Calm Connection Parenting | Meltdowns, Neurodivergence, Emotional Regulation, DMDD, Autism, SPD, Defiance, Angry Behaviors
Ranked in the top 2.5% of podcasts globally! Tired of walking on eggshells… dreading the next meltdown? Exhausted by big emotions. defiance, and disobediance? Wondering why “traditional" parenting advice backfires with your strong-willed child?
I’m glad you’re here. This podcast helps you understand what’s behind your child's behavior, so you can respond with calm, stop second-guessing yourself, and build real connection with your neurodivergent or uniquely wired child.
Hi, I’m Jami… a mom of seven, professional counselor turned parenting coach, speaker, and author. And yes, even with training, I found myself stuck in the same cycle so many parents live in: meltdown… reaction… guilt… repeat. I was doing all the things that were “supposed” to work… but they didn’t.
Everything changed when I stopped treating behavior like the problem and started looking underneath it. When I learned to understand my child’s unique wiring (personality, sensory processing, executive functioning, and emotional needs), I finally had a roadmap. I didn’t need more tips… I needed clarity and a plan. And that clarity changed things.
If you’re ready to ditch the overwhelm and stop parenting in survival mode, you’re in the right place. We’ll talk meltdowns, emotional dysregulation, defiance, ADHD, DMDD, anxiety, and more… along with practical steps that help your family move from chaos to calm… one episode at a time.
So grab your coffee, find your quiet spot (if you have one), and let’s jump in.
Start here: Take the FREE Emotional Forecast Quiz at CalmConnectionParenting.org and find your next best step.
Calm Connection Parenting | Meltdowns, Neurodivergence, Emotional Regulation, DMDD, Autism, SPD, Defiance, Angry Behaviors
93. IEP and 504 Help for Parents: Where to Start When Your Child Struggles with Special Education Boss, Karen Mayer Cunningham
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Is your child struggling at school, but you are not sure whether they need an IEP, a 504 plan, accommodations, evaluations, services, goals, or a behavior plan?
In this episode of the Calm Connection Parenting Podcast, Jami Kirkbride talks with Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, about IEP and 504 help for parents who do not know where to start.
If you have ever wondered whether your child needs more school support, what the difference is between a 504 plan and an IEP, or how to begin advocating without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated, this conversation will help you take the next best step.
In this first part of a two-part conversation, Karen helps parents understand where to begin when a child is struggling at school. You’ll hear how to think about IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, accommodations, services, goals, behavior plans, and the parent’s role in the process.
This episode also speaks directly to parents raising children with ADHD, DMDD, autism, anxiety, sensory needs, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, or challenging behaviors, especially when those needs show up at school in ways that may be misunderstood.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• The first step parents can take when they suspect their child needs more school support
• The difference between a 504 plan and an IEP in simple, parent-friendly language
• Why behavior may be connected to an unmet support need
• Why so many parents feel intimidated walking into an IEP meeting
• What to do if you are afraid of being seen as difficult, pushy, or “that parent”
This episode is part one of a two-part conversation with Karen Mayer Cunningham. In Part 2, we’ll talk more about how to advocate at the IEP table, what to do when you feel dismissed, what to ask, what to document, and how to keep the focus on your child’s needs.
This episode is also part of the special series leading up to the Mom’s Retreat, It Is Well… Finding Your Calm in the Chaos, happening August 27-31 in Loveland, Colorado.
The retreat is for moms raising emotionally intense, uniquely wired, neurodivergent, or struggling children. It is a small, personal retreat created to help moms step away, be encouraged, connect with others who understand, learn practical tools, and return home with more calm, clarity, and hope.
A few spots are still available, and early bird pricing is ending soon.
Learn more or register here:
CalmConnectionParent.com/retreat2026
Join the Calm Connection Parenting Group and find free parenting resources at:
CalmConnectionParenting.org
Send a text and share your thoughts!
Send a text and share your thoughts!
- Take Your Next Step: Emotional Forecast Quiz
- Visit CalmConnectionParenting.org to become an insider and receive weekly news. Find information about the coaching program (and scholarships), free parenting resources, and how we can connect.
*Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual support.
Happy and Joyful Children by Free Music • Happy Children Background Music / Joyful U... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/free-... Music promoted by Audio Library • Happy and Joyful Children – Free Music (No... ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/
Just Believe
