic oppression.
Episode Details:Burnout Workshop - June 12, 4-6pm - Get a ticket for $27Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia NagoskiAmelia and Emilyâs YouTube channel with autistic insights on burnout recoveryAdditional Resources:Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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In this episode of the Low Demand Parenting Podcast, Iâm answering your toughest, most honest questions about screen time â especially during burnout. Together, we unpack big concerns about whether screen use is âaddictive,â whether dropping limits is the right choice, and how to respond when your child is glued to YouTube all day or spending your entire budget on Roblox.
I offer a grounded, shame-free perspective on how screens can meet vital needs for rest, novelty, and autonomy â especially for neurodivergent kids â and how we can offer our most powerful parenting tool: a wholehearted yes. Whether youâre new to low demand or deep in phase two of burnout, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical insight for one of the most emotionally loaded topics in parenting today.
More details on this topic:To listen to more about burnout, check out episodes 11 and 14!I also have a mini-course on screens to get more of this compassionate, shame free approach. Screens Without Shame,
Additional low demand resources:For shame-free coaching, including a safe space to process your kid's screen use, check out coaching with the Low Demand team! We have skilled, passionate, deeply compassionate coaches ready to help you step into more acceptance and support. Find out more about coaching.Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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When youâre parenting a high-needs or PDA child, it often feels like their needs dominate the household. But what about the siblings? In this episode, I share five core truths that have helped me show up with compassion and clarity in the most impossible-feeling moments of sibling conflict. From managing competing needs, to navigating rupture and repair, to having real conversations about disability, this episode explores the messy, nuanced reality of raising multiple children in a low demand household. Iâll walk you through practical steps and hard-won insights, all rooted in deep love, radical acceptance, and the commitment to building safe, shame-free family relationships.
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When Siblings Feel Like Enemies - a transformative DIY course for PDA families with challenging sibling dynamics
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Additional Resources:
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom-
Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterest-
The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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This week, Iâm answering your questions about partnerships â about how to talk to your spouse about low demand parenting, what to do when theyâre not on board, how to respond when theyâre getting really triggered by meltdowns or moments of being hit or yelled at, and how to support a PDA partner in sharing their emotions safely. I share how I approach partnerships: with radical acceptance, deep listening, and letting go of expectations that are too hard. I also name that this conversation is based on my own experience being married to the person I co-parent with â and that things might look different if youâre navigating co-parenting after separation or with trauma present. I hope this episode gives you a fresh way to think about dropping demands for the other adults in your life and trusting that you can do your work, even when someone else is on their own journey.
Additional Resources:
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free! Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdomFollow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
InstagramFacebookPinterestThe Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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This is a deeply personal episode. I am in the guest seat to share my transformation from high-demand, perfectionist parenting to the radical practice of Low Demand Parenting. Interviewed by my dear friend Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman, I open up about the turning point in my parenting journey, how the collapse of old paradigms gave way to deep healing, and why letting go isnât failureâitâs freedom. Together, we explore the spiritual depth of radical acceptance, the impact of privilege on parenting choices, and why practicing low demand is never all-or-nothing. This episode is a love letter to the part of you thatâs wondering if itâs okay to stop trying so hard.
Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman: https://www.rabbishoshana.com
The PDA Safe Circle is a new app, course, and welcoming online community designed to decrease distress and increase thriving for PDAers and our loved ones. Diane Gould of PDA North America calls The PDA Safe Circle Approach âa game changer.â No waitlist. Membership rates are equity-based and no one is turned away for financial reasons.
Ross Greene and the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions model: https://livesinthebalance.org
Misophonia information: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24460-misophonia
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In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, I am joined by Ambreia Meadows-Hernandez of Free Black Motherhood. Together, we unpack what it means to mother freely within systems built to demand your erasure. Ambreia shares how she is deconstructing martyr-based motherhood, reclaiming her identity as a liberated Black mother, and moving toward a more expansive and embodied parenting practice rooted in presence, emotional transparency, and intergenerational healing. We talk about the impossibility of perfection, the false expectations placed on mothersâespecially Black mothersâand how parenting can be a radical act of justice. If youâve ever felt like you had to disappear to be a âgoodâ mom, this episode is for you.
~~Join the next Masterclass community group in April 2025!~~
MEET AMBREIA:
Ambreia Meadows-Fernandez is a storyteller, public speaker, facilitator, and motherhood scholar who processes the world through her award-winning writing. Sometimes, these efforts are birthed as reported journalistic-style pieces. Other times, they manifest as essays where she tries to use her personal experiences as a window into larger societal trends. She found her writing voice in the aftermath of birth trauma. The experience compelled her to share her story and create Freeblackmotherhood â a way of mothering that asks 'Black mothers and others' to prioritize self-love and authentic expression in all things while asking them to imagine a world where Black women are free to feel. Her mediums change, but her passion for health, especially reproductive matters, remains the same.
⢠Learn more about Ambreia
⢠Follow her on Instagram at Free Black Motherhood
⢠SisterSong
⢠Patricia Hill Collins (Black Feminist scholarship)
⢠Adrienne Rich (Of Woman Born)
⢠Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now)
⢠Ambreia's article exploring Partus sequitur ventrem (status of the child follows the mother)
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