🎧 Episode 21 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast

This week, Dan and Ben find themselves trapped between the chaos of roadworks, fireworks, overstimulation and somehow still manage to come out with a few surprising wins.

From drilling-induced dysregulation and unexpected sprinting escapes, to carved pumpkins and new friendship breakthroughs, the dads reflect on the difficult balance of structure, flexibility, and self-regulation for kids and for them.

Inside this one:

• Frankie vs the Roadworks: noise, shutdowns, and sprint escapes

• Fireworks anxiety and bedtime chaos

• Halloween and birthday overstimulation

• Sensory challenges and coat refusals

• Social wins for Mabel, Oscar & Frankie

• When parenting teenagers means letting go just enough

• Massive shoutout to a truly accommodating roadwork crew 🙌

. Key Topics Covered

• Auditory overwhelm from roadworks and fireworks

• Coat refusal, temperature regulation, and compromise

• Social and sensory growth moments (despite dysregulation)

• Navigating teenage ND parenting with evolving structure

• Club transitions, visual communication, and calm routines

• Unexpected kindness from local workers

• Carving pumpkins, dancing around overstimulation, and community wins

YouTube Chapter Breakdown (⏱️ Accurate Timecodes) Episode Duration: ~63 minutes

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 21

01:15 – Three-word week check-in (USP & UPS)

03:00 – Half-term rundown & solo parenting update

06:00 – Roadworks chaos: Frankie’s dysregulation explained

09:45 – Stimming, YouTube & coat resistance

13:30 – The sprint escape to Nanny’s house

18:00 – Fireworks and bedtime disruption

22:30 – Navigating coat refusal vs warmth

25:10 – Frankie’s communication growth through visuals

29:00 – Halloween prep & costume confusion

32:00 – The pumpkin carving miracle

35:30 – Ben’s challenge: parenting teens differently

39:10 – Letting go of structure (without giving up)

42:00 – Mabel’s birthday & social win

46:00 – Halloween trick-or-treat joy

49:00 – Frankie’s club transitions & unexpected ease

52:00 – Community kindness: the road crew MVPs

56:00 – Bath-time wins & toothbrushing milestones

59:30 – Forecast for fireworks weekend

61:00 – PSA: Dadspace.co.uk + outro reminder

🎙️ Two dads. One mission. Raising ND kids in a very NT world.

💡 If this episode resonates, whether you’re a zebra, a stripy horse, or still figuring it all out. There’s space for you in the NeuroDADverse.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly real-talk on neurodivergent parenting

📢 Like, share, or leave a comment to help more families find us

📧 Get in touch: neurodadverse@gmail.com

🌐 Find us in all the usual places or links below

linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on:

• Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/NeuroDADverseApple

📺 Watch full episodes + clips:

Spotify: bit.ly/NeuroDADverseSpotify

YouTube: youtube.com/@NeuroDADversePodcast

📲 Follow & connect:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neurodadverse

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurodadverse/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582530685142

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neurodadverse-podcast/?viewAsMember=true

🔗 Hashtags:

#NeurodiverseParenting #SENDLife #AutismAdvocacy #ParentingPodcast

#NeuroDadverse #DifferentNotLess #ADHDDads #AutismFamily #EmotionalRegulation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.