If you’ve ever felt like your ADHD brain makes mom life & homeschooling harder, this episode is for you. I was thrilled to chat with Emily Bailey, a mom who’s learning to let go of “shoulds” and find peace in rhythms & strategies that actually fit her neurodivergent brain. Together, we talk about what it looks like to homeschool when you’re overstimulated and stretched thin... Oh! And not to mention trying to support your own kid's neurodiversity. ✨ A gentle, real conversation f...

If you’re an overstimulated mom who’s tired of being told to “just stay calm..." me too! We’re unpacking the Calm Mom Myth — the unrealistic pressure for moms to always be gentle, composed, and regulated, even when overwhelm & sensory overload are hitting hard. You’ll learn why “calm” isn’t always functional for an overstimulated or sensory-sensitive mom, how your nervous system naturally moves through waves of activation and rest, and why repair and reconnection matter more than staying ...

In this episode we’re getting personal with guest Amy Bodkin, an Autistic Adult who homeschools her 2 Autistic children. Amy is a passionate consultant and public speaker serving families worldwide with needs that fall outside the norm She joins me for an honest and heartfelt conversation about what it’s like to navigate motherhood, homeschooling, and autism— all at once! We talk about: ✨ The journey from “something feels different” to receiving her autism diagnosis as an adult ✨ ...

You thought the sensory overload would ease up once the baby and toddler years passed… but here you are, still feeling touched out, talked out, and overwhelmed. In this episode, I unpack why motherhood doesn’t get less overstimulating with big kids — and what you can do about it. Join me for this personal conversation and: pinpoint why you might feel that way (you're not crazy!)feel equipped with a few simple things to try to feel less overwhelmed& walk away feeling seen, desc...

I invite you to join me in this personal conversation with Teresa Wiedrick, a certified life coach. We get personal fast and dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of being a highly sensitive mom. Teresa and I also discuss transformative moments in the shift from my kids' difficulties being the problem to realizing we are all on our own growth journey... and how our's as mom deeply impacts our children's. In personal stories, we explore topics like: the importance of self-regu...

Stress is inevitable in the life of a mom, but if you struggle with sensory overload and overwhelm... it's even more important that you address it before it compounds. In this episode, Whitney explores common reasons WHY moms have a hard time getting around to stress management & how to work around them. What is the stress cycle?How does stress relate to sensory overload?7 simple ways to address stress, even with your kids.Learn more about sleep in this episode: Season 2 Episode 3: https:...

What does sound sensitivity and auditory processing disorder look like in real life for a family? Possibly melt-downs, hurting relationships, walking on eggshells, avoiding fun outings, attention struggles, social skill struggles, sleep difficulties, reading issues... the list goes on. Wait! Before you say "My kid hears just fine" or "My hearing is ok..." This is often an unidentified source of defiance, conflict, reading, social & attention difficulties... and more. You really might be s...

Back to school means shifting routines & expectations, which can be really hard for some kids (and adults too!)... even homeschoolers. A lot of the back to school excitement can be well-intended and is certainly happy for some... but for others of us, it's full of stress, emotions, & anticipation of tricky situations, like increased meltdowns and maybe refusals. In this episode, we discuss: What is high sensitivity (yes, it's more than sensory sensitivity)?What can you do ...

Send Whitney a Note Did you know sensory stress doesn't have its own special "stress bucket" in the brain? Stress=stress... The good news is that simplifying other things helps improve your resilience with overstimulation too! In this episode, we break down some tried and true ways to simlify life as we head "back to school," regardless of how you educate your kids. home maintenancemealscar-time...plus some of my favorite tools (new and old)Listen along as we break things down into super prac...

Send Whitney a Note Let's normalize talking about our self-regulation & our senses! But it can feel awkward... so what better way than through a beautiful, engaging picture book? Join Sarah and me, Whitney, as we discuss her new book A Chameleon Tale: how it came abouthow it's already impacting familiessensory processing (especially vestibular and proprioceptive input!) Learn more here.self-regulation (learn more here)MOM's own sensory systems, too!When you talk to your kid about sensory ...

Send Whitney a Note In this episode of the Sensational Moms podcast, we explore ways that moms who easily feel overwhelmed can make the most of their summer. Join me as I share personal experiences and offer practical advice on: establishing routines incorporating movement prioritizing restpacing to-do listsfostering meaningful connections (co-regulation!) If you're easily overstimulated and summer strikes fear in your heart or flies by without those purposeful, happy mom...

Send Whitney a Note What are reasonable expectations for kids' self-regulation? If you can figure this out, you'll save yourself so much frustration as a mom and teacher. By the end of our time together, you'll know: How to encourage your kids' development at each stageWhat is usual for different stages (of course variations will occur!)What is self-regulation anyway...Do kids' outgrown co-regulation? Do babies self-regulate? What age range experiences the MOST gains in self-regulation? ...

Send Whitney a Note What is self-regulation and what does it mean to "be regulated?" If we don't know what we mean, these terms don't help anyone. Spoiler alert: It doesn't mean being calm all the time, and "regulated" isn't always how it seems. Listen along as we explore: --What is self-regulation, and what is it NOT? --2 things you really need to know about self-regulation --1 powerful thing you can do to help self-regulation development. Have you tried to help your kids or yourself d...

Send Whitney a Note Grab your spot for the Mama Needs a Minute Interactive Workshop here! If you're overwhelmed and overstimulated, you're probably searching for help, and other moms are often full of well-meaning advice... but what about when none of it seems to help?! >>Their version of "Together time" is NOT working. >>Your school time takes longer than everyone else's. >>And you wake up early to start your day and still feel drained. You might be tempted to look ...

Send Whitney a Note The demands you place on yourself as a homeschool mama are heavy and many. You rise to the occasion time and time again, often because there's no other choice... but sometimes, there is! What's the ultimate cost to your health & relationships? Join Whitney and guest Yvonne Conaway of Alive Functional Wellness as they dive into cortisol, including: how unrealistic expectations can lead to hormone issuesthe actual purpose of cortisol, daily rhythyms, and sleepwhat happen...

Send Whitney a Note How did you get in this cycle of overstimulation and reactivity anyway? More importantly, how can you ask someone to help you if you don't know how you got here in the first place? So listen along as Whitney takes a step back from the neuroscience and gets laser specific and practical, sharing 20 common reasons moms are overstimulated (I know, that's a lot!) No, you're not crazyYes, you CAN do things to helpAnd no... you're definitely not alone in it all.-----------...

Send Whitney a Note In the heat of the moment, moms don't always have clarity of mind or luxury of time to go grab some support. You need something NOW (or maybe even 5 minutes ago). Join Whitney as she lists 5 specific strategies she actually uses in those touched out, talked out moments. Some are strange and may inspire laughter (maybe that's the point!)Others are a little move covert.Most are somewhere in between.Either way, they are ways to effectively show your kids that even...

Send Whitney a Note Moving to help with overwhelm, overstimulation and burnout as a mom sounds great in theory, but what about: getting started when it's been a while!when you're in a hard seasontaking the hardest (first!) stepwhy it's definitely NOT too late for that new year's habit changeEvgeniia gets blunt but with an encouraging spirit and gives us simple motivators to get started. She shares how our bodies learn that movement helps us feel better, but only when we do it first and ...

Send Whitney a Note You know all the "shoulds" of MOVING your body, but how does it help with your EMOTIONAL regulation? In PART 1, Whitney & Evgeniia get personal and dive deep into: how movement has helped in Evgeniia's journey & learning to move through emotions with her son, overcoming past difficultieswhat gets in the way so that we can face it head onwhy all-or-nothing is holding you backhow movement models ultimate self-compassion for your child!how you can include movement in ...

Send Whitney a Note So much of sleep is out of our control as moms. Is it even worth the effort? And what do you do when it really is out of your control? Sleep used to be like a 4-lettered word around here. Between the kids and our own difficulties, quality sleep can feel like an impossible feat. Join Whitney as she shares her own family's journey through sleep difficulties, how the impacted her health, and how she navigated it. You'll walk away with: Basic knowledge of sleep science and sl...