Parenting Beyond Meltdowns is Ranked in the Top 3% of Podcasts Worldwide!

Do you ever feel torn between walking away during a meltdown and staying present and wonder which one is “right”?

When your strong-willed or neurodivergent child is dysregulated, do you feel your own emotions rising just as fast?

Do you find yourself trying to fix, control, or shut down the moment and then feeling guilt afterward?

Have you prayed, “Lord, help me stay steady,” but still feel overwhelmed in the chaos?

In this episode, we’re unpacking what it truly means to hold space during moments of dysregulation for both you and your child. Whether you’re parenting a strong-willed child, a neurodivergent child with ADHD, ASD, PDA, or ODD , or navigating defiant behavior during meltdowns, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

You’ll learn how emotional regulation begins with you, why your child borrows steadiness from your nervous system, and how building connection happens even in the hardest moments.

We’ll talk about the difference between detaching, controlling, and staying present and why holding space is not about fixing the meltdown but regulating yourself first. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsure, or exhausted by parenting through emotional intensity, this episode will gently remind you that peace is built in the long game.

Mama, you are not failing you are growing into steadiness.

Matthew 26:36-46

Challenge of the Week: Practice in the small moments this week. Notice when your body feels activated. Notice the urge to fix or flee. Take one slow breath and whisper, “Lord, help me stay present.” Not for perfection just for one moment of choice. That’s where emotional regulation grows.

• Join the Insiders List: https://amandacalfee.com/page/insider-list • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacalfee/ • Email: amanda@amandacalfee.com • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/anchoredmamas • Essential Oils: Amanda's Must Haves

Disclaimer I am not a doctor, therapist, or medical professional. The information shared in this podcast, my coaching, and any Young Living recommendations are for educational and faith-based encouragement only. Nothing shared is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any physical or mental health condition. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider or licensed therapist for concerns regarding your or your child’s health, emotions, or well-being.

Parenting Beyond Meltdowns is Ranked in the Top 3% of Podcasts Worldwide!

Mama,

Have you ever wondered if your child’s regression is somehow your fault?

Do you feel guilt when your strong-willed or neurodivergent child struggles?

When your child seems dysregulated, do your thoughts spiral into self-blame?

Wish you could respond with peace instead of pressure during meltdowns?

In this episode, you get to be a quiet fly on the wall during a real coaching session with a Christian mama raising a neurodivergent child with ASD who is currently experiencing regression. We gently unpack the guilt, overwhelm, and mental exhaustion that can rise when parenting child with special needs including ADHD, ODD or PDA. We talk about emotional regulation, how our thoughts create cycles of shame, and how to begin building connection with ourselves instead of spiraling into self-blame. You’ll hear how to replace “It’s my fault” with truth-based thoughts rooted in faith, and how to process emotions in a healthy way rather than suppressing them. We also explore how meltdowns and regression do not automatically mean failure, but may be part of healing and growth. If you’ve ever felt alone in parenting a child who doesn’t fit traditional parenting, this conversation will remind you that you are not failing you are learning. And mama, peace is possible when you anchor your thoughts in truth and invite the Holy Spirit into your parenting.

Faith Anchor: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

When guilt or overwhelm rises, remember that you were never meant to carry it alone. The Father cares about your child and about you.

Challenge of the Week: When you notice a wave of guilt or overwhelm, pause. Ask yourself, “What am I thinking right now?” Then gently replace that thought with one truth you can stand on. Write it down. Pray over it. Practice it daily.

• Join the Insiders List: https://amandacalfee.com/page/insider-list • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacalfee/ • Email: amanda@amandacalfee.com • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/anchoredmamas • Essential Oils: Amanda's Favorites

How to find Joanna:

Joanna is a Christ following Calligrapher, Engineer Major, wife, homeschooling mama of four and Host of the Keeping Beautiful Handwriting Alive podcast. She started Calligraphy in 2020 and knew she found her passion. She is an active member of the Missoula Calligraphy Guild and IAMPETH, a national Calligraphy organization. She started Wild Plains Calligraphy to pass down the joy of beautiful writing to the next generation and make it effortless for busy homeschooling mamas to teach their children the art of handwriting.

Podcast: Keeping Beautiful Handwriting Alive

Instagram: @wildplainscalligraphy

Disclaimer I am not a doctor, therapist, or medical professional. The information shared in this podcast, my coaching, and any Young Living recommendations are for educational and faith-based encouragement only. Nothing shared is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any physical or mental health condition. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider or licensed therapist for concerns regarding your or your child’s health, emotions, or well-being.

Do you ever wish you could pause before reacting when your child’s meltdown catches you off guard?

Have you noticed how fast your emotions rise when parenting feels overwhelming or defiant?

Do you long to stay connected to your strong-willed or neurodivergent child, even when things feel tense or dysregulated?

Have you prayed for peace in the moment but struggled to find it when emotions run high?

In this episode, we’re talking about the pause and why it may be one of the most powerful tools in parenting, especially when navigating meltdowns with a strong-willed or neurodivergent child. We explore how emotional regulation begins in your body before it ever shows up in your words, tone, or reactions. You’ll learn why so many parenting struggles aren’t about a defiant child, ADHD, ASD, PDA, ODD, or dysregulated behavior, but about urgency in our own nervous system. We’ll unpack how pausing helps shift you out of survival mode and into presence, allowing space for calm, clarity, and building connection. This episode gently reframes parenting away from control and toward steadiness, reminding you that regulation happens before correction. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of what’s happening in your body during stressful moments and how that pause can change the emotional atmosphere in your home. Mama, peace is possible and you don’t have to do this alone. God meets you right in the middle of the moment.

I therefore a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worth of the calling to which you’ve been called 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain unity of Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-2 (ESV)

This verse reminds us that patience and gentleness aren’t traits we force, but fruits that grow when we slow down and walk in step with the Spirit. When we pause, we make room for love to lead instead of pressure.

Challenge of the Week:

This week, ask the Father for one small space in time when emotions rise. Practice taking one deep breath before responding during a meltdown or tense moment. Whisper a short prayer like, “Lord, help me respond from peace.” Even one second of pause is a victory.

• Join the Insiders List: https://amandacalfee.com/page/insider-list

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacalfee/

• Email: amanda@amandacalfee.com

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/anchoredmamas

• Young Living Essential Oils: Amanda's Must Haves

I am not a doctor, therapist, or medical professional. The information shared in this podcast, my coaching, and any Young Living recommendations are for educational and faith-based encouragement only. Nothing shared is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any physical or mental health condition. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider or licensed therapist for concerns regarding your or your child’s health, emotions, or well-being.