The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. Hosted by Amanda Diekman—au...
Toileting struggles, periods, and body care—these are some of the trickiest internal demands our kids face. When a child refuses to wear a seatbelt, smears poop, or struggles with managing their period, how do we support them in a way that respects their nervous system while still meeting real needs?
In this episode, I break down:
• What internal demands are and why they can be so distressing for neurodivergent kids
• How burnout impacts basic needs like sleep, eating, and toileting
• Why forcing solutions backfires—and how to approach these struggles through support, not control
• Creative, low-demand ways to navigate seatbelt struggles, poop smearing, and period care
• How parents can reduce their own stress while supporting kids who struggle with bodily functions
This episode is for every parent who’s felt like, “I can’t drop this demand, but I also can’t keep fighting this battle.”
Additional Resources:
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!
Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!
Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom
Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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22:09
Marriage and PDA: Living the low demand way
How do you create a low-demand partnership while raising neurodivergent kids? This week, I sit down with Lindsay and Daryl Flanagan—fellow low-demand parents—who share their journey of shifting from traditional parenting to a more intuitive, needs-centered approach. We explore how dropping demands for each other and for our children has transformed their relationship and family life.
In this episode, we discuss:
✔️ Letting go of traditional expectations in relationships and parenting.
✔️ Navigating marriage when one or both partners are neurodivergent.
✔️ The power of humor, shorthand phrases, and texting in low-demand communication.
✔️ How to balance needs and avoid resentment in a partnership.
✔️ Understanding PDA in both kids and adults—and how it impacts relationships.
✔️ Why acknowledging capacity (not intent) is key to mutual respect.
If you’re wondering how to create a partnership that thrives alongside parenting neurodivergent kids, this episode is for you! 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!
More Resources:
Follow Lindsay (with cameos from Daryl) on Instagram
Discover Lindsay’s courses, coaching, and community through Hive Parents
Brooke from No Pressure PDA – insight on humor as a signal of safety.
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!
Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!
Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom
Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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24:38
Trusting Their 'No'
In this heartfelt and insightful episode, I dive into the essential work of teaching our kids to trust themselves, even when the world tells them otherwise. Using real-life examples, I share how traditional parenting approaches—like pushing through discomfort or faking calm—can break trust and escalate stress. Instead, I advocate for dropping the demands, honoring a child’s “no,” and embracing co-regulation as a path to healing and connection.
You’ll learn:
Why your child’s meltdowns are not your fault and how to reframe them as panic responses.
The power of honoring your child’s body cues and trusting their “no.”
How traditional ideas like “pushing through” can harm sensitive kids.
Why co-regulation is about authenticity, not forced calm.
Practical ways to stay connected to your child, even when their distress is distressing you.
This episode is a permission slip to drop the weight of perfectionism and embrace honest, boundaried, and compassionate parenting.
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29:26
Mailbag: Coming Out of Burnout
Episode Resources:
Aligning with Yourself Course: Designed to help you shed perfectionism and show up in your truth, this course supports you through tough seasons like burnout. [Learn more here]
Episode 11: Burnout Doesn't Last Forever.
In this listener mailbag episode, I tackle the tough questions about phase two of burnout recovery—what I call Curious but No Capacity. This is the messy middle where your child starts to re-engage with the world but lacks the skills or energy to follow through fully. I explore:
Differentiating “hard” vs. “too hard” and why it matters
How to honor your child’s desires while protecting their capacity
Finding creative, flexible solutions to navigate burnout recovery
Advocating for your child in spaces that weren’t built for them
The importance of trust, collaboration, and dropping demands
Key Takeaways:
Burnout Recovery Isn’t Linear: Expect one step forward and two steps back—it’s all part of the process.
Hard vs. Too Hard: Learn how to assess your child’s capacity and build safety before tackling challenges.
Advocacy Matters: Find ways to prepare others to support your child’s unique needs in shared spaces.
The Middle Path: Move beyond “yes or no” decisions to a collaborative approach with your child.
Find More About Low Demand:
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!
Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!
Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom
Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
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21:18
The Hard Stuff: Parenting grief and shame
In this honest and heartfelt conversation with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Emma Svanberg, known online as the "Mumologist," we explore the intersection of grief and parenting. Emma shares her journey from studying attachment theory to supporting parents in navigating the overwhelming pressures of modern parenting. Together, we unpack the grief that arises when reality doesn’t match our idealized parenting fantasies, the importance of slowing down, and the power of self-compassion.
Emma and Amanda discuss:
How parenting grief reshapes our identities.
Signs of unprocessed grief in parents, including resentment, disconnection, and autopilot living.
The myth of calm parenting and the pressure it places on parents.
Why self-compassion and community are essential for breaking cycles and creating change.
This episode is an invitation to honor the messy, beautiful, and deeply human work of parenting—and to give yourself grace along the way.
Links Mentioned:
Emma’s book: Parenting for Humans
Find Emma Svanberg, also known as the "Mumologist," on Instagram.
Additional Resources:
Low Demand Parenting book: a love letter to exhausted, overwhelmed parents everywhere. Get the first chapter free!
Why is everything with my kid so hard?: Take the quiz to find your first step forward!
Low Demand Parenting Blog: a treasure trove of low demand wisdom
Follow us on social for updates on the podcast, blog, and more!
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. We hope you enjoyed this episode and would be honored if you left us a review which helps us reach more parents just like you!
The Low Demand Parenting Podcast is your space to let go of the pressure and embrace a more joyful, authentic approach to parenting. Hosted by Amanda Diekman—author, autistic adult, and mom of three—this podcast isn’t about perfection or expert advice. It’s about learning together how to drop the demands that weigh us down and find the ease we crave in our families. Whether you’re navigating neurodivergence, challenging behaviors, or simply the highs and lows of life, this show offers honest conversations, practical insights, and a whole lot of compassion. Let's thrive, even when it feels like life is on level 12 hard.
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