In this episode, we interview two parents raising neurologically-atypical children in the Amsterdam Mamas community. We touch on both their of their choices to move to the Netherlands, how they navigated their educational options, the needs they had and where it led them. The parenthood journey, it turns out, often takes us to unexpected destinations.

First, we answer a question from a listener facing the process of special needs evaluation in the Dutch education system, which became the inspiration for the entire episode. We meet with Lucinda Juliani, founder of the Facebook group Special Needs Families in the Netherlands to help answer this question. We talk about: 

• Why she started the group Special Needs Families in the Netherlands
• How she experienced navigating the educational options for her son in the Netherlands
• The testing and evaluation process for her son
• A general critique of the special needs support in the Dutch education system, from a newcomer’s perspective
• Advice and tips for other parents, as recommended in the group

Next, we talk to Debbie Reber, founder of the TiLT Parenting podcast and website, a passion project which grew out of her experiences raising her son Asher, and through which she hopes to challenge the current parenting paradigm and start a revolution for parents of differently-wired kids. Differently-wired is a term she explicitly uses to emphasize that the way many children (and adults) experience the world is not a deficit but a difference. We think you’ll love the TiLT Parenting podcast and hearing Debbie’s inspiring vision. Topics we cover include: 

• Discovering parenting was not going to go as she planned
• Her family’s decision to move to the Netherlands and make a major lifestyle change
• Homeschooling in the Netherlands
• Shifting her approach to parenting Asher
• The realization of TiLT Parenting as more than just a memoir
• Why the term ‘differently-wired’ is meaningful
• Debbie’s vision for the TiLT Parenting movement

Show notes

Special Needs Families in the Netherlands Facebook group

TiLT Parenting (also on Facebook and Twitter: @Tiltparenting)

Debbie Reber Writing Coach

Register for the 2016 Spooktacular Parade

Vote for the 2016 Amsterdam Mamas Recommend Awards

Volunteer for Amsterdam Mamas by contacting volunteer@amsterdam-mamas.nl

Isis Hypnobirthing

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The post S03E22: When Parenting Takes You Somewhere Different appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.