In this episode of Nourishing the Mother, Julie and Bridget dive into the invisible labour of advocating for your child inside school and medical systems; especially when your child is neurodivergent, anxious, or simply doesn’t fit the mould.

They unpack how our own history with authority shapes how we show up, why systems can both help and harm, and how constant advocacy quietly erodes mothers’ energy, self-worth, and capacity. This is a raw, practical conversation about choosing your battles, preparing proactively, assuming positive intent where possible, and tending to yourself so advocacy doesn’t consume you whole.

In this episode we discuss:
• why advocating for your child can feel emotionally brutal, lonely, and never-ending
• how your own experiences with authority shape how you deal with schools and professionals
• the difference between fighting a system and learning how to work within it
• why choosing aligned schools and services matters more than trying to change broken ones
• how neurodivergent kids often need proactive planning, not reactive discipline
• why diagnoses can open doors, even when they’re emotionally complex
• the mental load mothers carry when they’re the default advocate
• how to prepare teachers early so the year doesn’t unravel later
• why assuming positive intent can protect your energy (without bypassing reality)
• the importance of decompression, support, and not carrying advocacy alone

Want support on this journey? Come join us inside Honey Club - where we melt these blocks together, one breath, one practice, one deep remembering at a time. Find out more at julietenner.love or visit: https://julie-tenner.newzenler.com/courses/honeyclub


Reach out to Bridget for 1:1 coaching - bridgetwood.life