For neurodivergent children, moving between two homes can mean more than changing where they sleep. Different routines, expectations, environments, and parenting styles can make those transitions especially challenging.
Our Executive Director, Beven Byrnes, recently joined host Christina on the Radical Stepmoms podcast to discuss how parents and stepparents can better support neurodivergent children navigating blended-family life.
In Season 9, Episode 9: “Supporting our Neurospicy Stepkids in their Blended Families,” Beven brings several perspectives to the conversation: educator, school leader, parent of neurodivergent children, and neurodivergent adult herself.
Start With Curiosity
One theme Beven returns to throughout the conversation is something that guides our work at Bridges as well: behavior communicates something.
Rather than focusing on how to stop an unexpected behavior, Beven encourages adults to get curious about what might be behind it. What is the child experiencing? What need might they be communicating? Could something about the environment or expectations be contributing?
Shifting from compliance to curiosity can help adults better understand what a young person needs to feel successful and supported.
Consistency Isn’t Always Possible; Predictability Can Be
Creating exactly the same rules, routines, and expectations across two households may not be realistic. Instead, Beven and Christina discuss the value of clear communication and predictability.
Helping children know what to expect — and giving them time and space to transition between homes — can be particularly important for neurodivergent kids who may need additional time to regulate and adjust.
The goal isn’t to make two homes identical. It’s to help a child feel secure, understood, and supported in each one.
The Power of Belonging
The conversation also touches on something at the heart of the Bridges experience: belonging.
Beven shares how things can change when neurodivergent students enter an environment where they begin to understand how their brains work, what they need, and that they aren’t alone.
That sense of belonging can change how young people see themselves at school, at home, and in the world.
The full conversation offers insight for parents, stepparents, educators, and anyone who wants to better understand and support the neurodivergent young people in their lives. You can listen to the full episode on Spotify by clicking here.