Send us Fan Mail

Your kid drops a line like “My teacher hates me” and you can feel your brain sprint toward fixing it, correcting it, shutting it down. We dig into why that instinct is so common for overwhelmed parents, and how it can accidentally create distance instead of comfort, even when you’re trying your hardest.

I sit down with parenting coach and author Mary Wilcox Smith to talk about the messy reality behind “doing everything right” and still ending up in dark, confusing seasons. Mary shares her path through perfectionism, control, and the high-pressure years of raising four daughters, including serious medical challenges that drained bandwidth and changed the entire family system. We also reflect on how neurodivergence, sensitivity, anxiety, and ADHD can shape what a child needs, and why “one-size-fits-all parenting” often fails both the child who struggles loudly and the child who looks fine on the outside.

Mary’s Micro Step Method for the overwhelmed parent focuses on tiny moments that matter. One of the most useful is “accepting is not agreeing” meaning we can validate our child’s perspective without endorsing the story or abandoning boundaries. We also get into repair after rupture, the compounding power of small connection wins, and a practical “five, five, five” mindset to keep the long-term parent-child relationship in view.

If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a parent who’s carrying too much, and leave a review so more families can find it. What’s a moment you want a better script for right now?

Support the show

SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST

WEBSITES

- Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org

- The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com

YOUTUBE

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow

- Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou

FACEBOOK

- Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford

- Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow

INSTAGRAM

- https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/

TIKTOK

- https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc

LINKEDIN

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/

PODCAST PLATFORMS

- Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC

- Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291

CONTACT EMAIL

- sjchildsllc@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail

“Stop hiding what they love” sounds almost too simple, but it can change everything. I’m joined by Sue Goluback and Staci Neustadt from Making Sense of Autism for a conversation that challenges the old autism playbook and replaces it with something more human: neuroaffirming, strength-based autism support that starts with the individual, not a standardized score. Sue shares what it was like to grow up knowing she was different, only to receive an autism diagnosis at 50, and how that journey shaped her work in occupational therapy, assistive technology, and autistic advocacy.

We dig into why so many traditional autism assessments compare autistic people to neurotypical development, and why that “apples to oranges” approach can lead to goals that don’t match what the child actually needs or wants. Staci, a speech-language pathologist, explains how shifting the lens from compliance to connection helps parents and professionals understand behavior as communication. We talk sensory processing, nervous system regulation, executive functioning, and why kids cannot access functional communication when they’re overwhelmed or dysregulated.

You’ll also hear one of my favorite examples: a child who loved clocks, and how honoring that special interest opened the door to real learning instead of shame and shutdown. We cover how their tools and trainings support schools, therapists, and families, plus why autistic adults deserve resources that help them finally understand themselves. If you care about practical strategies, better IEP conversations, and autism supports that respect identity, this one is for you.

Subscribe, share this with a parent or educator who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Support the show

SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST

WEBSITES

- Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org

- The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com

YOUTUBE

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow

- Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou

FACEBOOK

- Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford

- Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow

INSTAGRAM

- https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/

TIKTOK

- https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc

LINKEDIN

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/

PODCAST PLATFORMS

- Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC

- Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291

CONTACT EMAIL

- sjchildsllc@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail

One small mistake in your estate plan can quietly put SSI and Medicaid at risk, and most families never find out until it’s too late. We wanted a practical, calm conversation that replaces fear with a roadmap, so we brought on Michael Ringle, founder of Special Needs Wealth Planning and author of Planning for Two Lifetimes, to walk through what special needs families actually need to plan for and why the rules are different.

We talk about the core idea of “planning for two lifetimes” and the biggest myth Michael sees: that protecting your child’s future means sacrificing your retirement. From there, we dig into the real-world mechanics of special needs financial planning, including how benefits can be affected when money is left directly to a child, why a standalone third-party special needs trust gives more control than a few lines buried in a will, and how funding strategies can be designed to show up when they are needed rather than creating complexity too early.

We also break down ABLE accounts in plain language: what they are, when they help, what limits to watch, and why Medicaid payback provisions matter. Michael shares how families can get organized without judgment, identify gaps quickly, and take a small next step even when life is busy with school, therapy, and caregiving. If you want clear guidance on special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, guardianship planning considerations, and life insurance strategies like second-to-die policies and long-term care riders, this conversation is built to give you traction.

If this helped you, subscribe, share it with another parent or caregiver, and leave a quick review so more special needs families can find practical planning support.

Support the show

SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST

WEBSITES

- Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org

- The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com

YOUTUBE

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow

- Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou

FACEBOOK

- Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford

- Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow

INSTAGRAM

- https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/

TIKTOK

- https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc

LINKEDIN

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/

PODCAST PLATFORMS

- Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC

- Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291

CONTACT EMAIL

- sjchildsllc@gmail.com