Episode 146: Practicing Low-Demand Parenting with ADHD

Before starting today's episode, why not check out Kate's ADHD workshops and free resources here?

Ever since reading about the concept of 'low-demand parenting,' which is helping many neurodivergent parents regulate their neurodivergent kids, I've been desperate to talk about this on the podcast. It was a revelation to learn that there is an actual practice where we can intentionally drop the external pressures and societal conditioning and intuitively parent our children according to their needs, energy, and nervous systems.

I'm delighted to welcome this week's guest, Amanda Diekman, an autistic adult, parent coach, and author in the neurodiversity space. We discuss dropping demands, restoring calm, and finding connections with our children.

Amanda became a leading voice in the movement for low-demand parenting practices with her book Low Demand Parenting, published in July 2023.  She lives with her husband and three neurodivergent children in an intentional community in Durham, NC.

On today's episode of the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, Amanda and Kate spoke about:

• Amanda's son's autism diagnosis journey

• What it means to be a 'low-demand parent'

• Re-defining how you want to parent

• Abeism - what does this look like

• Letting go of parenting demands, habits or standards that aren't benefiting you

• Releasing all the expectations, pressures, shoulds and conditioning to help create a calmer environment for our family

• Things you can drop or change to make parenting easier for you

• Making communication safe for your autistic or neurodivergent child

• What it means to 'un-school'

• Dealing with systems and schools as a neurodivergent parent

• Asking for accommodations for you and your children