We didn’t mean to disappear for seven months… okay, maybe we did. But we’re back! Turns out, living through existential dread and trying to raise neurodivergent kids is a full-time gig (with no PTO). But we’ve surfaced—with stories, updates, and an entire dragon-themed Zoom backdrop Gwen can’t figure out how to remove.

In this catch-up episode, Gwen and Kristen are dishing out all the highs, lows, awkward award nights, top hat choices, and job transitions their neurodivergent kids have been navigating. From AmeriCorps fallout and grocery store burnout to college acceptances and Target cashier wins—we’re celebrating the inchstones (and laughing so we don’t cry).

In this episode, you’ll learn…

• [00:01:00] The fire-breathing Zoom background Gwen can’t figure out
• [00:04:00] Why we really took a break (hint: life was A LOT)
• [00:05:00] Kristen’s son Hayden goes from wildland fires to CSU
• [00:09:00] Jamison gets straight A’s—and learns asking for help is strength
• [00:11:00] Autism Elevated, Target jobs, and inchstones with Graham
• [00:15:00] Gwen’s daughter is officially becoming a Vogelzang!
• [00:18:00] Why guests are banned from Gwen’s house (for now)
• [00:19:00] Graduation night disasters, missed awards, and screaming moms
• [00:23:00] The next chapter: Beacon College + working at a lettuce farm

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-29

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/

Helping your child transition to adulthood isn’t for the faint of heart for any parent… but when you're helping a neurodivergent child navigate the process, it’s even harder.

Sure, there’s help– if you know where to ask for it. And your locality probably has a system or service that can offer support– but it has a different title in every state. And don’t forget that the type of diploma or certificate your child receives from high school can affect the type of support they can qualify for. Feeling overwhelmed yet?

Well, before you start hyperventilating, in today’s episode, we’re sharing all the things we’ve discovered while launching our neurodivergent kids, so you’ll have an idea about what support to look for when it comes to your own kids. We’re covering Medicaid, job programs, when the school transition starts, where to look for support, and even the personality changes our kids undergo through this process.

If you have an older neurodivergent child and you’re feeling overwhelmed about the future, you need this episode. Let's dive in!

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[00:00] Intro

[02:18] Why we’re talking about what the transition to adulthood looks like with kids on the spectrum

[04:39] A Rylanism and Grahamism to lighten the mood

[09:41] Where to start when it comes to helping your neurodivergent child transition from school to adulthood

[15:09] Gwen’s experience of struggling to find information on the services available for the transition process

[22:55] The difference between guardianship and power of attorney for our kids

{25:05] What Medicaid qualification looks like for some of our kids and who can help you navigate the process

[29:00] Some educational considerations and decisions to keep in mind during the transition process

[33:23] How the transition to adulthood changes our kids into radically different humans

[41:34] The Last Word with Rylan and Graham

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-28

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/

We’re back! As you may have noticed, we took the summer off of podcasting as our families navigated some big changes and milestones this summer. We didn’t mean to disappear, but we *may* have forgotten to tell you that we were taking a break. Sorry about that.

So today, we’re catching you up on all the changes in our lives during the last few months. Gwen is giving updates on all three of her kids –yes, you read that right: three. She’s covering Rylan’s adventures, Reagan adjusting to a new sibling, and of course, introducing their new family addition!

Meanwhile, Kristen shares how Graham is continuing to gain confidence, Jameson is loving school, and how Hayden has finally found a place in the world that feels well-matched to both his strengths and interests.

If your family has also been in a state of change this year, this episode will feel very relatable. Let's dive in!

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[00:00] Intro

[01:03] Kristen and Gwen acknowledge their unexpected absence (sorry, friends!)

[03:15] Gwen describes the way her family has expanded

[10:09] Kristen explains the big changes that her family experienced this year

[16:21] Gwen and Kristen discuss the sticky topic of neurodivergent kids transitioning into adulthood

[22:57] Gwen and Kristen each share hopeful stories of their children finding success navigating the adult (and soon-to-be adult) world

[29:05] The lesson Gwen and Kristen keep learning over and over again

[37:33] The Last Word with Rylan and M

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-27

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/