The Nourish Hub

28/01/2026

And we’re back to school!

It should feel exciting - fresh uniforms, new teachers, a clean slate.
And yes, part of me really is excited.
But wow… it’s also filled with anxiety.
The “what ifs,” the sensory overwhelm, the emotional load that hits before we’ve even left the driveway.

When school can’t… is real.

And it doesn’t make them difficult - it means their nervous system is doing the best it can with a huge transition.
So if this week feels big for you too… if the mornings are shaky, if the drop-offs feel heavy, if the emotions are right under the surface - you’re not alone.

Back to school is not simple for every family.
And that’s okay.

We’re doing it one gentle morning at a time. 🤍

11/01/2026

We’d had this night planned for months. Babysitter sorted, everything lined up… one of those rare chances for a date night that we both really needed.

But as the afternoon unfolded, the vibe shifted.
The nervous system wobble hit.
And suddenly it was clear: one of us needed to stay home.

So I went on my own.
And I am grateful I still got to go…
but I also carried so many feelings with me.
Disappointment. Frustration. A little anger.
And then guilt for feeling any of it.

But this is the reality sometimes - especially as a mum to a neurodivergent child.
You can understand why things change and still feel sad about it.
You can love your child fiercely and still want the night you hoped for.

Both can be true.
Both are allowed.

Today I’m leaning into softness - for me, for him, for all of us learning as we go. 🤍

06/01/2026

“If you go, I’ll go”… and we did!

Today was one of those hot, sweaty, chaotic school-holiday days at work where you blink and suddenly it’s 4pm and you still haven’t taken a proper breath.

The last thing I felt like doing was working out… truly. But
then came that friend text and the classic conversation:
“If you go, I’ll go.”
So we held each other to it - and we went.

Still hot, still sweaty, but now feeling amazing.
Stronger. Clearer. Proud that we showed up when it would’ve been easier not to.

Sometimes it’s the tiny nudges and the right people that make the biggest difference 🤍

03/01/2026

Honouring my body, chasing strength, and becoming the fittest version of me - one run at a time!

My poor running shoes have copped it… three days, two parkruns and one very well-worked pair of shoes 🙃

New Year’s parkrun and then another one this morning. I honestly feel so good - proud, clear, and more motivated than I’ve felt in a long time.

This year, I’m showing up for me. My strongest, fittest, happiest self is coming - one run, one moment, one messy morning at a time.🫶🏼

01/01/2026

Happy New Year everyone ✨

Small celebrations at home with our besties -
a late night, an early morning, and the perfect low-key way to kick things off.

I even managed my first run for the year, which honestly felt amazing 🙌🏼
A tiny moment just for me before diving back into the chaos.

We’re heading out for a big arvo and, as always, I’m navigating that balance…

How far do I push the girls?

I want adventure, they want adventure -
but more often than not, the cracks show before we get there.

It’s the dance of motherhood, isn’t it?
Chasing moments, adjusting expectations, and loving them through it all.

Here’s to a new year of trying, learning, softening, and adventuring in our own way 🤍

31/12/2025

Closing out the year with a full heart ✨
It’s been a big one -
as a mum, a health coach, and a human just trying to move through life’s curveballs.

There were moments that stretched me, moments that softened me, and moments where I wasn’t sure how I’d find my way through.

The kids, the juggle, the personal challenges…
some days felt like a lot.

But there was also so much growth tucked inside it all - quiet shifts, new boundaries, deeper trust in myself, and a reminder that even when life feels messy, I’m still moving forward.

I’m ending this year proud.
Proud of the mum I showed up as.
Proud of the coach I continue to become.
Proud of the woman who kept learning, kept loving, and kept choosing her own health and healing.

Here’s to more clarity, more softness, and more strength in the year ahead 🤍
And to every woman who felt stretched this year - I see you. We grew. We really did 💜

27/12/2025

💜

The accumulation of demand in a PDA nervous system

For many PDAers, it’s rarely one demand that tips things over.
It’s the quiet, constant build-up.

The small things.
The “expected” things.
The invisible things no one thought to name.

Getting dressed.
Transitioning.
Being watched.
Remembering rules.
Responding the right way.
Holding it together socially.
Knowing someone is waiting.

Each one on its own might seem manageable.
But in a PDA nervous system, demands don’t seem to reset back to zero, they more so tend to stack.

And when that stack gets too high, the body doesn’t negotiate.
It protects.
We might see:
• sudden avoidance
• shutdown or withdrawal
• externalised distress that seems out of proportion
• avoidance that looks confusing or contradictory
• a person who can one moment and can’t the next

Instead of asking, “What’s the behaviour?”
We can hold curiosity and ask:
“How much demand has already accumulated today?”

Support often looks less like pushing through and more like:
• reducing background and hidden demands
• offering choices without expectation
• using declarative, non-directive language
• allowing pauses, exits, and repair
• prioritising felt safety over compliance

For PDAers, capacity isn’t about motivation or skill.
It’s about nervous system load.

When we notice the build-up, and respond early,
we don’t just help prevent meltdowns.
We communicate "you’re safe. I’m paying attention. We can do this together."

💛

27/12/2025

💜

27/12/2025

💜

PDA, Chores & Pocket Money… Let’s expore

Chores and pocket money are one of those topics that come up all the time for PDA families, and usually with a lot of guilt, pressure, and “shoulds” attached.

“Kids should contribute.”
“They need responsibility.”
“They won’t learn the value of money.”
“You’re making a rod for your own back.”

But almost none of these people are parenting a PDA child whose nervous system reads demands as threats, and for whom the simple sentence “Can you put this away?” can tip them straight into overwhelm.

So let’s reframe this in a PDA-affirming way.

Why chores can be so hard for PDA kids?
It’s not laziness.
It’s not entitlement.
It’s not a lack of respect.

It’s the demand load
Shifting attention from what they’re doing
Feeling “told” or directed
The pressure of completing a task to someone else’s standard
Activation of the nervous system
Fear of getting it wrong
Loss of autonomy
Executive functioning barriers

For PDA kids, a chore isn’t a task, it can be full nervous system event.

And pocket money?
Traditional pocket money systems (“do X chores → earn $X”) rely heavily on compliance and consequence.
They assume the child can consistently meet demands, and link emotional safety, family belonging, and money to performance.

For PDA kids, this can create:
• Shame
• Avoidance
• Meltdowns
• Masking
• Power struggles
• Disconnection
And none of that teaches “responsibility”, instead it teaches fear.

So what does work then?

We come back to autonomy, collaboration, and values.

Here are PDA-friendly ways families handle chores and pocket money:

1. Separate pocket money from chores
Pocket money becomes a tool for learning about money, not a measure of compliance.

2. Use partnership instead of pressure
“Want to do this together?”
“Let’s make this fun?”
“Which job feels the easiest today?”
“Want to choose between two options?”
Low demand. High connection.

3. Use natural opportunities
A lot of PDA kids actually love helping, when it’s on their terms.
Cooking, sorting, wiping benches, vacuuming lines in the carpet, organising shelves, washing the car, feeding pets…
But it has to be invitational, not directed.

4. Replace rules with rituals
Instead of “clean your room,” it becomes:
“On Saturday mornings, we do a quick reset as a family.”
Predictable. Low pressure. No sudden demands.

5. Teach money skills separately
Pocket money can be:
• a weekly amount
• linked to age
It becomes learning, not leverage.

6. Honour your family values
It’s okay if you value contribution.
It’s okay if you value independence.
It’s okay if you value teamwork.
Just don’t sacrifice nervous-system safety to meet someone else’s parenting manual.

And you need to hear:
You’re not spoiling them.
You’re not raising an entitled child.
You’re parenting a neurotype that does not respond to pressure the same way as others.

You’re teaching them that contribution can be collaborative, joyful, and chosen, not forced.
And that’s a much healthier lesson in the long run.

27/12/2025

💜

So many parents message me quietly, almost whispering through the screen
“My child had a huge outburst today.”
“I don’t like the word ‘violent,’ but it was big.”
“I feel ashamed even saying it out loud.”
“I don’t know how to help them.”

And the thing is… you’re not alone.
This is something MANY PDA families experience, but no one really talks about out of fear of judgment.

So let’s create some safety around this conversation.

First: these aren’t “bad behaviours.”

What looks explosive on the outside is almost always a nervous system overload on the inside.

PDAers don’t escalate because they’re trying to be aggressive, controlling, or disrespectful.
They escalate because they feel:
• cornered
• powerless
• overwhelmed
• unsafe
• disconnected
• misunderstood
• out of control internally
The reaction is the symptom, not the problem.

What triggers these intense moments?
For many PDAers, big reactions happen when:
✔️ A demand (even a tiny one) tips their system into threat
✔️ Transitions are sudden
✔️ There’s pressure (spoken or unspoken)
✔️ Expectations pile up
✔️ They feel trapped, stuck, or unable to escape
✔️ Shame kicks in
✔️ They sense someone else’s stress, tone, or urgency

Often it’s not the “thing” we see , it’s the 50 things underneath that no one else noticed.

What it feels like for them?

Many PDAers describe it later like:
“I didn’t want to react like that.”
“My chest went tight.”
“My brain shut down.”
“It felt like danger.”
“I just had to get away from the feeling.”

It’s a fight-or-flight surge, not a choice.

What it feels like for parents?
Overwhelming.
Scary.
Lonely.
Heartbreaking.
And yes, sometimes shameful.

But you are not a bad parent.
Your child is not a bad child.
You’re in the middle of something that requires understanding, not judgment.

So what actually helps?

Here’s what supports PDAers in these moments:

Reducing pressure BEFORE the explosion
Notice the cues: pacing, voice changes, avoidance, agitation, tone, shutdown signs.

Offering escape, not engagement
“Do you want a break?”
“I’ll stay nearby.”
“No one’s in trouble.”

Softening the environment
Lower tone, lower demands, lower expectations.

Repair after regulation
Not lectures. Not consequences.
Just connection, safety, and gentle reflection.

Collaborating when everyone’s calm
“What helps your body feel safe?”
“What can we try next time?”
“What do you want me to do when I see you getting overwhelmed?”

Reducing shame
Many PDAers carry a heavy load from these moments.
They don’t need punishment, they need understanding.

And to the parents living this:
You’re not failing.
You’re not causing this.
You’re not “letting them get away with it.”

You’re navigating a sensitive nervous system in a high-demand world
and doing the best you can with incredible complexity.

Shame thrives in silence.
But you don’t have to do this alone.
We are building our Mind Co. Calm and Connection Community so keep a look out for this safe landing place in 2026

27/12/2025

💜

Merry Christmas, Mind Co community.

Wherever you are today, in the joy, in the mess, in the overwhelm, or somewhere in between, I just want to say:

You’re doing enough.
You are enough.
And your family’s version of Christmas is valid.

Some kids are thriving today.
Some are melting down before breakfast.
Some parents are overstimulated, touched-out, or quietly managing their own nervous systems.
And some are navigating grief, estrangement, or the weight of expectations.

Today, I hope you find at least one moment of:
✨ ease
✨ connection
✨ humour
✨ rest
✨ or soft joy

And if today is hard, please remember:
🎄 Christmas is one day.
💛 Your relationship with your child is every day.
🌿 And that is what truly matters.

Thank you for being here, for learning, for asking questions, and for building a community rooted in compassion and curiosity.

Wishing you a gentle Christmas, however it looks at your house. 💛

27/12/2025

💜

BOXING DAY — The Great Decompression Day

Boxing Day is here… Recovery Day!

Yesterday might have been:
✨ loud
✨ overwhelming
✨ emotional
✨ beautiful
✨ messy
✨ or all of the above

And now everyone’s nervous systems are trying to find their way back to baseline.

Your day might look like:
💛 pyjamas all day
💛 screens
💛 quiet play
💛 avoiding people
💛 staying home
💛 calming the fallout from yesterday
💛 doing absolutely nothing productive

PDA kids especially need time after big events to “reset” from the pressure, unpredictability, sensory overload, and social expectations that stack up in their bodies.

Today is the day the mask falls off.
The adrenaline drains.
The exhaustion can hit.
And their capacity can say, “No more.”

And honestly?
Adults feel it too.

So here’s your gentle permission slip:

✨ You don’t need to entertain anyone.
✨ You don’t need to keep the holiday energy going.
✨ You don’t need to meet extended family expectations today.
✨ You don’t need to turn this into another “day of activities.”

Let today be soft.
Let it be slow.
Let your family retreat into whatever feels safe and easy.

Boxing Day is the nervous system’s public holiday.
Rest. Repair. Reset.

And if today doesn’t look magical or festive…
if it just looks real and human and quiet…
that’s more than okay.