A New Year, Big Transitions & a Broken Foot | NeuroDADverse EP.30

Episode 30 🎧

In the NeuroDADverse this week, Ben and Dan return for the first episode of 2026, reflecting on the strange reset that comes with a new year, especially when neurodivergent family life doesn’t pause for calendars.

This week includes a significant medical scare, a broken foot, hospital visits, difficult sensory decisions, and the careful balance between safety, regulation, and trust. Alongside the challenges, the episode becomes a powerful reflection on how far their children and they as parents have come.

In this episode, we talk about:

•The emotional weight of returning to routine after Christmas

•Managing medical situations with ND children

•Pain stimming, safety concerns, and regulation trade-offs

•Hospital visits, advocacy, and processing time

•When independence and vulnerability coexist

•How injuries highlight both progress and ongoing support needs

•Calm wins after chaotic weeks

•Reflecting honestly on the highs and lows of 2025

•Why resilience doesn’t mean “finding things easy”

•Hopes for 2026 that focus on joy, autonomy, and self-belief

•Letting go of pressure and trusting your child’s pace

🎙️ 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.

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TImestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 30 & the Start of 2026

00:44 – Returning to Routine After Christmas

01:48 – Three Words of the Week: Reset, React & Rejoice

03:36 – Medical Updates & Subtle Worries

05:22 – Reframing Wins vs Challenges

06:00 – Stimming, Safety & Pain Feedback

08:56 – When Regulation Behaviours Become Concerning

11:58 – Balancing Acceptance With Protection

15:09 – Understanding Pain Stims & Sensory Feedback

17:33 – When You Just Need to Observe, Not React

20:13 – Family Gatherings & Unexpected Injuries

21:09 – The Fall, the Foot & Processing What Happened

22:49 – Hospital Decisions & Giving Thinking Time

24:54 – X-Rays, Uncertainty & Breaking the News

26:04 – The Walking Boot & Sensory Challenges

27:11 – Trust, Advocacy & Medical Trauma

28:41 – Independence Isn’t Linear

29:34 – Living With Ongoing Support Needs

30:33 – Break & Reset

31:23 – Wins of the Week & Finding Calm Again

33:58 – Shared Meals & Regulation Wins

38:20 – Quiet New Year Moments That Mattered

41:21 – Calm as a Win (Even If It’s Boring)

42:28 – Family Rituals & Flexibility

44:18 – Looking Ahead: School, Birthdays & Puberty

45:36 – Pride, Fear & Letting Go of Complacency

48:01 – Reflecting on 2025: Resilience & Growth

49:33 – Seeing Progress When Daily Life Is Hard

51:06 – Communication Beyond Words

53:18 – Hopes for 2026 Without Pressure

55:16 – Joy Over Achievement

57:31 – A Reminder of How Far You’ve Come

58:50 – Final Reflections & Community Thanks

59:22 – You’re Doing Great. You Are Enough.

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