PodcastsKids & FamilyEnlightening Motherhood

Enlightening Motherhood

Emily Hamblin & Ashley Schultz
Enlightening Motherhood
Latest episode

178 episodes

  • Enlightening Motherhood

    Critical Thinking & Emotional Regulation: The Surprising Connection Your Neurodivergent Child Needs

    2026/05/25 | 38 mins.
    Does your child stop to think things through, or do they go with the first thought that pops into their head?

    Most parents want to raise kids who can think for themselves. But in a world built for quick reactions, that skill is getting harder to find, even in grown-ups. If your child is neurodivergent, strong emotions can make it even harder to see past one way of thinking.

    Here's what might surprise you: clear thinking and emotional regulation go hand in hand. And you can help your child build both, starting today.

    In this episode, Emily sits down with Katie Kimball, a food teacher, TEDx speaker, and mom of four, to talk about why thinking skills matter so much right now and how everyday tasks like cooking can help kids become more flexible, caring, and independent.

    What you'll take away:
    Curiosity, resilience, and trying new approaches are the roots of good thinking. Learn how to grow all three before middle school.

    A simple question, "What else could be true?" that helps kids move past black-and-white thinking and stay calmer when things get hard

    Why small letdowns (like a sold-out ice cream flavor) are actually opportunities to build strength and self-control

    How real responsibilities help kids ask better questions and think more deeply

    Join the FREE class for parents: Emotional Regulation for Neurodivergent Kids https://emily-hamblin.com/class
    Connect with Emily on Instagram: https://instagram.com/emilyhamblincoaching

    Grab Your Free Ticket to Katie’s Life Skills Now Camp: https://raisinghealthyfamilies.com/enlightening
  • Enlightening Motherhood

    Parenting Tools That Don't Work for Neurodivergent Kids

    2026/05/11 | 38 mins.
    Most of us parent the way we were parented. Threats, punishment, taking things away. But with neurodivergent kids, those inherited tactics don't just fail. They backfire.
    In this episode, Emily sits down with Wendy Snyder, a parent coach, author, and founder of Fresh Start Family  to talk about what actually works. You'll learn why misbehavior is really communication, how to stop power struggles before they start, and why updating your parenting tools changes everything for your neurodivergent child.

    In this episode you'll learn:
    Why inherited parenting tactics backfire with neurodivergent and strong-willed kids

    How to shift your paradigm around misbehavior so you stop fighting your child

    Simple strategies to replace threats and punishment with connection and dignity

    Why humility (not perfection) is the real parenting superpower

    I’m hosting a free masterclass: Emotional Regulation for Neurodivergent Kids. Come learn exactly what your child needs to learn emotional regulation! https://emily-hamblin.com/class/

    Connect with Emily on Instagram: http://instagram.com/emilyhamblincoaching

    Grab Wendy's book: https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/
    Find Wendy on Instagram:https://instagram.com/freshstartwendy
  • Enlightening Motherhood

    Are You a Bad Mom for Yelling at Your Neurodivergent Child?

    2026/04/27 | 19 mins.
    Have you ever felt that soul-crushing mom guilt that comes from completely losing it on your own child — especially when you're supposed to be the one holding it all together while helping them with their big emotions?

    What if that guilt isn't the sign of a bad mom, but actually the sign of a great one?

    And what if there's so much more in your control than you think?

    In this episode, Emily Hamblin — neurodivergent mom, teacher, and emotion health coach for neurodivergent families — shares the brain science behind why you keep losing it, simple emotional regulation tools to catch yourself before you explode, and why your child's regulation journey and yours are more connected than you realize.

    You don't need more guilt. You need better tools. Let's find them.

    Connect with Emily on Instagram: instagram.com/emilyhamblincoaching

    Join the Brain-Body Emotional Regulation for Neurodivergent Kids Waitlist at https://emily-hamblin.com
  • Enlightening Motherhood

    How to Like Your Neurodivergent Teen (Even When They’re Difficult)

    2026/04/13 | 30 mins.
    What if you didn’t have to wait for your teen to change in order to feel close to them again?

    In this episode, Emily sits down with pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, author of Love the Teen You Have, to talk about the emotional reality of parenting a neurodivergent teen—especially when the relationship feels strained, distant, or difficult.

    They explore a simple but powerful shift: intentionally “hunting” for things to love about your teen. When you begin to look for what’s good, your perspective starts to change—and that shift can transform the connection between you.

    This conversation goes beyond surface-level parenting advice. Dr. Ann-Louise shares practical ways to rebuild closeness, even during dysregulation, and explains why connection should always come before correction. They also unpack how to use nostalgia in a way that strengthens your relationship (instead of creating distance), and how understanding your teen’s brain can make their behavior feel more workable.

    If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your teen, overwhelmed by their behavior, or unsure how to reach them, this episode will meet you with compassion, validation, and realistic tools you can start using today.

    You don’t have to wait for things to get easier to feel close again.

    Connect with Emily Hamblin: https://emily-hamblin.com

    Connect with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart: https://drannlouiselockhart.com/
  • Enlightening Motherhood

    Mom Brain Is NOT Permanent (Here’s How to Fix It)

    2026/03/30 | 38 mins.
    “Mom brain” gets talked about like it’s a permanent loss, but what if that’s not actually true? In this episode, Emily sits down with neurologist Dr. Sui Wong to unpack what’s really happening in the brain during seasons of sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and the intensity of parenting. They explore why so many moms feel foggy, forgetful, and mentally drained, and more importantly, what can actually be done about it.

    This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice. Dr. Sui shares how brain health is deeply connected to sleep, nutrition, emotional regulation, and daily habits, and how small, realistic shifts can begin to restore clarity, energy, and cognitive function over time. They also talk about the role of blood sugar, stress cycles, and why what we’ve normalized as “just part of motherhood” may actually be something we can improve.

    If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost your sharpness, your memory, or even a part of yourself, this episode is both validating and empowering. Your brain is not broken, and you’re not stuck this way.

    Connect with Emily Hamblin: https://www.instagram.com/emilyhamblincoaching
    Want to learn more about brain health from Dr. Sui Wong? Sign up for her newsletter: https://bit.ly/drwongbrainhealth

    📘 Join our Brain Body Emotional Regulation Class for Neurodivergent Kids and Teens:
    https://emily-hamblin.com/go
More Kids & Family podcasts
About Enlightening Motherhood
As a mom, raising a child with big emotions can be overwhelming, frustrating, and stressful. The Enlightening Motherhood Podcast, hosted by two friends who are currently in the thick of raising kids with big feelings (Emily Hamblin and Ashley Schultz) offers a compassionate community where you can learn practical tips to help make your motherhood lighter. Connect with us! http://emily-hamblin.com Instagram/FB @enlighteningmotherhood
Podcast website

Listen to Enlightening Motherhood, BratBusters Parenting Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features