Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

I’m sharing with you my go-to expert on raising differently-wired kids—my friend + educational / curriculum advisor, Alison Bower. Alison has been supporting, guiding, and advising me on all things Asher since he was a little guy, and her understanding of how children experience the world, ability to be frank and gentle at the same time, and warmth and sense of humor, has literally gotten me through some of the trickiest times in my life as a parent.It was hard to narrow down what to focus on for this first conversation, but we ultimately decided to talk about how to navigate the tricky situations (yet common for parents raising differently-wired kids) that arise when it becomes clear that a school may not be the best fit for a child and/or that the way a school is supporting a child isn’t adequately meeting their needs. For many parents of atypical kids, school fit is a major issue, and often an incredibly frustrating one, as there is no manual for how to best navigate through it, let alone advocate for one’s child in a way that is best for everyone concerned.For this episode, Alison brings her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent who’s been in our shoes, to share what it looks like from both sides of the equation.Alison Bower is the professional development and communications manager for the ed tech startup, Enlearn, as well as a parenting, relocation, and educational consultant and parent educator through her own company, Alison Bower Consulting. Alison has more than 16 years experience in teaching, administration, curricular planning, management, and professional development for early childhood, elementary and middle schools. THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: What it means when a school says “We’re not sure this is the best fit for your child” How and what to ask for in terms of accommodations and support for your child What parents can expect in navigating school fit challenges, both in private and public schools What a school’s responsibility is when there’s a question of appropriate fit for a student Things to consider when looking at school options for a differently-wired child How much parents should disclose about their child when applying to schools  RESOURCES MENTIONED: Positive Discipline The Giddens School  Enlearn Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tilt Parenting is the first podcast for parents raising differently wired children — learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, gifted, twice-exceptional, and more — and features transformational interviews and conversations between Tilt founder Debbie Reber and authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents, from a neurodivergent-affirming lens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this premiere episode of the TiLT Parenting Podcast, I’m thrilled to share with you a conversation with Margaret Webb. Margaret is a Martha Beck certified Master Life Coach, parenting coach, nature-based coach, and former teacher. She’s also the mother of a 12-year-old differently-wired son, and has spent many years helping other parents on unexpected journeys find more joy and peace in their parenting experience.Margaret believes that while many of us as parents are busy trying to meet our child’s unique needs, we’re often neglecting our own. In our conversation, she shares her ideas for how parents can shift this dynamic in a way that results in a more peaceful, more rewarding experience all around. The bonus? Our kids reap the biggest benefits. Margaret Webb is a certified Master Life Coach, parenting coach, nature-based coach, former teacher, wife and mother. As a life and parenting coach, she weaves together her experience as an elementary education teacher with the tools she’s learned in Martha Beck’s Life Coach Training, Sagefire Institute’s Nature-Based Coach Training, and what she’s applied to her own life as a mom of a child with special needs.THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: How to feel empowered as a parent so you can be proactively peacefully instead of reactive What the process of letting go of the expectations we have of ourselves and who our children “should” be looks like How the energy we bring to the table can either positively or negatively impact day-to-day challenges The benefits of community support for parents raising differently-wired kids What is at the root of much of the frustration we as parents experience The simple act with huge benefits: deep breaths How taking care of ourselves in rough moments is great modeling for our kids  RESOURCES MENTIONED: Margaret Webb Life Coach Parenting the Child You Didn’t Expect While You Were Expecting Online Course Martha Beck Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices