On The Hard Days

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On The Hard Days

Megan Champion

213 episodes

5 months ago

"It's what we have to do. This is the fight, right now." Mom Jen tells the story of learning how to advocate for her gifted child - it's a powerful, super relatable conversation. If you've ever had to fight for services for your kid, this episode is for you! In this episode, we talk about: Life with her child: Gifted, with ASD, ADHD, and SPDBeing denied an IEP because her child was "smart" (after the school recommended he get tested!)The mental health ripple effect of being denied services - ...

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Self-Improvement

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"It's what we have to do. This is the fight, right now." Mom Jen tells the story of learning how to advocate for her gifted child - it's a powerful, super relatable conversation. If you've ever had to fight for services for your kid, this episode is for you! In this episode, we talk about: Life with her child: Gifted, with ASD, ADHD, and SPDBeing denied an IEP because her child was "smart" (after the school recommended he get tested!)The mental health ripple effect of being denied services - ...

Show more...

Self-Improvement

Episodes (20/213)

On The Hard Days

Ep. 213 Mom Jen on Becoming Empowered to Learn How to Advocate For Her Gifted Child - How She Fought For Services and Won (the Second Time)

"It's what we have to do. This is the fight, right now." Mom Jen tells the story of learning how to advocate for her gifted child - it's a powerful, super relatable conversation. If you've ever had to fight for services for your kid, this episode is for you! In this episode, we talk about: Life with her child: Gifted, with ASD, ADHD, and SPDBeing denied an IEP because her child was "smart" (after the school recommended he get tested!)The mental health ripple effect of being denied services - ...

5 months ago

49 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep. 212 Mom Lisa on Finding Time to *Care* About Herself Through a Very Unique Journey to Motherhood

"I just wanted to be a mom. I always wanted to be a mom." Mom Lisa's journey to motherhood was definitely an interesting one! Be sure to tune in! In this episode, we talk about: Life with 3 kids with various diagnoses & needs: Down Syndrome, ODD, ASDAfter infertility, the gift of motherhood in fostering and adoptionHow she helped others in her church community with fostering and adoptionHow she got her "Post-It Note Baby" - yes, really.Why Lisa believes in keeping the biological family in...

6 months ago

51 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep. 211 Mom Emily on Implementing the "Spoon Theory" Into Her Child's Day, and How Curiosity & Research Has Helped Her Grief & Acceptance

"I'm loving the information I'm gathering, even though it's really hard." Today's episode is with Emily, and I just LOVE her insight and vulnerability! Ever heard of the "Spoon Theory"? Be sure to listen in on this one! In this episode, we talk about: The anxiety of *not knowing* when the other shoe will dropThe stress of continuous medical issues: Asthma, pneumonia, cleftWhen the medical issues turned into behavioral challengesGetting the diagnosis: Level 1 ASD with PDA profileHow she plans ...

6 months ago

58 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep. 210 Mom Sarah on Re-Imagining & Re-Shaping Her Life to Understand How to Support Her ND Kids

"I was providing for my family, and I was dead inside." Today's episode is with Sarah, whose motherhood journey will sound VERY relatable to many of you! Don't miss this one! In this episode, we talk about: What it's like being the "breadwinner" AND the co-regulator.When your kids have overlapping, opposite needs.Raising ND kids who go to 3 different types of schoolsHer kids' various challenges - anxiety, giftedness, PDA, etc.The family dynamics of a stay-at-home Dad!Coming to the realization...

6 months ago

1 hour

On The Hard Days

Ep. 209 Mom Dalynn on Putting in the Work on *Herself* to Lead Her Family With Love & Understanding, Instead of Yelling & Anxiety

Today's episode is with Dalynn, who shared some really vulnerable, tough stuff in this conversation. It's a powerful episode not to be missed. **Trigger Warning: Talk of hitting/physical abuse at the 21:00 mark** In this episode, we talk about: What it's like raising 5 teens/young adultsWhen you're raising an ND kid with grandparentsRaising a kid with severe sleep challengesHow her prior cancer journey helped her handle the challenges in parentingHow lack of sleep and severe anxiety led to he...

7 months ago

48 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep. 208 Mom Stephanie on the "Survival of Self" While Getting Divorced & Helping a Struggling Teenager Who Doesn't Want Help

"I've had a whole parenting life of doing it all by myself." Today's episode is with my good friend Stephanie, who has been with me in Mothers Together since (almost) Day 1! Don't miss it! **Trigger Warning: Talk of suicidal ideations at the 45:00 mark** In this episode, we talk about: When giftedness shows itself in preschoolWhy it's frustrating when educators can't share if they feel a diagnosis is presentWhen your partner doesn't think there's anything wrongWhat the motherhood load l...

7 months ago

1 hour 1 minute

On The Hard Days

Ep. 207 Mom Sandi on Helping Her PDA Child Come Out the Other Side of Severe Burnout (and What She Learned About Herself Along the Way)

"PDA kids don't bend...they break. And I'm not breaking my kid again." Today's episode with mom guest, Sandy, is REALLY, really good. Don't skip this one! In this episode, we talk about: How the professionals *missed* the signs early onHow girls' neurodivergence often goes under the radarWhat PDA looked like in her young sonWhat school refusal looked like with a supportive schoolThe lack of professional support about PDA, especially in emergenciesHow she became a PDA leader in Mothers T...

7 months ago

1 hour 6 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep. 206 Mom Becky on Learning to Understand Her Neurodivergent Kids Through the Joy of Support

"All the things I knew to do weren't working...I was perpetually annoyed." Today's episode with mom guest, Becky, is a powerful one! Don't miss it! In this episode, we talk about: Her family: One adult child and 3 elementary age - 2 adopted from foster care, and all with a wide range of needs and challenges: ADHD, Autism, 2E, Anxiety, OCD, and more.How she felt crazy when all the strategies didn't workHow she reclaimed joy in the Mothers Together communityA virtual community vs. in-pers...

8 months ago

34 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep. 205 Mom Dorothy on Accepting Your *Lack* of Control, Being Realistic About Hope, and Using Your Master Negotiation Skills To Get Help

"Even though my son is 18, he will forever be 8 to 10 years old." Today's episode with mom guest, Dorothy, is a powerful one! Don't miss it! In this episode, we talk about: Her child's life with Tourette Syndrome, Autism, intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, and a gene mutation affecting medicationWhat tics were like at the beginning of a Tourette journeyThe challenge of adoption without knowing the genetics of the birth parentsHow her child cannot tolerate medications for more than...

8 months ago

1 hour

On The Hard Days

Ep. 204 Mom Amanda on Being an "Action Taker" While Pursuing *All The Things* to Help Her Family Thrive

"We kind of go along each day, living in the moment of where our kids are at that time, and how we can support them in that." Don't miss this one with mom guest, Amanda! You'll feel inspired and validated by her unique journey! In this episode, we talk about: Life with *8* adopted, neurodivergent children after fostering dozens of kidsHow her own ADHD has led to MANY different passions and hobbiesWhat it was like in burnout as a foster parentHomeschooling, homesteading, and their daily ...

8 months ago

47 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep. 203 Mom Emily on Managing *Caregiver Burnout* When There's No End in Sight

"It always goes back to - NOBODY gets it." We're BACK!! And we're kicking it off with mom guest, Emily. I'm telling you right now - you will ABSOLUTELY resonate with her story! In this episode, we talk about: The frustration of being your child's co-regulator 24/7When being a "stay at home mom" means you can't take your kids out due to your child's struggles - so you're always at home.The way motherhood is romanticized on social mediaThe sadness of losing friendships with other ad...

8 months ago

59 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.202 Mom Chantelle Stieghan on Facing Motherhood Struggles With Humor & Rolling With the (Literal) Punches

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Chantelle. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:-The lack of support when living in a foreign country-When doctors have never heard of the struggles your child is facing-Eating disorders as part of being neurodivergent-How ADHD can look so different in different kids-How emotional it is to feel alone in your struggles-Trying to advocate for your child in a di...

1 year ago

57 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.201 Mom Felicia Watkins on Stopping the Cycles of Self-Gaslighting and Judging How She Parents Her Neurodivergent Kids

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Felicia. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:-Raising multiple children with Autism-Learning how to stop self-gaslighting when looking at your child's struggles-The exhaustion she feels from trying to meet the needs of all of her kids-Rolling with the punches while establishing your household "norms"-How she's practicing self-love with less judgementPlease s...

1 year ago

32 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.200!! Celebrating 200 Episodes With Megan Through Vulnerability & Validation

About This Episode: I'm celebrating 200 episodes today - join me as I reflect on how sharing stories brings us the crucial validation we need.** HUGE NEWS!! Our next Mothers Together "Open House" is coming up at the end of the year! At Open House, you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but often don't receive. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you a taste of how inclusive, safe, and judgment-free the Mothers Together community i...

2 years ago

39 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.199 Mom Stephanie Fluger on Asking For Help: Learning to Let Go of Control, Shed Guilt & Anger, and Actually Take Care of Yourself

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Stephanie. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:-The hardships of raising a non-verbal toddler and a baby during Covid with very limited resources.-Relearning how to ask for help and take care of herself as a stay-at-home mom.-When everything just feels like too much-Feeling like we have to do everything and letting go of control-Why did she feel so angry all...

2 years ago

41 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.198 Mom Cathy Shields on Acceptance & Understanding of a Neurodivergent Young Adult

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Cathy. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Please shower Cathy with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.Find Cathy at cathyshieldswriter.com!** HUGE NEWS!! Our next Mothers Together "Open House" is coming up at the end of the year! At Open House, you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but o...

2 years ago

50 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.197 Dad Rob Gorski on the "Sudden Detour" of a Massive Regression & Parenting the Kid, Not the Diagnosis

About This Episode: Today's brand new episode features a dad!! I'm talking with Dad Rob Gorski. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:-How challenging a massive regression was for him to process-How fevers brought back the "old" child - and going through the grief all over again-What "survival mode" looked like for him-How he channeled his struggles into writing and podcasting-What life looked like as a single dad - and ho...

2 years ago

55 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.196 Mom Taylor Alexander on Surviving & Prioritizing What's Important When Managing a Whole Family With ADHD

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Taylor. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:-How she received an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood and what ADHD looks like for her-How ADHD looks differently in girls vs. boys-The process of acquiring stimulant medication for multiple people in the family at the same time.-How hard it is to leave the house as a family - always preparing for the worst-case scenari...

2 years ago

39 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.195 On The Hard Days is BACK! Here's The Update!

After a hiatus, we're back, my friends! I'm thrilled to be pushing out new episodes to you starting TOMORROW and every Monday after that. **You're invited to the Mothers Together "Open House", a virtual gathering to give you a taste of what my Mothers Together community is all about. Be sure to get on the email list, as I'll be sending out more information soon. Go to mothers-together.com/openhouse to sign up!

2 years ago

14 minutes

On The Hard Days

Ep.194 (Replay): Dad Brent Nohl on How Therapy & Meds For YOU Help Your Neurodivergent Kids Become the Best Versions of Themselves

About This Episode: Dad Bren was the first in a series of dads to join me on the show. He was so vulnerable in sharing what it's like from a dad's perspective to raise a neurodivergent child with challenging behaviors. I'm so excited to you all to hear what he has to say - and if YOU know a dad who might benefit from hearing Brent's story, please send him this episode! Here's just some of what we discussed:-Frightening febrile seizures-Play therapy experience with a child with severe ADHD-Hea...

2 years ago

1 hour 11 minutes