Cliff is joined by Colin, a standup comedian and parent who shows ADHD brings heart and humour to the ups and downs of life with additional needs. As neurodivergent parents, Colin and Cliff talk about the challenges they face themselves, the invisible struggles and the ways they try to cope, often with humour helping! They share how they manage situations with themselves and their children, including mechanisms for preventing sensory overload and coming to terms with the stigma around labels.
Episode Reveals
Why humour can be the best way to cope with the everyday chaos of a neurodiverse household.
How subtle signs of neurodivergence are often dismissed early on by parents and other caregivers.
The difficulties with obtaining a diagnosis for ASD or ADHD in later life.
The challenges in distinguishing between actual neurodivergent traits and learned behaviour from neurodiverse family members.
The common overlaps between trauma and neurodivergence.
The guilt many neurodiverse parents feel when their children subsequently get diagnosed.
How to manage sensory overload and prevent ‘meltdowns’.
Why parents should push past the stigma of giving their children a label. It’s about recognising a difference.
BEST MOMENTS
“We always knew there was something different about her.”
“ If I'm focused on something, if you try and stop me doing it, I can become quite aggressive, almost quite angry.”
“ I have these guilty moments when, when I think, oh, I've made my daughter broken.”
“ Every party I went to as a child, my dad carried me out and I'd had a headache and I'd been sick. Because it was just over sensory.”
“ I learnt to mask and socially I'm pretty good.”
“There are kids that have just had crappy parenting and, and they display behaviours that are very similar to someone that is neurodiverse.”
“ There's a lot of stigma around labelling. I personally struggled with that for a while until I reframed it in my brain that actually it's not giving a label. It's understanding that there is a difference.”
“You realise as you get older and all these diagnoses come out that actually I wasn't normal, but, well, the truth is, with school, whether you are neurodiverse or not, you've just gotta get through it.”
EPISODE RESOURCES
Facebook: ComicColin78
Instagram: @comiccolin78
TikTok: @comiccolin78
Podcast – Colin in Conversation: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/colin-in-conversation/id1796019233
Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major podcast apps
Link to my book “What To Do When Your Child Shuts Down” https://amzn.eu/d/hIXiGIA
HOST BIO
Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff’s daughter will be a regular guest, sharing her experiences and strategies that work for her. And joining him in this journey is his wife, Annie, who will also contribute to the podcast with her unique perspective and support. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change!
CONTACT ME
Facebook: facebook.com/cliff.kilmister Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 LinkedIn: Cliff Kilmister X (Twitter): @KilmisterCliff