Parenting neurodiverse tweens and teens can feel overwhelming, especially when traditional parenting strategies don’t seem to work. In this episode, we talk with Carl Young and Joel Sheagren, co-authors of Embracing Hope: Innovative Strategies to Empower Parents Raising Neurodiverse Teens, about practical, brain-based strategies to reduce conflict, support emotional regulation, strengthen connection, and navigate the hard seasons with more hope.

In this episode, we discuss:

What are parents of tweens and teens carrying right now that you know they want people to understand?
Why do the tween and teen years often become especially hard for neurodiverse kids and their caregivers?
One of the themes in your work is “understanding over stigma.” Can you tell us what that means?
What are examples of behaviors parents are often blamed for, or blamed on the child, that may actually be rooted in neurodevelopmental differences?
Many parents feel confused because traditional parenting advice doesn’t seem to work for their child with neurodiversity.
Can you explain executive functioning in a way that helps overwhelmed parents understand what their child is actually struggling with day to day?
What are some real-life ways those struggles show up at home?
What are some common expectations we place on tweens and teens that may not match their developmental abilities?
How can parents shift toward more reasonable expectations without giving up on growth?
What are some practical strategies to reduce conflict at home while still maintaining structure and boundaries?
We understand that self-regulation is a learned skill that comes from years of our own regulation and then sharing it with our kids, called co-regulation. What does co-regulation actually look like with a tween or teen who is escalating emotionally?
How can parents respond differently to behaviors like impulsivity, shutdowns, avoidance, perseveration, or lying?
Many caregivers say they feel like they’re “walking on eggshells.” It’s exhausting and creates so much stress in our homes.
Where do you recommend families start when the home has fallen into a state of constant stress or chaos?
How can parents introduce and maintain the “calm” in spite of the chaos that our kids’ neurodivergence may bring with it?
What helps parents hold onto a connection with their child during seasons when everyone feels frustrated or discouraged?
Sometimes families need help redefining success. How do you encourage parents to rethink what thriving can look like for neurodiverse tweens and teens?

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