Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

11-year-old Asher joins me to share our best tips and strategies for making travel run more smoothly and having successful vacations with neurodivergent kids. As much as many families and their children may
love going on vacation, the change in routine, different foods, shifting expectations, and new stimuli can even turn a trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth” (Disneyland) into one full of stress, anxiety, meltdowns, and other challenges. And while we know this rings true for pretty much any and every family, for parents raising differently wired kids, the extremes highs and lows can bigger. In this episode, Asher and I share what we’ve learned over the years when it comes to making sure everyone’s needs and expectations on any given vacation are met, or at the very least, addressed, and walk listeners through the different schedules and planners we’ve we incorporated into our vacation prep. We hope you take away a tip or two to make your next family holiday a more peaceful experience for the whole family!

Things you’ll learn from this episode

The benefits of talking through and getting clear on expectations
(for all members of the family) prior to leaving for a vacation

A strategy for using the collaborative problem solving approach to identify, address, and pre-solve concerns ahead of time

How to make departure day go more smoothly

The benefits of exploring and researching aspects of a vacation time
well in advance of the trip (including accommodations, activities,
etc.)

A strategy for using written schedules coupled with frequent reviews during a vacation keeps everyone’s expectations in check

The benefits of bringing a child into the planning process (and letting them determine some of what will happen on vacation)

Why it’s useful to work with your child to discover what they need
most on vacation and then incorporating it into your daily plan (ie:
rest, chill time, etc.)

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You may recall that last fall, my friend and colleague Penny Williams,  a parenting coach for neurodiverse families, the author of four books on ADHD including Boy Without Instructions, and the host of the Beautifully Complex Podcast, and I did a two-part series on what it really looks like to support our neurodivergent young adults as they move toward living self-determined lives – Part one was here on Full-Tilt Parenting, and Part 2 was on Penny’s show.

We left a lot of topics on the table, so we’re back with more…parts 3 and 4 in fact. This episode on Full-Tilt Parenting is part 3, where we’ll be focusing on the practical and emotional realities of this stage—financial literacy, accommodations, decision-making, and the often complicated dynamics between parents and young adults. Penny and I share personal stories, strategies that have helped, and some honest reflections on what this phase asks of us. 

And then you can listen to Part 4 over on Beautifully Complex this Thursday … and in that episode we’ll be talking about things like consent and communication, exploring thinking about future and goals, and how we approach conversations about difficult topics like risky behavior, substance use, and more.

About Penny Williams 

A parenting coach for neurodiverse families, Penny Williams is the award-winning author of four books on ADHD, including Boy Without Instructions, producer and host of the Beautifully Complex Podcast, host of the annual Neurodiversity Summits, and co-creator of The Behavior Revolution Program, a parent training program designed to change the narrative on behavior and help parents celebrate and support their kids with ADHD or autism through neuroscience-backed insights, hard-won strategies, compassion, and guidance.  Penny empowers parents to help their neurodivergent kids — and families — thrive.

Things you'll learn from this episode  

How building financial literacy supports independence for neurodivergent young adults

Why navigating money management is a key (and often overlooked) part of launching into adulthood

How accommodations evolve from college into the workplace—and why they still matter

Why parents are continually balancing control, trust, and letting go during this phase

How emotional attachment to outcomes can complicate decision-making for both parents and young adults

Why outside supports, along with the messy realities of relationships and expectations, are part of the journey

Resources mentioned

Penny Williams’ Parenting ADHD and Autism website

Beautifully Complex Podcast

The Real Work of Parenting Neurodivergent Young Adults (Part 1) — a crossover episode with Penny Williams (Beautifully Complex)

The Real Work of Parenting Neurodivergent Young Adults (Part 2) — a crossover episode with Penny Williams (Beautifully Complex)

Healthy Gamer website

Dr. Alok Kanojia on Video Game Addiction and How to Raise Healthy Gamers

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I’m excited to be bringing parenting coach Margaret Webb back to the
podcast this week. Margaret helps parents find more peace in parenting the child they didn’t expect when they were expecting, and part of her work is supporting parents survive summer break. Many parents (and not just parents raising differently-wired kids) limp across the finish line of a long school year only to find themselves facing the stress of summer — new schedules and routines, different expectations, wants, and needs for everyone in the family, and lots of other changes. In our conversation, Margaret shares her personal strategy for not only surviving summer break, but thriving.

About Margaret Webb

Margaret s a certified Master Life Coach, parenting coach, nature-based
coach, former teacher, wife and mother. As a life and parenting coach,
she weaves together her experience as an elementary education teacher
with the tools she’s learned in Martha Beck’s Life Coach Training,
Sagefire Institute’s Nature-Based Coach Training, and what she’s applied
to her own life as a mom of a child with special needs.

 

Key Takeaways

How “reality versus expectations” creates unnecessary stress for many parents over the summer

Why having “leadership energy” as a parent can help a family thrive

The importance of getting clear on both your personal needs as a parent and your child’s needs and wants for the summer break

What scheduling, mapping, and tracking have to do with surviving summer holidays

How focusing on our own experience and fostering personal self-care actually supports our children

Why nature can be so restorative for parents raising differently-wired kids

How to envision your ideal day as a way to begin creating a more peaceful reality

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Today we’re diving into the nuanced world of circadian rhythm sleep syndromes, and how biological and environmental factors intersect in shaping our children’s sleep. My guest is Alex Mortlock, a registered clinical psychologist who has been in practice since 2010, with training rooted in evidence-based approaches to mental health. Alex will help us unpack what’s actually happening when a child’s sleep rhythm is out of sync, and why this is so often misunderstood. We talk about practical strategies, the role of light exposure and light therapy, and how melatonin can be used thoughtfully to support regulation. 

About Alex Mortlock

Alex Mortlock has been a registered clinical psychologist since 2010, trained at the University of Canterbury with a focus on evidence-based approaches to mental health assessment and treatment. His work is grounded in psychological science, with an emphasis on the interplay of emotion, cognition, and motivation. He uses evidence-based methods to help people make positive changes in their behaviour, fostering an environment of authenticity, acceptance, and understanding.

Throughout his career, Alex has had the privilege of witnessing growth and transformation in people from diverse backgrounds — experiences that have reinforced his belief that, with the right support and guidance, everyone has the capacity to flourish.

He lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with his wife, who is also a clinical psychologist, and their two over-analysed children. Curiosity, compassion, courage, and flexibility are the values that guide him through the professional and personal challenges that human life presents.

 

Things you'll learn from this episode 

How circadian rhythms shape sleep patterns and why they matter for children’s overall health

Why conditions like delayed sleep phase, advanced sleep phase, and non-24-hour sleep disorders can disrupt typical sleep cycles

How neurodivergence can influence light sensitivity and circadian regulation

Why gradual light exposure, environmental adjustments, and low-dose melatonin can help realign sleep rhythms

How habits like late-night screen use can interfere with healthy sleep patterns

When to seek professional support and how parents can practically support their child’s sleep development

Resources mentioned

Alex Mortlock’s website


Late Nights, Later Days: The Under-Recognized Impact of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome in ADHD (Additude Magazine)


Reset Your Inner Clock: The Drug-Free Way to Your Best-Ever Sleep, Mood, and Energy by Michael Termin, PhD


Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (National Institute of Health)


Article on Light Boxes (Yale School of Medicine)


Light Therapy Visors (results page from Amazon search)

 
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In this special episode, I’m joined by my husband, Derin, for a candid and heartfelt reflection on our journey together—more than eight years of parenting, navigating relationship shifts, and supporting our neurodivergent child through adolescence and into early adulthood. This is a personal conversation for us, one where we open up about what this path has really looked like behind the scenes.

We talk about how our partnership has evolved over time, the challenges we’ve faced individually and together, and the ways we’ve learned to stay connected through some very intense seasons. We also share what’s helped us—communication, honesty, a willingness to grow—and how we’ve come to better understand each other while showing up for our child. This is an honest look at the complexities of parenting and partnership, and what it means to keep choosing each other along the way.

About Derin Basden

Derin Basden is a seasoned and accomplished leader with a proven track record in technology, design, and operations, gained through working with major multinational corporations, including NBCUniversal, Disney, and Microsoft. He is also the husband of Debbie Reber, the founder of Tilt Parenting, and a dedicated supporter of her work. He is enthusiastic about his role on the Tilt Team and is committed to contributing to the movement that empowers neurodivergent children to achieve their full potential. Derin leads technology and finance operations for Tilt, and ensures the smooth functioning and effective execution of Tilt’s mission.

Things you'll learn from this episode 

How family life evolves through moves, global stressors, and the transition from childhood to young adulthood

Why adolescence reshapes family dynamics and invites growth for both parents and kids

How maintaining a strong partnership through communication, shared routines, and intentional connection supports the whole system

Why respecting autonomy while staying connected is essential when parenting a neurodivergent young adult

How simple rituals—like walks, humor, and honest conversations—help rebuild and sustain connection

Why self-regulation, honesty, and ongoing personal growth are key to navigating changing roles within the family

Resources mentioned 


Debbie & Derin on Their Parenting Journey: Part 1 (Tilt Parenting podcast, 2017)


Debbie & Derin on Their Parenting Journey: Part 2 (Tilt Parenting podcast, 2018)

Derin Basden - LinkedIn

Minecraft Mods mentioned (Inventory Pets, Animania, Better Invisibility)

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