Welcome to The Parenting Minute with T & Tango — a quick moment of encouragement, reflection, and practical parenting insight.

In this Parenting Minute, Theresa shares a simple but powerful moment when a child responded to another child instead of an adult. This highlights the importance of modeling and peer influence in child development. Children often learn best by watching the people around them, making positive examples one of the most powerful teaching tools we have.

About Tango

He is our mixed-breed rescue who takes me for a walk every morning.

Parenting on the Spectrum App

While you wait for services, don’t wait for progress. The Parenting on the Spectrum app helps you support, track, and celebrate your child or student's growth with practical tools and loving guidance. Because every moment matters. No waitlist required

Start today at: ⁠app.parentingonthespectrum.co⁠

Your child isn’t broken. They’re communicating in a language most people haven’t learned yet.Inside my Parenting on the Spectrum personalized program, I teach parents how to understand that language and help their child build communication, regulation, and independence.To learn more email: ⁠wecare@parentingonthespectrum.co⁠

Pathways to Early Communication book

If you're like most parents, you want to do everything possible to help your child reach their fullest potential. Communication delays can be very frustrating and worrying for both children and parents. This book is a great tool for anyone working with infants and toddlers to help them develop the skills they need to prevent or reduce the effects of any possible delays.

The author, who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist, uses stories from her own work to bring points home in an interesting and easy-to-read way. This book makes a great shower gift for any new parent!Find it at your favourite book seller by following this link: ⁠https://books2read.com/How-can-I-help-my-child-communicate⁠

Close your eyes, take a deep belly breath! You don't have to do this alone

In this powerful episode of Parenting on the Spectrum, Theresa sits down with author and attorney Shermin Kruse to explore the balance between emotional awareness and self-control through the lens of “stoic empathy.”

Shermin shares her extraordinary childhood experience growing up in post-revolutionary Iran during war, missile attacks, and political unrest and how her parents modeled calm, love, and emotional safety in the midst of chaos. Together, Theresa and Shermin discuss how parents can remain grounded during difficult moments, especially while raising autistic and neurodivergent children.

This conversation dives into:

• The difference between reacting and responding
• How empathy and emotional regulation work together
• Parenting through overwhelm, meltdowns, and stress
• Why parents must learn to regulate themselves first
• Letting go of guilt and learning from mistakes
• Teaching resilience while still showing compassion
• The “duality of control” and focusing on what we can control

This episode is a reminder that parenting isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up with love, awareness, and the willingness to grow.

About Sher

Shermin Kruse is an internationally recognized author, attorney, TEDx producer, and Northwestern University law professor whose work focuses on empathy, resilience, leadership, and negotiation. Born in Tehran during the Iranian Revolution, Shermin draws from her experiences living through war and political upheaval to teach the power of emotional regulation and “stoic empathy” balancing compassion with self-control. Her work has influenced audiences worldwide through her bestselling book Stoic Empathy, TEDx talks, speaking engagements, and leadership training.

Learn more from Sher at: https://www.sherminkruse.com/

About Theresa

Theresa Alexander-Inman is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist, certified infant massage coach, author, and parent advocate dedicated to empowering families raising autistic and neurodivergent children. With experience supporting children from infancy through adulthood, Theresa is passionate about helping families build communication, emotional regulation, independence, and meaningful connection through compassionate, evidence-based strategies. She is the founder of Parenting on the Spectrum, where she combines professional expertise with heartfelt conversations to inspire and support families

Parenting on the Spectrum App

While you wait for services, don’t wait for progress. The Parenting on the Spectrum app helps you support, track, and celebrate your child or student's growth with practical tools and loving guidance. Because every moment matters. No waitlist required

Start today at: app.parentingonthespectrum.co

Your child isn’t broken. They’re communicating in a language most people haven’t learned yet.Inside my Parenting on the Spectrum personalized program, I teach parents how to understand that language and help their child build communication, regulation, and independence.To learn more email: wecare@parentingonthespectrum.co

Pathways to Early Communication book

If you're like most parents, you want to do everything possible to help your child reach their fullest potential. Communication delays can be very frustrating and worrying for both children and parents. This book is a great tool for anyone working with infants and toddlers to help them develop the skills they need to prevent or reduce the effects of any possible delays.

The author, who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist, uses stories from her own work to bring points home in an interesting and easy-to-read way. This book makes a great shower gift for any new parent!Find it at your favourite book seller by following this link: https://books2read.com/How-can-I-help-my-child-communicate

Close your eyes, take a deep belly breath! You don't have to do this alone

Most of us live with a relentless inner critic, but it doesn’t have to run the show. In this episode, Theresa talks with therapist and coach Sue Erhart about practical ways to notice critical thoughts, soften self-judgment, and shift toward a kinder inner voice. Parents will learn simple tools to model self-compassion and confidence, repair after tough moments, and raise children who grow up hearing encouragement instead of criticism.

About Sue

Sue Erhart is the author of "Lose Your Critic for Good”

, a

step-by-step process for reclaiming your spirit. As a retired

corporate executive/leader at a large company and lawyer by

training, Sue is also the creator of Practical Spirituality, a

platform where she helps people navigate their personal

spiritual journeys to find not only fulfillment but great success

too. Drawing from her experiences, Sue shows her followers an

easier path, after doing it the hard way.

Sue's journey began when she realized she had a critic living rent-free in her head,

unknowingly carrying it through life. The turning point came when she understood

this critic wasn't aligned with her spirit but was instead holding her hostage.

Through her journey, Sue developed a unique approach to help others ditch their

critic through Practical Spirituality, a pragmatic path to self-love and appreciation to

reclaim their power

Learn more from Sue and find her book at: https://www.sueerhart.com/

Parenting on the Spectrum App

While you wait for services, don’t wait for progress. The Parenting on the Spectrum app helps you support, track, and celebrate your child or student's growth with practical tools and loving guidance. Because every moment matters. No waitlist required

Start today at: app.parentingonthespectrum.co

Your child isn’t broken.

They’re communicating in a language most people haven’t learned yet.

Inside my Parenting on the Spectrum personalized program, I teach parents how to understand that language and help their child build communication, regulation, and independence.

To learn more email: wecare@parentingonthespectrum.co

Pathways to Early Communication book

If you're like most parents, you want to do everything possible to help your child reach their fullest potential. Communication delays can be very frustrating and worrying for both children and parents. This book is a great tool for anyone working with infants and toddlers to help them develop the skills they need to prevent or reduce the effects of any possible delays. The author, who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist, uses stories from her own work to bring points home in an interesting and easy-to-read way. This book makes a great shower gift for any new parent!

Find it at your favourite book seller by following this link: https://books2read.com/How-can-I-help-my-child-communicate