Low Demand Parenting

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Healing parenting burnout

July 13, 2026

What if the reason compassion feels so hard isn't because you're failing—but because your nervous system is protecting you? In this conversation, Melissa Corkum and I explore the concept of "blocked care," why so many parents of high-needs kids experience it, and how shame, grief, and chronic stress can leave us feeling disconnected from the children we love so desperately. We talk about soothing and practical ways to begin restoring connection by caring for ourselves first. ABOUT MELISSA COR...

Maternal ambivalence: when you love your kids and sometimes hate parenting

July 09, 2026

In this episode, I talk with psychotherapist and researcher Dr. Margot Lowy about maternal ambivalence—the reality that parenting often holds both joy and grief, love and frustration, freedom and limitation all at the same time. We explore why these difficult feelings remain so taboo, how perfectionism and social expectations keep parents isolated, and why naming our experiences can be profoundly healing. Margot shares insights from decades of research and clinical work, reminding us that par...

Helping sensory-sensitive kids thrive

June 22, 2026

When we think about demands, we often think about the obvious ones: brush your teeth, sit at the table, get dressed, go to school. But what about the demands we can't see? In this conversation with pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix (known online as The OT Butterfly), we explore how sensory experiences place demands on the nervous system—and why understanding those demands can completely change how we support our kids! We talk about: Why sensory tools don't work all the time The di...