Hearing that your child has ADHD, DMDD, or another form of neurodivergence can stir up a flood of emotions—sadness, worry, guilt, and maybe even some relief. You might wonder, Why am I feeling this way? Am I supposed to be stronger than this? The truth is… your emotions are normal. And learning how to walk through them is the first step toward leading your child with calm, confidence, and hope.

In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, I’ll share why it’s so important to acknowledge and process your feelings first, and how doing so helps you guide your child with assurance instead of fear.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why naming your emotions is the first step toward healing
• Simple, practical ways to process the emotions that come with a diagnosis
• How your calm confidence impacts your child’s self-awareness and acceptance
• A powerful reminder about looking forward instead of getting stuck in guilt

• Learn more about the Calm Connection Coaching Program at CalmConnectionParent.com
• Get the resources mentioned at: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Book a call to find out more about Calm Connection Coaching Program.
• Join our online Facebook support group: Parenting With Personality Group
• Find out more about the APP or Book: ParentingWithPersonality.com
• Download the Parenting With Personality APP on Google Play or Apple Store

*** This podcast and host will not offer medical advice, nor is it intended to take the place of counseling, medical intervention, or treatment. Jami Kirkbride is hereby operating as a parenting coach and will not diagnose or treat clients. Please consult a doctor, medical professional, or mental health provider to meet your immediate and ongoing needs.

#parenting #highlysensitivechild #adhd #dmdd #parentcoaching #child anxiety #se...

Back-to-school can be a tough transition for any child, but when ADHD, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation are in the mix, it can feel overwhelming for the whole family. The good news? You don’t need another chart or checklist—you need key conversations that build calm and connection.

In this episode, I’ll share ten simple but powerful talks you can have that help your child start the year with more confidence, less chaos, and stronger support around them.

✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to create safe, everyday moments that open the door for your child to share honestly
• Why early conversations with teachers and school staff can make all the difference
• The often-overlooked family talks that reduce tension and build unity at home
• How faith-centered conversations can provide the strongest foundation for your child

These conversations are practical, doable, and rooted in hope… so you and your child can walk into the school year feeling prepared and connected.

Resource mentioned here: CalmconnectionParent.com/behindthebehaviors

• Learn more about the Calm Connection Coaching Program at CalmConnectionParent.com
• Get the resources mentioned at: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Book a call to find out more about Calm Connection Coaching Program.
• Join our online Facebook support group: Parenting With Personality Group
• Find out more about the APP or Book: ParentingWithPersonality.com
• Download the Parenting With Personality APP on Google Play or Apple Store

*** This podcast and host will not offer medical advice, nor is it intended to take the place of counseling, medical intervention, or treatment. Jami Kirkbride is hereby operating as a parenting coach and will not diagnose or treat clients. Please consult a doctor, medical professional, or mental health provider to meet your immediate and ongoing needs.

#parenting #highlysensitivechild #adhd #dmdd #parentcoaching #child anxiety #se...

Back-to-school can bring excitement, but it can also bring stress...especially if your child has ADHD, anxiety, or big emotions. Early mornings, new routines, and unexpected changes can leave both kids and parents feeling overwhelmed. In this episode, we’ll talk about why transitions can be so challenging for ADHD and emotionally dysregulated kids... and what you can do to make the shift smoother and more peaceful for everyone.

I’ll share three simple but powerful strategies to help you start the school year on the right foot... from easing into routines before the first day, to creating meaningful connection moments like my favorite “back-to-school date” tradition, to partnering with the school so your child feels supported. You’ll also get encouragement to see your child’s unique wiring as a strength and to step into the year with calm, confidence, and connection.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why back-to-school transitions can trigger overwhelm in ADHD and emotionally intense kids
• One small change you can make this week to ease morning stress
• How a simple back-to-school tradition can spark deeper conversations with your child
• The key to building a strong partnership with your child’s teacher from day one

• Learn more about the Calm Connection Coaching Program at CalmConnectionParent.com
• Get the resources mentioned at: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Book a call to find out more about Calm Connection Coaching Program.
• Join our online Facebook support group: Parenting With Personality Group
• Find out more about the APP or Book: ParentingWithPersonality.com
• Download the Parenting With Personality APP on Google Play or Apple Store

*** This podcast and host will not offer medical advice, nor is it intended to take the place of counseling, medical intervention, or treatment. Jami Kirkbride is hereby operating as a parenting coach and will not diagnose or treat clients. Please consult a doctor, medical professional, or mental health provider to meet your immediate and ongoing needs.

#parenting #highlysensitivechild #adhd #dmdd #parentcoaching #child anxiety #se...

A personal story about loss, love, and the legacy we leave as parents. Let this episode encourage you to parent with presence, peace, and purpose...starting today.

What kind of legacy are you leaving… not just in life, but in your parenting?

This episode comes from a deeply personal place—a month marked by loss, reflection, and a reminder that tomorrow isn’t promised. After unexpectedly losing my brother-in-law...someone who lived and loved with quiet strength and steady joy- I found myself asking some big questions:

• Am I parenting with the kind of presence and love I want to be remembered for?
• Am I building a legacy that reflects the things that matter most?
• And how do we hold joy, grief, and faith all at the same time?

This episode is part tribute, part testimony… and a gentle invitation for you to pause and reflect on the legacy you're creating as a parent.

We’ll talk about:

• Grief, legacy, and how we’re changed by the people we love
• Why calm, connected parenting leaves a deeper mark than perfection ever could
• Real-life reminders to live fully...even in the hard seasons
• How to take one small step toward a more intentional, joyful life today

Whether you're walking through grief, parenting an emotionally intense child, or simply feeling the weight of life...this episode will meet you right where you are.

Take a breath… and come join me for this honest conversation about parenting, peace, and purpose. And of course…your legacy!

• Learn more about the Calm Connection Coaching Program at CalmConnectionParent.com
• Get the resources mentioned at: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Book a call to find out more about Calm Connection Coaching Program.
• Join our online Facebook support group: Parenting With Personality Group
• Find out more about the APP or Book: ParentingWithPersonality.com
• Download the Parenting With Personality APP on Google Play or Apple Store

*** This podcast and host will not offer medical advice, nor is it intended to take the place of counseling, medical intervention, or treatment. Jami Kirkbride is hereby operating as a parenting coach and will not diagnose or treat clients. Please consult a doctor, medical professional, or mental health provider to meet your immediate and ongoing needs.

#parenting #highlysensitivechild #adhd #dmdd #parentcoaching #child anxiety #se...

This week, we’re doing something a little different—and a little special. Life in the Kirkbride home has been full of ups and downs lately… a big family vacation, the heartbreaking loss of my beloved brother-in-law, and the joy of our son’s wedding—all in just two weeks. And now, I’ve lost my voice completely.

But instead of skipping this week, we’re pulling together as a family—because I didn’t want to miss the chance to send encouragement your way. You’ll even hear a sweet intro from my 10-year-old son, Bennett, who’s helping me kick off this special episode.

We’re revisiting one of your favorites: “Emotional Dysregulation in Kids: 10 Effective Strategies to Help Your Child Calm Down.”

In this replay, we’ll explore:

• What emotional dysregulation really is—and why it’s not just defiance
• The science behind emotional overwhelm and meltdowns
• 10 practical strategies to help your child calm down in the moment
• Proactive steps to reduce emotional blow-ups before they start
• How to rebuild connection after a hard moment

If things have felt heavy or emotionally intense in your home lately… we hope this episode gives you the tools—and the encouragement—you need to breathe, reset, and keep going.

✨ Grab your free parenting tools: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource

• Learn more about the Calm Connection Coaching Program at CalmConnectionParent.com
• Get the resources mentioned at: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Book a call to find out more about Calm Connection Coaching Program.
• Join our online Facebook support group: Parenting With Personality Group
• Find out more about the APP or Book: ParentingWithPersonality.com
• Download the Parenting With Personality APP on Google Play or Apple Store

*** This podcast and host will not offer medical advice, nor is it intended to take the place of counseling, medical intervention, or treatment. Jami Kirkbride is hereby operating as a parenting coach and will not diagnose or treat clients. Please consult a doctor, medical professional, or mental health provider to meet your immediate and ongoing needs.

#parenting #highlysensitivechild #adhd #dmdd #parentcoaching #child anxiety #se...

You’re doing everything you can—books, prayers, redirection, deep breaths—and your child is still melting down, spiraling, or exploding over the smallest things. And now? You’re emotionally drained, spiritually depleted, and wondering if anything will ever work.

In this episode, we’re talking about the kind of parenting burnout no one warns you about—and what to do when all your effort still leaves you feeling stuck. If you're walking on eggshells and parenting on empty, this one's for you.

Inside this episode:

• Why traditional parenting advice often backfires with emotionally intense kids
• The silent toll of “always being on”—and how to start refueling
• The truth about effort vs. effectiveness when your child needs more
• What your child really needs in their hardest moments (and how to offer it)
• How the Calm Connection Parent Coaching Program helps you move from burnout to breakthrough

If you're tired of trying harder and still getting nowhere… take a deep breath, friend. You’re not failing. You're parenting a uniquely wired child who needs something different—and there’s help available.

Make sure you FOLLOW the podcast! A duplicate copy of the podcast was floating around, and when we remedied that problem, it bumped a few followers...and I don't want that to be you! So even if you thought you hit follow, just take a quick second to double-check. That way you won’t miss new episodes or any fun extras we’ve got coming your way.

• Learn more about the Calm Connection Coaching Program at CalmConnectionParent.com
• Get the resources mentioned at: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Book a call to find out more about Calm Connection Coaching Program.
• Join our online Facebook support group: Parenting With Personality Group
• Find out more about the APP or Book: ParentingWithPersonality.com
• Download the Parenting With Personality APP on Google Play or Apple Store

*** This podcast and host will not offer medical advice, nor is it intended to take the place of counseling, medical intervention, or treatment. Jami Kirkbride is hereby operating as a parenting coach and will not diagnose or treat clients. Please consult a doctor, medical professional, or mental health provider to meet your immediate and ongoing needs.

#parenting #highlysensitivechild #adhd #dmdd #parentcoaching #child anxiety #se...

What if the key to calming your child’s overwhelmed brain isn’t more discipline, more talking, or more appointments...but small, intentional movement?

In this eye-opening episode, Alma Galvan shares her powerful story of healing after a traumatic brain injury and how the tiniest, most overlooked movements can actually rewire the brain and restore peace.

If your child struggles with emotional intensity, sensory challenges, or regulation, this conversation will give you hope and real tools to start making change...one gentle step at a time.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How Alma used small movements to heal her own brain after injury
• Why movement can regulate the nervous system more effectively than logic or language
• Simple ways to use these strategies with your emotionally intense or sensitive child
• How to start small and stay consistent, even on hard parenting days

Want more support and encouragement?

Be sure to join the Parenting With Personality Facebook Group, where we’re having ongoing conversations about calm, connection, and raising emotionally intense kids with confidence and grace.

Connect with Alma at Brainworx.

• Learn more about the Calm Connection Coaching Program at CalmConnectionParent.com
• Get the resources mentioned at: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Book a call to find out more about Calm Connection Coaching Program.
• Join our online Facebook support group: Parenting With Personality Group
• Find out more about the APP or Book: ParentingWithPersonality.com
• Download the Parenting With Personality APP on Google Play or Apple Store

*** This podcast and host will not offer medical advice, nor is it intended to take the place of counseling, medical intervention, or treatment. Jami Kirkbride is hereby operating as a parenting coach and will not diagnose or treat clients. Please consult a doctor, medical professional, or mental health provider to meet your immediate and ongoing needs.

#parenting #highlysensitivechild #adhd #dmdd #parentcoaching #child anxiety #se...

Does summer break feel like more chaos than calm? If your child struggles with focus, emotional control, or follow-through—especially without the structure of school—this episode is here to help.

Today I’m joined by Leslie Josel, a leading expert on executive functioning and student success. Together, we’re diving into what summer looks like for kids with executive function challenges—and more importantly, how you can set your child up for success with calm, doable strategies that actually work.

If you’re craving a summer with less nagging, fewer meltdowns, and more peace, this one’s for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What executive functioning really means—and why it matters over summer
• Why your child’s struggle with structure isn’t about laziness or defiance
• Easy ways to build a summer schedule that reduces stress (not adds to it)
• How to increase your child’s independence without constant power struggles
• Encouragement and strategies to help you feel confident and capable this summer

Links and Resources:

• Learn more about Leslie Josel at Order Out of Chaos
• Download your free Calm Connection resource at CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Join the Parenting With Personality Facebook Group

☕ So grab your coffee and tune in—because yes, you can have a calmer summer with the right tools in hand.

• Learn more about the Calm Connection Coaching Program at CalmConnectionParent.com
• Get the resources mentioned at: CalmConnectionParent.com/resource
• Book a call to find out more about Calm Connection Coaching Program.
• Join our online Facebook support group: Parenting With Personality Group
• Find out more about the APP or Book: ParentingWithPersonality.com
• Download the Parenting With Personality APP on Google Play or Apple Store

*** This podcast and host will not offer medical advice, nor is it intended to take the place of counseling, medical intervention, or treatment. Jami Kirkbride is hereby operating as a parenting coach and will not diagnose or treat clients. Please consult a doctor, medical professional, or mental health provider to meet your immediate and ongoing needs.

#parenting #highlysensitivechild #adhd #dmdd #parentcoaching #child anxiety #se...