You love your child. You want to understand them, support them and help them thrive.

So why do some everyday parenting situations feel so much harder than they should?

Perhaps it’s the emotional meltdowns, the battles over screen time, the struggles with transitions or the family routines that seem to work for everyone else but not for you.

And despite being capable, resourceful and good at solving problems in your professional life, you find yourself wondering:

Am I getting something wrong? Is this just normal childhood behaviour? Or could my child be neurodivergent?

As a fellow working parent, I know how challenging it can be when the parenting strategies you expect to work simply don’t. And how quickly that frustration can turn into guilt, self-doubt and questioning your own parenting.

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and neurodivergence specialist Dr Jo Mueller, whose expertise I originally sought to help me navigate challenges in my own parenting journey.

What Jo helped me understand was transformative. Not because she gave me a perfect parenting formula, but because she helped me see my child’s behaviour through a completely different lens.

Together, we explore what neurodivergence really means, how to recognise when your child might be experiencing the world differently, and why understanding what’s happening beneath their behaviour can change the way we parent.

Rather than focusing on what’s wrong with our children, or what we’re getting wrong as parents, Jo offers something far more powerful: compassionate curiosity, greater understanding and practical ways to support our children while letting go of unnecessary parenting guilt.

What You’ll Learn

– Understanding neurodivergence: What neurodiversity and neurodivergence really mean, and how autism and ADHD can show up differently in children.

– Recognising the signs: How to identify patterns in your child’s behaviour that might suggest they’re experiencing the world differently.

– Rethinking parenting strategies: Why conventional parenting approaches don’t always work for neurodivergent children, and how small changes can make a big difference.

– Looking beneath the behaviour: How curiosity, predictability and understanding your child’s nervous system can help reduce conflict and improve connection.

– Compassion without losing boundaries: How to support your child’s individual needs while maintaining healthy expectations and family values.

– Navigating support and diagnosis: When to consider professional assessment, what support might be available and how to advocate for your child at school.

– Understanding yourself as a parent: Why some women recognise their own neurodivergence through their children’s experiences, and what that can mean for their wellbeing.

Why This Episode Matters

For ambitious working mums, parenting can be one of the few areas of life where our usual strengths – problem-solving, determination and high standards – don’t always deliver the results we expect.

When the parenting strategies we’re told should work simply don’t, it’s easy to turn that frustration inwards. We question our decisions, our capabilities and sometimes even whether we’re good enough as mothers.

But what if the problem isn’t your parenting? What if your child simply experiences the world differently?

This conversation with Dr Jo Mueller offers a powerful shift in perspective. Through expert insights and honest examples from my own parenting journey, we explore how understanding neurodivergence can help us move away from judgement and self-criticism towards greater curiosity, compassion and connection.

And importantly, this isn’t about needing a diagnosis before you can make changes, or abandoning boundaries and expectations. It’s about recognising that different children need different approaches, and that flexibility can be a strength rather than a parenting failure.

Because thriving as a working parent isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about having the understanding, tools and support to navigate what matters most.. for our children and ourselves.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode

If this conversation has sparked your curiosity about neurodivergence, whether for your child or yourself, Dr Jo Mueller has a range of helpful resources to support you.

Dr Jo the Psychologist – https://www.drjothepsychologist.com/

Explore Jo’s work supporting children and families, including her blog Is My Child Neurodivergent or Am I a Bad Parent? https://www.drjothepsychologist.com/post/is-my-child-neurodivergent-or-am-i-a-bad-parent

The Neurodiversity Practice https://www.theneurodiversitypractice.com/ – Discover resources, webinars and a supportive community for neurodivergent parents and those exploring whether they might be neurodivergent themselves.

Listen Now on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/2N6Im6oD9a9VRhTSY2ECGu?si=24927a812a834c63

Listen Now On Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/is-my-child-neurodivergent-rethinking-parenting-with/id1375053073?i=1000794025659

Press play above to hear the full conversation with Dr Jo Mueller.

Whether you’re wondering if your child might be neurodivergent, navigating challenging parenting moments or recognising aspects of neurodivergence in yourself, I hope this conversation helps you feel more informed, supported and confident in your next steps.

Share and Subscribe

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a fellow working parent who might be questioning their parenting or looking for a different way to understand and support their child.

Sometimes simply hearing a different perspective can make all the difference.

And if you’re enjoying the Wisdom for Working Mums podcast, I’d love you to follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform and leave a rating or review.

It really does help more ambitious working mums discover these conversations and find the insights, encouragement and practical tools to thrive at work, at home and in themselves.

Because none of us has to navigate the challenges of working parenthood alone.

Read the transcript here