Calm Connection Parenting | Neurodivergent, Meltdowns, Emotional Regulation, DMDD, Tantrums, SPD, Defiance, Angry Behaviors
Ranked in the top 2.5% of podcasts globally! Tired of walking on eggshells… dreading the next meltdown? Exhausted by big emotions. defiance, and disobediance? Wondering why “traditional" parenting advice backfires with your strong-willed child? I’m glad you’re here. This podcast helps you understand what’s behind your child's behavior, so you can respond with calm, stop second-guessing yourself, and build real connection with your neurodivergent or uniquely wired child. Hi, I’m Jami… a mom of seven, professional counselor turned parenting coach, speaker, and author. And yes, even with training, I found myself stuck in the same cycle so many parents live...
Why Parenting a Child with ADHD, DMDD, or Challenging Behaviors Can Wear Down Even the Strongest Mom
Have you ever thought, “I should be able to handle this better…”
Parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, big emotions, or challenging behaviors can wear down even the strongest mom. You may be capable, responsible, loving, and committed… and still feel completely exhausted by the daily weight of holding everything together.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami Kirkbride shares why parenting a uniquely wired, neurodivergent, or emotionally struggling child in your own home can feel so different than understanding it from the outside.
Even a...
How to Advocate Confidently for Your Child at School: IEPs, 504 Plans, and Accommodations
How do you know when your child needs more support at school… and what do you do next?
If your child is struggling with ADHD, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, executive functioning challenges, school refusal, shutdowns, overwhelm, or after-school meltdowns, navigating IEPs and 504 plans can feel confusing and intimidating.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, I’m joined by Elyse Scheeler, a licensed speech-language pathologist who has served on IEP teams for over 12 years. Together, we discuss what parents need to know about school support, how emotionally intense and neurodivergent kids are often misunderstood, and...
Is Your Child Struggling at School… or Is Something Being Missed? Emotional Dysregulation, DMDD, ADHD, and the Signs Often Overlooked
Why is your child struggling at school? Learn what may be happening beneath ADHD behaviors, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, school refusal, shutdowns, executive functioning challenges, and after-school meltdowns.
Is your child struggling at school… or is something important being missed?
If your child is melting down after school, refusing homework, shutting down in class, struggling with focus, or constantly being labeled as “lazy,” “defiant,” or “not trying,” this episode is for you.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, we’re talking about what may really be happening beneath school st...
84. Parenting Burnout, Anxiety, and PTSD: How to Calm Your Nervous System and Get Out of Survival Mode with Lori Owens
Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in survival mode as a parent?
If you’re parenting a child with big emotions, emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or neurodivergent needs, it can feel like you’re constantly holding everything together on the outside… while quietly running on empty inside.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, we’re having an honest and hope-filled conversation about parenting burnout, anxiety, chronic stress, PTSD, and nervous system regulation—and how to begin moving out of survival mode.
You’ll hear from...
83. When Your Space Adds to Your Stress: How Clutter, Overwhelm, and Home Organization Affect Moms Parenting Neurodivergent Kids (with Bee Organized and Megan Gervais)
Is your home adding to your stress?
When you are parenting a child with big emotions, neurodivergent needs, or constant unpredictability, clutter and disorganization can quietly add to the overwhelm you are already carrying.
In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Gervais of Bee Organized Northern Colorado for a conversation about how your environment affects your mood, nervous system, and capacity as a parent. We talk about the connection between clutter and emotional overwhelm, why organizing can feel so vulnerable, and how creating calm in your space can support more peace in...
82. How to Stay Calm During Your Child’s Meltdowns (Nervous System Regulation for Parents of Emotionally Intense Kids) with Hunter Clarke Fields
How to stay calm during your child’s meltdowns. Learn nervous system regulation tools for parents of emotionally dysregulated or ADHD kids—and what actually helps.
How DO you stay calm when your child is melting down… and everything in you wants to react?
If you’re parenting a child with emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, ADHD, or intense emotional reactions, you already know…
It’s not just your child who feels overwhelmed in those moments. You do too.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Pod...
81. Why Your Child Overreacts and Takes Everything Personally (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and Emotional Dysregulation in Kids) with Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge
Why your child takes everything personally. Learn how emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) impact kids with ADHD, DMDD, or mood disorders—and what you can do to help.
Why does your child take everything so personally, overreact to small things, or melt down over what seems like minor situations?
If you’re parenting a child with emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or intense emotional reactions, this episode may unlock a powerful missing piece.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, we’re diving into Rejecti...
80. Why Your Child’s Meltdowns Aren’t Bad Behavior- Emotional Dysregulation in Kids Explained with Kirk Martin
Why your child’s meltdowns aren’t bad behavior. For kids with emotional dysregulation, DMDD, or ADHD, these moments are opportunities—not problems.
For many children, especially those with emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or strong-willed personalities, meltdowns aren’t bad behavior… they’re a signal.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, I’m joined by Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm, to reframe how we see meltdowns and show how these challenging moments can become opportunities for connection, teaching, and growth.
When we shift how we respond, we...
79. Why Your Child Struggles with Tasks, Motivation, and Follow-Through --Executive Function Explained with Leslie Josel
Why does your child struggle with tasks, focus, and follow-through? For kids with ADHD, DMDD, SPD, PDA, and executive function challenges, it’s not laziness—it’s how their brain works.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, I’m joined by Leslie Josel, award-winning ADHD student and parenting coach, to break down what executive function really is and why it impacts your child’s ability to manage time, complete tasks, regulate emotions, and stay motivated.
When we understand what’s happening beneath the surface, we can move from daily frustr...
78. Sensory Processing and Meltdowns in Kids – Understanding the Out-of-Sync Child with Carol Kranowitz
Why does your child have such big meltdowns and emotional reactions? For kids with sensory processing challenges, ADHD, DMDD, or emotional dysregulation, behavior may be a signal—not defiance.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, I’m joined by Carol Stock Kranowitz, best-selling author of The Out-of-Sync Child, to explore how sensory processing differences impact your child’s behavior, emotions, and daily life.
When we begin to understand what’s happening beneath the surface, we can shift from frustration to clarity… and respond in ways that create mor...
77. Why Some Kids Have Big Emotions and Challenging Behaviors: A Fresh Look at Emotional Dysregulation with Penny Williams
Why do some children experience emotional dysregulation, explosive meltdowns, and challenging behaviors that seem bigger than the situation?
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, I’m joined by parenting expert Penny Williams, host of the Beautifully Complex Podcast with more than 5 million downloads, to talk about why some kids have bigger emotions and behaviors than others.
Parents raising children with ADHD, DMDD, sensory processing challenges, or other neurodivergent differences often find that traditional discipline strategies don’t work the way they expect. What looks like defiance may actually be a child struggling with...
76. How Do I Choose the Right Support or Parent Coaching for ADHD and Emotional Dysregulation? What You Need to Know
If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, or intense meltdowns and wondering whether parent coaching or parenting support could help your family, this episode will help you discern the right next step.
Parenting a neurodivergent or emotionally intense child often requires more than generic parenting advice. But not all parent education, coaching programs, or support groups are designed for executive functioning challenges, emotional regulation delays, or meltdown cycles.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• The signs your family may need coaching instead of just more information
• Common mistakes parents mak...
75. How Do I Help My Emotionally Intense Child Build Emotional Regulation Skills? Three Easy Ways to Start Today
If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, DMDD, emotional dysregulation, or intense meltdowns and wondering how to actually build emotional regulation skills… this episode will give you hope and a practical starting point.
Emotional regulation is not just maturity. It’s a skill. And skills can be taught, practiced, and strengthened over time — even in neurodivergent kids who struggle with executive functioning and impulse control.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why correcting behavior during meltdowns does not build regulation
• How ADHD, DMDD, and executive function delays impact emotional maturity
• Three brain-based...
74. When You’ve Tried Everything for Your Emotionally Dysregulated Child and It Still Isn’t Enough- Maggie Diemer
Have you ever felt like you’ve tried every therapy, every strategy, and every parenting tool for your child with emotional dysregulation… and it still isn’t enough?
Parenting a child with emotional dysregulation, ADHD, or DMDD can feel exhausting when treatment options fall through, waiting lists are long, and support systems don’t understand your child’s challenging behaviors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why emotional dysregulation can create isolation and parenting stress
• How repeated disappointments affect parental confidence
• When to push, pivot, or pause during intense meltdowns
• Why your steady presenc...
73. How Do I Parent My Child Without Yelling When I’m Overwhelmed Too? Three Simple Ideas If You Feel You're Losing It
If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, emotional dysregulation, or intense meltdowns and you find yourself yelling even when you don’t want to, this episode will help you understand why it happens and what to do instead.
Parenting an emotionally dysregulated or neurodivergent child is neurologically exhausting. When your child’s nervous system goes into overload, yours can too. And willpower alone is not enough to stop escalation.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why yelling is often a nervous system response, not a parenting failure
• What happens in your brain during...
72. Why Does My Neurodiverse, ADHD, or DMDD Child Fall Apart After School or Activities?
If your child has after-school meltdowns, falls apart after activities, or seems emotionally exhausted the moment they get home, this episode will help you understand why.
In this episode, we unpack after-school meltdowns, emotional dysregulation, restraint collapse, and nervous system overload in children with ADHD, DMDD, or other neurodivergent traits, so you can respond with more clarity, confidence, and connection.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why kids often hold it together at school but melt down at homeHow emotional dysregulation and restraint collapse impact behaviorWhat actually helps after school and what te...71. Why DoesTraditional Parenting Advice Make My ADHD or DMDD Child’s Meltdowns Worse?
Why does traditional discipline make meltdowns worse for an emotionally dysregulated, ADHD, neurodivergent, or DMDD child?
If consequences, time-outs, and typical parenting advice escalate behavior instead of improving it, this episode explains why. You’ll learn how common discipline strategies trigger stress, nervous system overload, and emotional dysregulation — and what actually helps children build self-control, emotional regulation skills, trust, and connection.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why traditional discipline often backfires for neurodivergent and emotionally intense kidsHow emotional dysregulation and nervous system overwhelm affect behavior in the momentThe hidden cost of expect...70. What Do I Do Before, During, and After a Meltdown With An Emotionally Dysregulated Child?
What should you do before, during or after a meltdown when parenting an ADHD, DMDD, neurodivergent or emotionally intense child?
If meltdowns leave you feeling panicked, unsure, or afraid of doing the wrong thing in the moment, this episode offers a clear, practical roadmap for navigating emotional dysregulation with calm and confidence.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, you’ll learn how timing — not effort or consistency — determines whether parenting tools actually work. Instead of trying to fix, teach, and discipline all at once, you’ll discover what matters when so you c...
69. How Do I Calm My Child When Nothing Seems to Work? Parenting Guidance for Meltdowns
How do you calm a neurodivergent or strong-willed child when nothing seems to work — especially during meltdowns and emotional dysregulation?
If your child’s big emotions escalate no matter how consistent, calm, or prepared you try to be, this episode explains why. The issue often isn’t your parenting — it’s timing.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, you’ll learn:
Why reasoning, consequences, and discipline stop working during emotional dysregulation, even when used consistentlyHow sensory processing challenges, nervous system overload, and emotional intensity affect behavior in neurodive...68. The Fastest Way to Escalate a Meltdown…Why Saying “Calm Down” To A Child With ADHD or DMDD Backfires
Emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, and neurodivergent kids can make even well-intended parenting responses backfire, especially when you tell your child to “calm down” and everything escalates.
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, we explore why common phrases like “calm down,” “stop crying,” or “it’s not a big deal” often intensify meltdowns for emotionally intense and neurodivergent children, including kids with ADHD, DMDD, sensory processing differences, and heightened emotional reactivity.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why saying “calm down” can escalate meltdowns instead of soothing themHow emotional dysregulation and sensory processing overl...67. Meltdown vs.Tantrum: What's the Difference in this Emotional Dysregulation (And Why It Matters)
Is your child having a tantrum… or a meltdown?
And does that distinction actually matter?
For parents raising a neurodivergent child or an emotionally intense, strong-willed child, confusing a tantrum with a meltdown can quietly turn everyday moments into escalating power struggles. In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, we’re breaking down the difference between tantrums and meltdowns — and why misreading emotional dysregulation often leads parents to feel stuck, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The ke...66. Parenting Through Anxiety and Uncertainty: How to Stay Calm When Your Child’s Needs Affect Your Mental Health
Parenting a child with emotional, medical, or mental health needs can quietly affect your own mental health too. When uncertainty is constant, anxiety can build — and it can feel like you’re always bracing for the next hard moment. Whether you are managing sensory processing issues, executive functioning issues, a diagnosis such as ADHD or DMDD, or simply trying to manage your mom-sense that something's off...this episode is for you!
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why parenting anxiety often increases when your child has complex needsWhat OCD and anxiety can really look like f...65. Am I Doing Something Wrong… or Is My Neurodivergent Child Wired Differently? Understanding Meltdowns
If you’ve ever looked at your child’s meltdowns or emotional outbursts and thought, “I must be doing something wrong,” this episode is for you. We’re talking emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, and why common parenting advice often backfires with neurodivergent kids.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why emotional dysregulation is often mistaken for defianceHow your child’s unique wiring impacts behavior and reactionsWhy “be more strict” and “just be consistent” can make things worseOne powerful reframe that helps you respond with calm and clarityIn this conversation, we unpack what’s really happening beneath...
64. Why Does My Child Have Such Big Reactions to Small Things? Emotional Dysregulation Explained
Why does your child have huge reactions to things that feel small? The wrong color cup. A change of plans. A simple “no”… and suddenly it’s full emotional overload.
In this episode, we’re unpacking emotional dysregulation in kids and why emotionally intense, highly sensitive, and neurodivergent children can struggle to manage big feelings - even when they’re trying their best. Whether you are managing sensory processing issues, executive functioning issues, a diagnosis such as ADHD or DMDD, or simply trying to manage your mom-sense that something's off...this episode is for you!
...63. When One Parent Wants Help for Your Child's Emotional Dysregulation or ADHD and the Other Hesitates
Feeling like you’re doing all the research and your partner is on a totally different timeline? Parenting gets lonely fast when you’re raising a child with big emotions - and you’re not on the same page.
In today’s episode, I’m answering a listener question about what to do when one parent wants help, tools, and support… and the other feels hesitant, resistant, or shut down.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why parents often approach “getting help” in completely different waysWhat resistance is really protecting (and how to respond...62. Parenting Emotional Dysregulation: Why Your Word for the Year Matters More Than Another Resolution
As the year comes to a close, many parents find themselves exhausted by resolutions that promise change but add more pressure. If you’re parenting emotional dysregulation or big emotions, this episode offers a different way forward.
In this final episode of the year, we reflect honestly on the year behind us, walk through a gentle RESET framework, and explore how choosing a word for the year can guide your parenting with calm, clarity, and connection… without guilt or overwhelm.
This episode is an invitation to pause, release what no longer serves you, and step into...
61. When Life Doesn’t Give You What You Expected: Christmas Through the Eyes of Mary
What if the very first Christmas didn’t look anything like the peaceful, picture-perfect scene we often imagine?
In this special Christmas episode, I reflect on the birth of Jesus through Mary’s eyes… a young mother whose journey into motherhood unfolded in ways she never could have planned or predicted.
If your holidays feel different than you imagined… quieter, heavier, more complicated… or shaped by the realities of parenting a uniquely wired child, this episode offers comfort, perspective, and hope.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
A fresh, reflective look at the...60. Parenting A Neurodivergent Child Through the Holidays When Families Don’t Understand Emotional Regulation
The holidays can bring extra pressure when you’re parenting a child with big emotions, intense reactions, or unique needs… especially when extended family doesn’t understand what your child is facing.
If you’ve ever walked into a family gathering feeling judged, misunderstood, or on edge about how things might unfold, this episode is for you.
In this conversation, I’ll share a simple idea to help you navigate family dynamics with more confidence, clarity, and calm… without feeling like you’re constantly defending your child or your parenting.
In this episode, you’l...
59. When the Holidays Feel Heavy: Parenting Emotional Dysregulation Without Losing Your Peace
The holidays can feel especially heavy when you’re parenting a child with emotional dysregulation. Love runs deep, but so does exhaustion, anticipation, and the pressure to hold everything together.
In this episode, we gently discuss the emotions many parents carry quietly and create space to release what steals peace during the holiday season. This is not about fixing your child or forcing joy. It’s about understanding, compassion, and protecting your family’s well-being.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Why the holidays amplify emotional dysregulation for both kids and parentsThe hidden emotiona...58. Parenting an Emotionally Dysregulated Child During the Holidays: Simple Ways to Reduce Meltdowns and Increase Peace
Parenting an emotionally dysregulated child during the holidays can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and anything but peaceful. In this episode, we’re unpacking simple, practical ways to reduce meltdowns, create calmer moments, and shape a Christmas that truly fits your child’s needs — and your family’s heart.
Whether your child gets overstimulated by lights and noise, struggles with routine changes, or melts down under holiday expectations, this episode will help you breathe easier and move through the season with intention and hope.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
Simplify holiday demands so...57. Refusal and Emotional Dysregulation During Holidays: How to Get the MOST Out of the Season With A Neurodivergent Child
Holiday events can bring excitement, but also overwhelm, refusal, and emotional dysregulation for many neurodivergent and emotionally intense children. In this episode, we answer a heartfelt listener question and unpack a simple, memorable framework to help you protect peace, support your child, and get the M-O-S-T out of the holiday season.
If your child struggles with sensory overload, big feelings, outfit battles, or saying “no” to every activity, you’re not alone.
In this episode you’ll learn how to:
• Notice early signs of overwhelm before refusal turns into a meltdown
• Use supportive strategies that...
56. Sibling Conflict and Emotional Dysregulation: Finding Peace in a Hard Holiday Season
Holidays can bring out both the magic and the meltdowns, especially when you’re raising an emotionally intense child. And while we often focus on surviving the big emotions, the siblings in the family feel these moments deeply too. Hurt feelings, frustration, confusion, and walking on eggshells can quietly shape their holiday experience.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to create real sibling peace during the holiday season… not by forcing picture-perfect moments, but by building small, meaningful opportunities for connection that fit your child’s wiring and your family’s reality.
Whether...
55. How to Find Gratitude While Parenting A Child With Emotional Dysregulation (Even in the Hard Seasons)
When you’re raising an emotionally intense or dysregulated child, gratitude can feel like the last thing on your mind. Between meltdowns, misunderstandings, and moments that leave you feeling worn thin (at best), it’s easy to lose sight of what’s good.
In this heartfelt and hope-filled episode, Jami shares what it looks like to find gratitude right in the middle of the chaos, even when life feels anything but peaceful. Through real stories, faith-based encouragement, and brain-science insights, you’ll discover how small shifts in mindset can calm your heart, strengthen your perspective, and bring peace ba...
54. Holiday Overwhelm and Emotional Dysregulation: How to Create Calm for Your Child (and You!)
The holidays can bring joy, laughter, and… total overwhelm, especially when you’re parenting a child who struggles with emotional dysregulation. If family gatherings, travel, or changes in routine often lead to meltdowns and stress, this episode is for you.
Join me as I share one of our hardest holiday moments and what it taught me about preparing differently. You’ll learn how to establish your Holiday P.A.C.E.- a simple, practical approach to protect routines, anticipate challenges, create calm spaces, and examine expectations.
Because when you prepare with intention, you protect your p...
53. Why “Fun Days” Aren't Fun for Emotionally Dysregulated Kids: Understanding Holiday Triggers, Meltdowns, and Sensory Overload
For many kids, class parties, school spirit days, and holiday activities mean excitement and fun—but for emotionally dysregulated or neurodivergent children, they can mean stress, overwhelm, and meltdowns. In this episode, we’ll unpack why these “fun” days can be so tough and how to help your child stay calm, connected, and confident through it all.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why holiday events and routine changes can trigger dysregulation.How sensory overload and unpredictability impact your child’s behavior.Simple ways to prepare your child and partner with teachers or caregivers.How to creat...52. Sensory Processing and Emotionally Dysregulated Kids: It’s Not Just in Their Heads | Sensory Processing Awareness
Have you ever looked at your child’s meltdown and thought, “Why does this keep happening?” What if those big emotions weren’t just about behavior, but about the way your child’s brain and body process the world around them?
In this episode, we’re diving into the fascinating world of sensory processing...what it really means, how it connects to emotional dysregulation, and why understanding it can completely change the way you parent.
You’ll learn:
The surprising story that opened my eyes to sensory processing and changed our parenting forever What the...51. 5 ADHD Myths That Commonly Hurt Children And The Truth That Offers Hope--ADHD Awareness Month
Bad parenting. Laziness. Can’t focus. Overdiagnosed. Medication is dangerous.
You’ve probably heard at least one of these myths before...maybe even all five. But here’s the truth: every single one is a myth that can weigh families down with guilt, confusion, and shame.
In this episode, Jami bursts the biggest misconceptions about ADHD and replaces them with truth, compassion, and hope, because when you understand the brain behind the behavior, everything changes.
Whether you are managing sensory processing issues, executive functioning issues, a diagnosis such as ADHD or DMDD, or simply...
50. Real Parent Questions: Family Doesn’t Understand Meltdowns & When to Seek Help
What do you do when your family just doesn’t understand your child’s meltdowns? Or when you start wondering if it’s time to seek professional help?
In this powerful Season 2 kickoff of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami answers two real questions from parents walking through emotional intensity, family tension, and the uncertainty of what’s “normal.”
If you’ve ever felt judged by family members who don’t get your child’s big emotions, or struggled to know when to talk with a doctor about your child’s behavior, this episode will help you find calm...
49. After-School Restraint Collapse: Why Your Child Holds It Together at School and Falls Apart at Home
Ever wonder why your child can hold it together all day at school, then completely unravel the moment they get home? You’re not crazy, and you’re not alone.
In this episode, we’ll unpack the real reason behind those after-school meltdowns (hint: it’s not bad behavior!) and what you can do to bring calm and connection back to your afternoons and evenings.
You’ll discover why your child saves their hardest moments for you, how emotional safety can lead to release, and simple steps that help your home feel more peaceful and predictabl...
48. From Chaos to Calm: Celebrate 1 Year of Parenting Tips, Top Episodes, and Milestones
Can you believe it? The Calm Connection Parenting Podcast is officially ONE year old! 🎉 Over 5,000 downloads, listeners in 59 countries, and 50 episodes filled with hope, encouragement, and real-life parenting strategies. In this special anniversary episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes to celebrate what we’ve built together, and to share some fun surprises along the way.
Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:
Fun and surprising stats that show just how far this little podcast has traveledSpecial “Podcast Awards” highlighting listener favorites, hidden gems, and standout episodesA countdown of the Top 5 most-listened-to episodes of the year (an...
