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114: Amanda Diekman | Radical Acceptance and Low Demand Parenting
Manage episode 474835399 series 3443923
In this episode, we speak with Amanda Diekman about how her parenting changed when her six-year-old son went into autistic burnout. He lost verbal communication, stopped eating most foods, and couldn't follow basic routines. Faced with a crisis, Amanda chose to stop trying to fix him and instead removed demands to create safety.
She explains how this shift became the foundation of low-demand parenting—an approach that prioritizes accommodation, reduces expectations, and gives children more agency. We discuss the fear many parents feel when stepping outside conventional norms, how control-based parenting damages relationships, and why even “high-functioning” children may be silently struggling.
Amanda also shares how living in a community centered around disability shifted her perspective on independence and success. We cover specific strategies, including how her family uses language like “you’re forcing me” to signal power imbalances, and how she reframed daily routines to support healing.
Low-demand parenting isn’t just for neurodivergent children—it challenges the broader parenting culture and offers a different way to relate to our kids.
🔗 Learn more about Amanda Diekman
- https://www.amandadiekman.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/lowdemandamanda
- https://www.instagram.com/lowdemandamanda
- https://www.youtube.com/@lowdemandamanda
- https://www.pinterest.com/lowdemandamanda/
- Amandas Podcast episode on The Myth of Permissive Parenting: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-myth-of-permissive-parenting/id1770185265?i=1000677324284
🗓️ Recorded March 21th, 2025. 📍 Barcelona, Spain
PODCAST INFO
Podcast website: http://theconrad.family/podcast
YouTube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365
Apple Podcasts: https://www.theconrad.family/apple
Spotify: https://theconrad.family/spotify
RSS: https://theconrad.family/rss
SUPPORT & CONNECT
Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily
Share a review: https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theconradfamily
Chapters
1. Introduction to Radical Acceptance (00:00:00)
2. Parenting Crisis and Autistic Burnout (00:03:39)
3. Living in Intentional Community (00:09:44)
4. Understanding Autistic Burnout (00:18:20)
5. Giving Children Agency and Voice (00:29:30)
6. Reframing Parenting Through Connection (00:41:40)
129 episodes
Manage episode 474835399 series 3443923
In this episode, we speak with Amanda Diekman about how her parenting changed when her six-year-old son went into autistic burnout. He lost verbal communication, stopped eating most foods, and couldn't follow basic routines. Faced with a crisis, Amanda chose to stop trying to fix him and instead removed demands to create safety.
She explains how this shift became the foundation of low-demand parenting—an approach that prioritizes accommodation, reduces expectations, and gives children more agency. We discuss the fear many parents feel when stepping outside conventional norms, how control-based parenting damages relationships, and why even “high-functioning” children may be silently struggling.
Amanda also shares how living in a community centered around disability shifted her perspective on independence and success. We cover specific strategies, including how her family uses language like “you’re forcing me” to signal power imbalances, and how she reframed daily routines to support healing.
Low-demand parenting isn’t just for neurodivergent children—it challenges the broader parenting culture and offers a different way to relate to our kids.
🔗 Learn more about Amanda Diekman
- https://www.amandadiekman.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/lowdemandamanda
- https://www.instagram.com/lowdemandamanda
- https://www.youtube.com/@lowdemandamanda
- https://www.pinterest.com/lowdemandamanda/
- Amandas Podcast episode on The Myth of Permissive Parenting: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-myth-of-permissive-parenting/id1770185265?i=1000677324284
🗓️ Recorded March 21th, 2025. 📍 Barcelona, Spain
PODCAST INFO
Podcast website: http://theconrad.family/podcast
YouTube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/theconradfamily365
Apple Podcasts: https://www.theconrad.family/apple
Spotify: https://theconrad.family/spotify
RSS: https://theconrad.family/rss
SUPPORT & CONNECT
Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Theconradfamily
Share a review: https://www.theconrad.family/review-our-podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theconradfamily
Chapters
1. Introduction to Radical Acceptance (00:00:00)
2. Parenting Crisis and Autistic Burnout (00:03:39)
3. Living in Intentional Community (00:09:44)
4. Understanding Autistic Burnout (00:18:20)
5. Giving Children Agency and Voice (00:29:30)
6. Reframing Parenting Through Connection (00:41:40)
129 episodes
All episodes
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