About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Chantelle. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-The lack of support when living in a foreign country
-When doctors have never heard of the struggles your child is facing
-Eating disorders as part of being neurodivergent
-How ADHD can look so different in different kids
-How emotional it is to feel alone in your struggles
-Trying to advocate for your child in a different language than your native tongue
-How exciting it is to find a resource that helps
-Chantelle's children's books that she made up for her children - on sale on Amazon! Find them here: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Chantelle-Stieghan/

Please shower Chantelle with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

** HUGE NEWS!! Our next Mothers Together "Open House"  is coming up at the end of the year! At Open House, you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but often don't receive. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you a taste of how inclusive, safe, and judgment-free the Mothers Together community is. If you are ready to meet other moms like you, please join us for Open House! Here's the link to sign up: mothers-together.com/openhouse. See you there!

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 230K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Felicia. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Raising multiple children with Autism
-Learning how to stop self-gaslighting when looking at your child's struggles
-The exhaustion she feels from trying to meet the needs of all of her kids
-Rolling with the punches while establishing your household "norms"
-How she's practicing self-love with less judgement

Please shower Felicia with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

** HUGE NEWS!! Our next Mothers Together "Open House"  is coming up at the end of the year! At Open House, you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but often don't receive. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you a taste of how inclusive, safe, and judgment-free the Mothers Together community is. If you are ready to meet other moms like you, please join us for Open House! Here's the link to sign up: mothers-together.com/openhouse. See you there!

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 230K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

"It's not about being a perfect parent - it's about being a reflective parent."

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Hannah. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Learning about yourself as a neurodivergent mom to help understand your child
-How challenging it is to advocate for your child
-Transitions can be so tough - how she handles them
-Repairing with your child (often)
-How therapy (and EMDR) has helped her so much
-How important it is to get alone time, despite how hard it is to make happen
-Figuring out what works for you and applying it to your parenting

Please shower Hannah with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

** HUGE NEWS!! For the first time ever, I'm hosting a Mothers Together "Open House" - a free, 5 day challenge where you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but often don't receive. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you a taste of how inclusive, safe, and judgment-free the Mothers Together community is. If you are ready to meet other moms like you, please join us for Open House! Here's the link to sign up: mothers-together.com/openhouse. See you there!

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 180K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

About This Episode: Krista is so brave, and I'm so thankful for her. She had no hesitation in diving into some really tough and vulnerable topics around raising neurodivergent kids, including aggression and violence, adoption, trauma, and CPS.  Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-How symptoms of trauma mirror ADHD
-What is the trauma that adopted children struggle with?
-How does ADHD look different in boys than girls?
-When specialty diets don't help (but they were supposed to be the cure-all!)
-ODD - "recreational arguer"
-When ADHD symptoms "fit" with the "typical boy" stereotype, but not with girls
-Severe behaviors and CPS

Please shower Krista with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story! You can find Krista on IG @krista.ehlers.

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 10/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About The Episode: Welcome to my new weekly series: Ask Megan! I receive wonderful questions every day from moms of neurodivergent kids, and I thought it would be helpful to compile a list of these questions and chip away at them, week after week, giving you my take on them based on my personal experiences.

Today's Question: "Should I bother seeking a diagnosis for my child? Would this help our whole family?"

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Is this real life?! I'm spending a few minutes taking a look back as we cross over the 100 episodes line. Then, I'm on to Part 2 with my friend, Kim Heilig. 

Kim Heilig is BACK! She's one of my all-time favorite people and I'm so excited to share with you what she has to say in this Part 1 of 2 episodes. First of all, if you never caught her first episode WAY back in June '21 (#28!), definitely listen to it RIGHT HERE. Second of all, I'm THRILLED to share that Kim is one of the mentors in my new upcoming program, Mothers Evolve. If you like her style and can resonate with her words, you'll love getting to know her and work with her in Mothers Evolve. You can sign up for the October Pilot of Mothers Evolve RIGHT HERE. Oh, and speaking of M.E. - the beginning of this episode introduces you to all 5 mentors in my program - be sure to listen to their powerful and positive messaging. I'm SO lucky to have them in my life! Now, back to the episode. 

Please shower Kim with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Kim Heilig is BACK! She's one of my all-time favorite people and I'm so excited to share with you what she has to say in this Part 1 of 2 episodes. First of all, if you never caught her first episode WAY back in June '21 (#28!), definitely listen to it RIGHT HERE. Second of all, I'm THRILLED to share that Kim is one of the mentors in my new upcoming program, Mothers Evolve. If you like her style and can resonate with her words, you'll love getting to know her and work with her in Mothers Evolve. You can sign up for the October Pilot of Mothers Evolve RIGHT HERE. Oh, and speaking of M.E. - the beginning of this episode introduces you to all 5 mentors in my program - be sure to listen to their powerful and positive messaging. I'm SO lucky to have them in my life! Now, back to the episode. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Becoming a homeschooling family - unwillingly
-Giving up your dream job to support your child
-Learning to trust the process
-Healing: It takes a LONG TIME!
-What education is like for gifted children with learning disabilities
-What a strengths' based approaching to schooling could look like
-How confidence leads to achievement - NOT the other way around.
-How to establish a positive homeschool environment


Please shower Kim with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: I had the best talk with Jennifer Rhein. The amount of similarities in our children we discovered in this episode were insane! Gifted kids are often anxious kids, and that can lead to major challenges. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Are we trying to work together or trying to control?
-Behavior struggles with gifted, anxious kids
-When reward systems don't work
-High anxiety means kids want control
-How to name the anxiety monster


Please shower Jennifer with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: This episode is the *perfect" one to plug your headphones into on your next drive to work or dog walk - short but packs a PUNCH. Tahira and I start asking questions about WHY society tries to get our neurodivergent kids to conform. Plus, we take a deep dive into the concept of putting our oxygen masks on first. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-The things you want for your kids, you have to give to yourself first
-How to let go of battles
-When you haven't checked in with yourself in YEARS
-Why do doctors and therapists try to "fix" our kids?
-Who even built society's "box", anyway?
-Self-care is INTERNAL work!
-Meeting your kids' needs at the risk of your own

Did you miss Part 1? Make sure you listen to that too, to get more on Tahira's story!

Please shower Tahira with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Sometimes, a conversation is just so juicy that it needs two parts! This one, with mom Tahira, is one of them. I think you're going to absolutely LOVE this episode. Tahira is a former "authoritarian" parent, relearning who she is, what she values, and what works best for her kids' brains. I can completely relate to her story and I think you will, too. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Giving tools to our kids is really about needing those tools for ourselves
-Growing with our children
-Balancing the needs of multiple ND kids
-Going back to old patterns when we're stressed
-How understanding your kid's brain changes everything
-Why are some kids compliant and others aren't?
-When the way you were raised doesn't work for ND kids

Please shower Elle with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 8/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: What an awesome chat with mom Elle! We talked a LOT about how being autistic has made a massive impact on how she raises her autistic daughter. She shared a ton of insight as she reflected back onto her childhood and focused on what it felt like trying to fit in all the time. It's a wonderful conversation that you will definitely grab takeaways from. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Seeing the same qualities in your child as you see in yourself
-Just because someone is neurodivergent doesn't mean they fully understand neurodivergence
-The negative feeling of being "other"
-Rethinking your childhood after your child's diagnosis
-Teaching your child to know how to act as a neurotypical person...but on their terms
-Importance of understanding Sensory Processing Disorder
-The integration of body systems
-Why is neurodivergence considered a disability?
-How SPD permeates everyday life

Please shower Elle with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 8/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode:  My friends - this episode is one of my all-time favorites, and since every mama guest is so wonderful, that's really saying something! Whether you've heard Nancy before or not - take the time this week to hear her story again.

OH my goodness, the episode is AMAZING. There is NO way, after listening to it, that you won't feel something in in your gut about the message Nancy is spreading. She drops gold again and again with detailed talk about acceptance and letting your child just "be". Whether you listen all in one sitting or break the episode up over the week - make sure you listen to the WHOLE THING. Here are some things we discuss:

-Setting expectations that are actually reachable and that will boost your child's self-esteem and happiness
-Parenting from the gut. You know your kid best!
-Focusing on our kids' strengths rather than their lagging skills
-Completely accepting your child for who they are

Please shower Nancy with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 8/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Maveric Van Brackle inspired me so many times in our short chat, and what I love most about her is her willingness to do what she thinks is right for her child (well, he's a teenager now!) without worry of judgement or questioning herself. For her, it's all about reading her kid. Lots of takeaways in this episode! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Pushing through the meltdowns about daily tasks and hygiene
-Staying honest with your child and keeping your word
-Breaking generational patterns of parenting
-Putting your blinders on to listen to your gut instincts
-The transition to adulthood 

Please shower Maveric with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 8/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

"I could do it all, but I deserve to not have to."

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Caroline. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Life as a military spouse during deployment
-Sensory struggles, feeding disorders, and Autism
-Infancy trauma (sick with RSV, traumatic birth) - how does that fit with who a child is?
-Facing your own mental health struggles as a mental health professional
-What is Cyclothymia (mild Bipolar Disorder)?
-Fixated behaviors - what do they look like and what is the cause of them?
-The pros and cons of receiving a diagnosis for your child
-Adjusting your expectations and keeping safety as the priority
-Going to therapy as a therapist

Please shower Caroline with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

**Exciting news! I've launched a newsletter! I love connecting with you guys – through email, in my Instagram DMs, and in my Mothers Together community, and of course here on the show. But recently I realized that I’d love to be able to provide you with a one-stop-shop where I can share ALL the things – from products we use in my home to accounts I follow to personal stories about my life as a mom of neurodivergent kids. My newsletter, called the “On The Hard Days” newsletter, is the best way to do that! 

In addition to sharing pieces of my life and my favorites with you, this newsletter gives YOU the chance to share what’s on your heart! I’ll be accepting your original work – whether it’s a poem, a piece of art, a short story about a recent win you had, or even a video of your original music, to put into the newsletter! I’m also going to share your recommended self-care tips (you know, real self-care that’s practical for moms like us), links to my new merch, and more! I’m really excited about this, honestly. 

The only thing I need from you in order to get the newsletter to you is your email address. To send that my way, you have a couple of options. Go to ontheharddays.com/newsletter to put your email address there or you can DM me on Instagram @on.the.hard.days, and say “newsletter” with your email address in the message. 

The On The Hard Days newsletter launches soon, so get on my email list asap! As always, thank you so much for your endless support. I hope I can continue to provide you the same validation you guys give me! 

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 180K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

About This Episode: After last week's Part 1, you guys raved about how relatable Megan Pizarro is.  (If you haven't yet listened to Part 1, go and do that right now, because it'll really help to get a feel for the kind, gentle, dedicated mom that Megan is.) Now, in Part 2, Megan talks about how much she's learned in the past few years about loving and accepting HERSELF, and how that has positively impacted how she views and parents her neurodivergent child. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-The concept of self-forgiveness
-Internalizing blame when comparing your life to that of other moms
-The stigma of therapy
-The challenges of hearing our children speak negatively about themselves
-PTSD and how it applies to moms raising neurodivergent kids
-The power of love and acceptance

Please shower Megan with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. It's not too late to join us in July!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: *Trigger Warning* This episode touches upon multiple losses, including that of a baby. This content is in the first 10 minutes of the actual conversation with Megan.

My friends, this is one heck of an episode - and it's only Part 1! Megan is a wonderful, amazing mom. I decided to split our chat into two episodes as Part 1 is focused on Megan's story and her family, and Part 2 will be focused on Megan's learnings and tremendous growth she went through and how she's inspiring other moms to do the same.

In this Part 1, Megan doesn't hesitate to be very vulnerable and forthcoming in her struggle to parent her neurodivergent child. I could really relate to so much that she said, and I have a feeling you will be able to as well. Here are just a few of the topics we discussed:

-When there's trauma in the first year of the baby's life
-Does needing an evaluation mean you've failed as a parent?
-The shame that comes with raising a child with a mood disorder
-The sheer magnitude of how very hard this motherhood journey is
-Being a recovering people pleaser and "good girl"

Please shower Megan with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. It's not too late to join us in July!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Lindsey is a fighter, and so is her son. She's been advocating fiercely for him since the day he was born, as he suffered from medical trauma and then eventually educational trauma. She's in full Mama Bear mode (as I know you all can relate to) and I'm grateful she came on the show to share her story. Here are just a few of the topics we discussed:

-What medical trauma looks like for an infant: Hirschsprung's Disease, surgeries, and long-term stays in the hospital
-The struggle to get a 1 on 1 aide in the classroom
-Lack of communication with school on behaviors
-The ongoing fight for inclusion
-Losing adult friendships as you take care of your child

Lindsey welcomes you to reach out to her and say hello! She's on FB and her email is
lindseyfurr8180@gmail.com. Please shower Lindsey with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on July 1st!

-For bonus episodes, monthly printables, Zoom hangouts, on-air shouts, and more (including the change to submit your family picture as the podcast cover art!) head to patreon.com/ontheharddays and sponsor the show.

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: I'm so appreciative of the REALNESS Mom Kristen brings to this conversation. She tells it like it is, while simultaneously reminding us that it's okay to not enjoy this ride of parenting a neurodivergent child, and that things are REALLY, really hard. Here are just a few of the topics we discussed:

-Am I imagining/exaggerating symptoms?
-When a diagnosis is validating
-Why do other people question your child's diagnosis?
-"If this feels harder than it should be, it probably is."
-Guilt for admitting that you don't enjoy this.
-Early signs of Autism

Kristen welcomes you to reach out to her and say hello! She's on IG @kkollgaard and email is: kristenkollgaard@gmail.com. 
Please shower Kristen with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-For bonus episodes, monthly printables, Zoom hangouts, on-air shouts, and more (including the change to submit your family picture as the podcast cover art!) head to patreon.com/ontheharddays and sponsor the show.

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on July 1st!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Marni Kammersell is homeschooling her kids, and boy does she GET it. The way she thinks about gifted, learning disabled children completely resonated with me in our conversation, and I just know it will for you too. Here are just a few of the topics we discussed:
-The "hyper-wiring" of gifted brains
-Can 2E kids thrive in a traditional school setting?
-Why IQ testing is a thing
-Is a label necessary for your kids when you're homeschooling?
-What it's like to be gifted with dysgraphia
-Playing to our kids' strengths in education

Marni Kammersell is a doctoral student at the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. However, her greatest teachers are her three twice-exceptional children. Together, they've been living a self-directed learning lifestyle since 2009. As a homeschooling and neurodiversity consultant, Marni loves sharing the latest research in neuroscience. She enjoys helping families transition from traditional educational models into homeschooling in a way that works for their unique learners. You can find her at  https://nurturingneurodiversity.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/nurturingneurodiversitycolorado
Please shower Marni with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-For bonus episodes, monthly printables, Zoom hangouts, on-air shouts, and more (including the change to submit your family picture as the podcast cover art!) head to patreon.com/ontheharddays and sponsor the show.

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on June 1st!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: It's Part 2 of my amazing chat with the one and only Erin Yeschin. And while Part 1 was so relatable and validating, Part 2 will lift you up and give you the gentle kick in the pants you need to feel empowered and motivated to keep going. Don't skip this one, my friends - there is such power in her words! Here are just a few of the topics we discussed:

-Reframing your relationship with your neurodivergent child
-The gift of advocacy
-How misunderstood neurodivergent people are
-Why society expects neurodivergent kids to grow out of their behaviors and challenges
-Reframing a "failure" mentality
-Talking to your kids about tough societal issues

You can find Erin on IG @hippocampusclubhouse as well as on her podcast, Hippocampus Clubhouse, and her website: hippocampusclubhouse.com.
Please shower Erin with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-For bonus episodes, monthly printables, Zoom hangouts, on-air shouts, and more (including the change to submit your family picture as the podcast cover art!) head to patreon.com/ontheharddays and sponsor the show.

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on June 1st!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Erin Yeschin's parenting story of raising her neurodivergent child was so good, we had a long enough chat for two episodes (or even more!) Erin is a ray of light, despite being knocked down again and again and again. From her own health problems to a rough pregnancy, to health issues for her little one, and then really challenging behaviors, hers is a story I bet you will be able to resonate with somewhere along the line. And here's my favorite thing about her - her willingness to be brave and vulnerable. Towards the beginning of our conversation, her child interrupted us and got upset. His reaction is all too familiar for so many of us, and Erin graciously allowed me to share that part in this episode. Here are just a few of the topics we discussed:

-How a challenging pregnancy affects the motherhood journey
-When big emotions have to come out at some point, one way or another
-The first signs of giftedness
-Tantrums Vs. Meltdowns
-The stress of a public meltdown
-High functioning postpartum anxiety and what that looks like
-Being a highly sensitive mom

You can find Erin on IG @hippocampusclubhouse - please check out what she's doing over there, it's amazing!!
Please shower Erin with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-For bonus episodes, monthly printables, Zoom hangouts, on-air shouts, and more (including the change to submit your family picture as the podcast cover art!) head to patreon.com/ontheharddays and sponsor the show.

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on June 1st!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Allison Kenny brought me HOME to myself and gave me the therapy session I didn't know I needed! Wow. You've got to take a listen to this amazing mom and life coach, who, in raising her own neurodivergent child, had to re-wire her brain for different outcomes in motherhood than the way she grew up. You'll want a notepad handy to jot down some really amazing, stick-with-you-for-days takeaways. Here are just a few of the topics we discussed:

-The false narrative of what raising kids in our society looks like
-Moms' suffering mental health due to putting ourselves last
-The foster-to-adopt system and how it created a false illusion of preparedness
-"Survival wiring" - perfectionism and hustle
-Reactive Attachment Disorder
-"Shift Parenting" - What is it?
-The trauma and PTSD that comes with the tough moments of motherhood

You can find Allison on IG @allisonkenny_coach and on FB @ Allison Kenny.
Please shower Allison with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-For bonus episodes, monthly printables, Zoom hangouts, on-air shouts, and more (including the change to submit your family picture as the podcast cover art!) head to patreon.com/ontheharddays and sponsor the show.

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on June 1st!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: I'm throwing it WAY back to episode 5 to tell the story of the frying pan. Yes, the pan we cook eggs on.  We so often are caught up in the intense emotions of our neurodivergent kids that sometimes the answer is staring us in the face! Take a listen to this personal story of mine and let me know if it resonates!

Please SHARE this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on June 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Alicia DuBois and I got talking about a lot of very relatable topics in this week's episode. I love her matter-of-fact nature in that, it is what it is, so let's just move on sort of attitude! Here's just some of the things we discuss:

-Working with your child to solve problems
-Being the mom you used to judge
-When strategies work one day and not the next
-How to let some behaviors go
-The ups and downs of trying new medications
-Is it giving in, or is it being flexible?

Please shower Alicia with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on June 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

"He gets into almost life-ending harm often...there's a whole list of behaviors that are just really scary."

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Vanessa. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-What behaviors are caused by genetic mutations vs. Autism/ADHD, etc?
-Constantly monitoring her child's heart health and the stress that causes
-How a service dog has vastly improved their home
-The stress of doctor appointments for ND kids
-Bloodwork, restraint, heart monitoring, and growth hormones - where is the priority?
-How the daily behavioral challenges are often harder than the medical complexities.
-Trying to keep her child in school with a lack of support.
-Living one minute at a time - it's so hard.

Please shower Vanessa with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story. You can reach out to Vanessa through email: finch.vanessa@gmail.com

**Exciting news! I've launched a newsletter! I love connecting with you guys – through email, in my Instagram DMs, and in my Mothers Together community, and of course here on the show. But recently I realized that I’d love to be able to provide you with a one-stop-shop where I can share ALL the things – from products we use in my home to accounts I follow to personal stories about my life as a mom of neurodivergent kids. My newsletter, called the “On The Hard Days” newsletter, is the best way to do that! 

In addition to sharing pieces of my life and my favorites with you, this newsletter gives YOU the chance to share what’s on your heart! I’ll be accepting your original work – whether it’s a poem, a piece of art, a short story about a recent win you had, or even a video of your original music, to put into the newsletter! I’m also going to share your recommended self-care tips (you know, real self-care that’s practical for moms like us), links to my new merch, and more! I’m really excited about this, honestly. 

The only thing I need from you in order to get the newsletter to you is your email address. To send that my way, you have a couple of options. Go to ontheharddays.com/newsletter to put your email address there or you can DM me on Instagram @on.the.hard.days, and say “newsletter” with your email address in the message. 

The On The Hard Days newsletter launches soon, so get on my email list asap! As always, thank you so much for your endless support. I hope I can continue to provide you the same validation you guys give me! 

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 175K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

About This Episode: Tiphany Kane is a friend and a wonderful mother. I loved how positively she spoke of parenting, while also describing so many really hard moments.  Here's just some of the things we discuss:

-Shifting and Growing WITH Our Children
-Letting go of parental expectations
-Quieting the judgmental voices in our heads

More About Tiphany!
Tiphany Kane, M. Ed. is known as “The Heck
Yes! Coach”. She spent two decades in public
education and specializes in professional
development, training professional adults, and
public speaking. She is also an entrepreneur
and writer, who brings her passion for the art
of the spoken word to people who need help
finding their voice. Tiphany is passionate about
coaching women to turn life's painful “no's” in
life & business into empowered opportunities to
find the “YES!”. Tiphany’s mission is to empower
and educate women to elevate their voice and
story through podcasting, writing, and other
media. Tiphany is the co-founder of KaSa Media
productions as well as the host of 2 podcasts;
Radical Audacity and Mastering the Podcaster
Mindset.

CONTACT
tkane@tiphanykane.com
www.tiphanykane.com
IG, Twitter, LinedIn:tiphanykane
FB:Tiphany Kane Coaching
Pod: Radical Audacity in Love & Life
Pod: Mastering the Podcaster Mindset

Please shower Tiphany with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on May 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

*This week, I'm bringing back the MOST downloaded interview-based episode I have since starting the show in January of 2021. If you've heard it once, it hasn't been enough! Keep a notepad handy!

About This Episode: Patricia Sung is just the person I needed to talk to. She has ADHD and understands its nuances to a fault. She has her own podcast, Motherhood in ADHD, and is a featured guest speaker in my support group community, Mothers Together. In this episode, she was able to answer so many of my questions. We could've talked for hours longer! Here's just some of the things we discuss:

-Postpartum anxiety and the tie to ADHD
-The hyper vigilance in recognizing the same diagnosis in our kids as we have
-How everyone's ADHD looks different
-Building up your ADHD child
-Supporting undiagnosed kids by looking for behavioral patterns
-Tantrums vs. meltdowns
-ADHD and setting parental boundaries

You can find Patricia at https://www.patriciasung.com/podcast
Please shower Patricia with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next group starts on May 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Erika is a powerhouse, telling a story that honestly, I would have a hard time telling. After unexpectedly and suddenly becoming a foster parent to her niece, she now is an amazing advocate and caretaker for  her. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Lack of control as a foster parent
-Giving your whole self to someone else's child
-Parenting a family member's child
-Changing your family's culture to help your child fit in
-When you didn't plan to foster
-Neurodivergence or trauma?

Please shower Erika with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. Our next groups start on May 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Amy is one of the strongest, most positive moms I know with one of the toughest stories I've ever heard. Her son suffers from severe, life-altering OCD. She had to accept help from multiple hospitals and the most aggressive treatment, despite her child being a young age. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-What is "just right" OCD?
-What it's like to hospitalize your child
-When inpatient hospital stays come with a waiting list
-How ECT saved her son
-Keeping a marriage intact during a rough time

Please shower Amy with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up! Our next groups start on April 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Danielle was such a wonderful, knowledgeable person to talk with. For one thing, she has the coolest job! But what happens when your career and identity don't mesh with the needs of your child? Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Supporting kids with PDA
-Traveling and experiencing new places with neurodivergent kids
-Lack of resources in other countries
-The importance of stability and secure attachment with our kids
-When neurodivergent behaviors (unsupported) turn into trauma

Please shower Danielle with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up! Our next groups start on April 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Lorin's conversation left me speechless more than once. Her vulnerability in sharing her innermost worries about raising her neurodivergent, adopted children just completely blew me away. Chatting with her was such a gift - this episode is not to be missed! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-The trauma of adoption and inconsistent caregivers
-Interracial adoption
-What if kids didn't want to be adopted?
-Taking care of yourself in order to take care of your kids
-Primal wounds of adopted children losing their first parents and first culture
-Is it neurodivergence or trauma?
-Being selfless but still holding space for yourself

Please shower Lorin with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up! Our next groups start on April 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Roxanne is a breath of fresh air. Not only did she and I have a TON of similarities in our stories, but I was taken aback by her casual yet firm commitment to meeting her children's needs. If only she was in charge of education, all of our children would be thriving. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Educators have no neurodivergency training
-Connection before correction
-All behavior is communication
-The need for trauma-informed response training
-What is nature school?
-Collaboration between parents and teachers

Please shower Roxanne with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up! Our next groups start on April 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Natasha is a force to be reckoned with and I'm so thankful to have had the chance to chat with her. The way she advocates for her child with kindness yet firmness is inspiring. All children deserve the right to succeed. She nails it out of the park. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Fighting for an IEP that supports our kids
-Finding doctors who will listen to you
-Listen to your intuition
-What our kids internalize about themselves from the comments they hear
-Stigma against students who are neurodivergent
-Being your kid's strongest advocate
-The lack of understanding in schools about neurodivergent kids' behaviors
-Why we need to remove the phrase, "What did you do?"

Please shower Natasha with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up! Our next groups start on April 1st!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Charity SO inspired me with her consistent positive and optimistic thinking, despite a really challenging life in raising four neurodivergent kids.  She was honest and vulnerable, yet so moving! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-What is DMDD?
-Trauma of parenting explosive children
-Setting tiny goals to get through each day
-Showing weakness as a mom to help others learn kindness
-The stigma around asking for help
-Modeling positive thinking

Please shower Charity with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: This is one of those episodes where, if you're raising a neurodivergent child, you'll be constantly nodding your head in awe as you listen. It's SO relatable. Mom Marjorie shares the struggles she and her family face with raising their son - especially with regards to being both gifted and Autistic, and how to meet his needs academically. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Lesser known Autism symptoms
-Gifted vs. Autism vs. ADHD
-The gray area between different types of neurodivergence
-Inflexible thinking
-Masking in school - even with Autism
-Finding the right schooling for your child

Please shower Marjorie with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

"You have to look for the joy....it is there, it can be found. But you have to look for it - it's easy to miss if you don't."

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Brittney. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Severe sensory issues around food when her child was a toddler and started feeding therapy
-Bowel issues and not taking basic bodily functions for granted
-The importance of finding the right therapists for sensory issues
-How magnesium helped her child with constipation
-The challenges of monitoring your kid's bathroom issues and food struggles
-How she is trying to be more present in the moment rather than worrying about what's ahead
-What it looks like to advocate for her neurodivergent spouse

Please shower Brittney with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

**Exciting news! I've launched a newsletter! I love connecting with you guys – through email, in my Instagram DMs, and in my Mothers Together community, and of course here on the show. But recently I realized that I’d love to be able to provide you with a one-stop-shop where I can share ALL the things – from products we use in my home to accounts I follow to personal stories about my life as a mom of neurodivergent kids. My newsletter, called the “On The Hard Days” newsletter, is the best way to do that! 

In addition to sharing pieces of my life and my favorites with you, this newsletter gives YOU the chance to share what’s on your heart! I’ll be accepting your original work – whether it’s a poem, a piece of art, a short story about a recent win you had, or even a video of your original music, to put into the newsletter! I’m also going to share your recommended self-care tips (you know, real self-care that’s practical for moms like us), links to my new merch, and more! I’m really excited about this, honestly. 

The only thing I need from you in order to get the newsletter to you is your email address. To send that my way, you have a couple of options. Go to ontheharddays.com/newsletter to put your email address there or you can DM me on Instagram @on.the.hard.days, and say “newsletter” with your email address in the message. 

The On The Hard Days newsletter launches soon, so get on my email list asap! As always, thank you so much for your endless support. I hope I can continue to provide you the same validation you guys give me! 

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 175K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

About This Episode: Mom Jill's child reminded me SO much of my own. Yet I love how Jill holds space for him to just be who he is! This conversation was a wonderful reminder to love our kids for who they are, despite the challenges.  

Please shower Jill with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Barbara is raising a neurodivergent child whose story was VERY much like my own. However, where she lives, answers on certain diagnoses are hard to come by, making the journey that much more lonely.  Despite this, she stays so positive and accepting of who her child is. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Sensory Processing Disorder and the U.K.
-Doctors' office questionnaires miss the subtle things!
-Primitive Reflexes - when your child is missing them!
-Awkwardness of asking family and friends to accommodate your child's needs

Please shower Barbara with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Melissa is such a rockstar of a mother, yet she doesn't often believe it. With the never-ending needs of her children, Melissa explains vulnerably how she constantly feels like she's dropping the ball. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Gentle parenting a neurodivergent child
-Blaming yourself for your child's struggles
-Mom-guilt because you can't do all the things!
-Finding those little moments and underrated strengths

Please shower Melissa with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Mom Marisa is an inspiration. Her kids range in age from preschool to adulthood, including foster children and. The way that she shows her out-of-the-box children to love and value themselves just blew me away. You're going to want a notepad for this one, because she gives a TON of "start now" tips and strategies. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-When "good enough" is perfect
-How to open the lines of communication
-Sticking to a tight schedule
-Teaching kids how to protect their hearts
-Politeness, manners, and simple decency

You can find Marisa via email: Marisajanovsky@gmail.com

Please shower Marisa with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Okay, my friends - if you've never listened to an episode of On The Hard Days before - THIS episode is a great place to start. I have never personally felt more seen and heard than after chatting with the amazing Avril Brown. She gets it. Moment after moment of our conversation is filled with insight into accepting ourselves in order to truly accept our kids. So many lightbulb moments. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Being triggered by your child's intense emotions
-Guilt from lack of joy in motherhood
-Unconditional love - even during challenging times
-Prioritizing yourself as a mother
-Motherhood perfectionism and rage
-Practice the pause

You can find Avril on FB under her name, Avril Brown.

Please shower Avril with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: What a validating conversation I had with Laura, aka The OT Butterfly. She and I view parenting our neurodiverse kids in a similar light, and I truly loved hearing about her mindset shift around how to handle a meltdown. Here are just some of the things we discussed:

-Balancing motherhood and being a professional in the field of neurodiversity
-Meltdowns will happen - stopping the behavior is not the goal!
-Difference between tantrums and meltdowns
-Generational differences in emotional regulation

You can find Laura on IG @theotbutterfly. She's also launching a FREE masterclass called the Sensory Meltdown Masterclass for Parents - check it out at www.theotbutterfly.com/masterclass. Please shower Laura with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

*Trigger Warning* Mention of Child's Suicide Attempts
About This Episode: Wow - this mom, Ellenia Lyons, is a powerhouse. She and her family have had to endure a lot of trauma and struggles - including dropping her then 9-year old off at a psychiatric facility.  Instead of shying away, Ellenia is here to discuss how she consistently shows up for her kids through honesty and advocacy. This one is not to be missed. Here are just some of the things we discussed:

-Finding the right treatment in the right setting
-Raising a child with OCD and intrusive thoughts
-Medication-sensitivity in kids
-Supporting the whole child
-Ending the stigma around mental health

Please shower Ellenia with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: What an episode to kick off a new year! Oh MY this conversation with mom Sharon Gordon is freaking amazing. SHE is amazing and inspired me many different times. We zigzagged on different topics, but a few of my favorite parts came at the very end - so make sure you listen to the whole thing! Here are just some of the things we discussed:

-Early signs of neurodiversity and ADHD
-Fear of being judged by others and yourself
-Switching your mindset around having a neurodiverse child
-What angry anxiety looks like
-Finding clarity in your own authority
-Frontloading your child to plan for success
-Filling in the educational gaps and a reason to send our kids to school

The best way to shower Sharon with love and support is by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: I can't believe this is the last episode of 2021! What a ride. In this episode, I'm reflecting on the changes I've made as a mother and sharing a few tips with YOU!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: I can't believe we're at this point! These are the Top 5 most downloaded episodes this year - and honestly, they're some of my favorites. If you haven't listened to them all - you are truly missing out. I'll link them all right here for easy access! Happy listening!

1) Ep. 1 My Rock-Bottom Parenting Moment

2) Ep. 54 Mom Patricia Sung on Understanding ADHD in Neurodiverse Kids and Their Parents

3) Ep. 48 Mom Nancy Golumbia on Trusting the Developmental Process of Your Neurodiverse Child and Accepting Them for Who They Are

4) Ep.51 Mom Ilana Grostern on Helping 2E Kids Understand and Accept Themselves Through Their Bodies

5) Ep.33 Mom Abigail Cram on Shedding the Fear of Raising an Out-Of-The-Box Child

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up, or click the link!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

"I had to grieve the loss of the life I thought we were going to have."

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Jeannie. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Jeannie shares her personal journey of struggling with infertility and having five children, three of whom have been diagnosed with neurodiversity, including a rare genetic condition called Apert Syndrome. 
-The importance of having a supportive team of specialists and professionals who can provide guidance and suggestions for testing and addressing additional conditions 
-The ongoing struggle of feeling a sense of loneliness and disconnection when friends with neurotypical children talk about their everyday lives. 
-Letting go of rigid expectations and techniques found in parenting guides and rely more on her intuition and building strong relationships with her children. 

Please shower Jeannie with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

**Exciting news! I've launched a newsletter! I love connecting with you guys – through email, in my Instagram DMs, and in my Mothers Together community, and of course here on the show. But recently I realized that I’d love to be able to provide you with a one-stop-shop where I can share ALL the things – from products we use in my home to accounts I follow to personal stories about my life as a mom of neurodivergent kids. My newsletter, called the “On The Hard Days” newsletter, is the best way to do that! 

In addition to sharing pieces of my life and my favorites with you, this newsletter gives YOU the chance to share what’s on your heart! I’ll be accepting your original work – whether it’s a poem, a piece of art, a short story about a recent win you had, or even a video of your original music, to put into the newsletter! I’m also going to share your recommended self-care tips (you know, real self-care that’s practical for moms like us), links to my new merch, and more! I’m really excited about this, honestly. 

The only thing I need from you in order to get the newsletter to you is your email address. To send that my way, you have a couple of options. Go to ontheharddays.com/newsletter to put your email address there or you can DM me on Instagram @on.the.hard.days, and say “newsletter” with your email address in the message. 

The On The Hard Days newsletter launches soon, so get on my email list asap! As always, thank you so much for your endless support. I hope I can continue to provide you the same validation you guys give me! 

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 175K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

Oh MAN this is a special episode! Blakeley, Laura, and Ashley are all raising neurodiverse children. They are also all in Mothers Together (in 3 different support groups!) - and they joined me live on IG a few days ago to chat about all things Mothers Together. I couldn't have imagined a better testimonial from these amazing moms and I'm truly grateful.

Finding your people is about letting your guard down. It's about sharing the truth of how hard it is to raise the children we have. It's about friendship and deep connections. It's really the best - it fills my cup everyday!

*I apologize for the bad audio quality at times - I was recording on my computer from the IG live. I'm sure there has to be a better way - anyone know?

Mothers Together is now accepting new members for the January support group - please visit ontheharddays.com/motherstogether or email me at ontheharddays@gmail.com. We can't wait to meet you!

MORE:
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: This week I'm talking with Salka, an amazing mother in Sweden. She and her son were diagnosed at the same time with Autism, and I was amazed at her level of comfort in understanding her child. Here are just some of the things we discussed:

-Supporting her son through his identity shift
-Throwing traditional parenting techniques out the window when they don't work
-Feeling stress as a trauma response
-Did you know homeschooling is illegal in Sweden?!

Please shower Salka with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: This week I'm talking with Megan, who is raising a non-verbal child with Autism. One of my biggest takeaways was how, despite the grief, she found joy and positivity in the diagnosis of her child. Here are just some of the things we discussed:

-What are the early signs of Autism?
-Speech delays - what is normal?
-Hearing the diagnosis: The tone of delivery
-ABA therapy
-Different, not less
-Flexing the muscle of advocacy

You can catch more of Megan on her podcast, Adventures in Autism, and on IG @adventuresinautism.
Please shower Megan with love and support by SHARING this episode with your mom friends and groups!

MORE:
-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Send me a message on IG or FB and I'll tell you how to sign up!
-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!