The Gentle Year: Because Parenting Was Never Meant to Be Done Alone

In Part Two of my conversation with Jessica Patay, founder and CEO of We Are Brave Together, we explore the realities of raising a child with Prader-Willi syndrome and the lifelong responsibilities that can come with caregiving.

Jessica shares the story of her son Ryan’s diagnosis, the challenges surrounding food security, anxiety, independence, adult programming, and the constant planning required to keep him safe. She also s...

In Part 1 of this conversation, Knikki Hernandez sits down with Jessica Patay, founder of We Are Brave Together, to talk about the emotional reality of caregiving, the importance of female friendship, and the kind of support that helps women feel seen instead of dismissed.

Jessica shares how community helped her move from “Why me?” to “What now?” and why connection can be life-changing for mothers raising chi...

Is homeschooling only realistic for families with financial flexibility? And how do homeschooled children develop friendships, independence, maturity, and the social skills they need for adulthood?

In Part 3 of this conversation, homeschool coach and former public school educator Katelyn Deville joins Knikki Hernandez to discuss the practical and social realities of homeschooling. They explore how working parents and families with l...

Thinking about homeschooling can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to figure out state laws, withdrawal procedures, curriculum, record keeping, assessments, transcripts, and whether your child is truly ready for a different educational environment.

In this episode of The Gentle Year, Knikki Hernandez continues her conversation with homeschool coach and former public school educator Katelyn Deville about the practical...

Thinking about homeschooling but feeling overwhelmed, underqualified, or unsure where to begin? In this episode of The Gentle Year, Knikki Hernandez sits down with Katelyn DeVille, founder of The Home Based Method, to talk honestly about why families are leaving traditional school settings and how parents can begin homeschooling with more confidence and less fear.

Katelyn brings a unique perspective as a former public school teacher...

What should you do if your child finds an injured bird, orphaned squirrel, or baby rabbit? How can parents encourage a love of animals while teaching respect for wildlife?

In this episode of The Gentle Year, I sit down with Sarah Cooperman, Executive Director of Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary, to explore the fascinating world of wildlife rehabilitation and what parents can teach their children about compassion, nature, and responsible ...

What if the problem was never that you were "too much"?

In this deeply personal conversation, therapist Caasi shares the moment that changed the course of her life. As a teenager struggling with anger, fear, and loneliness, she learned firsthand what happens when honesty is met with rejection rather than understanding.

Together, we explore the hidden wounds beneath difficult behavior, the fear of asking for help, why so many people s...

What happens when a child grows up believing they are too much?

Too loud. Too emotional. Too needy. Too difficult.

In this deeply personal and emotionally raw conversation, psychotherapist Cassie O'Day shares the story behind the woman she became. Beneath the confident exterior, the successful career, and the decades spent helping others heal lies a little girl who spent much of her life carrying a painful question:

"Am I truly wanted...

Jennifer Kaufman focuses on one of the most important — and often overlooked — aspects of autism support: transitioning into adulthood. In this segment, Jennifer breaks down why conversations about independence, employment, long-term planning, social connection, and life skills need to begin much earlier than most families realize. Drawing from her experience as both a school principal for students with autism and the g...

Part 2 of this interview with Jennifer Kaufman focuses on autism, public safety, and first responder awareness. This conversation explores how autistic individuals may respond differently during encounters with police officers, EMTs, firefighters, and other emergency personnel—and why misunderstanding those behaviors can quickly escalate situations.

In this episode, Jennifer discusses:

• Why autistic individuals are at higher...

Part 1 of this conversation with Jennifer Kaufman explores autism, family dynamics, and the grandparent perspective through both professional and deeply personal experiences. Jennifer is the author of Grandparenting on the Spectrum: A Journey from Both Sides of the Desk and a longtime school principal who worked extensively with autistic students and their families before autism became part of her own family structure. 

In this...

In the final part of this conversation with Raeanne Johnson, pediatric mental health nurse practitioner and founder of Brain Waves Wellness, the discussion shifts into practical family life and everyday parenting strategies. Raeanne shares concrete tools parents can use to help children regulate emotions, navigate overstimulation, develop healthier habits, and build stronger family connection inside the home. 

The episode explo...

What happens when neuroscience, faith, emotional healing, and parenting all collide in the same conversation?

In part two of this interview, Raeanne Johnson joins The Gentle Year for a deeply thoughtful discussion on the connection between the brain, belief, hope, suffering, healing, and the renewing of the mind.

Together, we explore the relationship between Scripture and neuroscience, the science of neuroplasticity, the emotional im...

What if your child’s behavior isn’t something to fix—but something to understand?

In part one of this conversation, Knikki Hernandez sits down with pediatric nurse practitioner and child mental health specialist Raenne Johnson to break down what’s actually happening in the brain when children experience big emotions, dysregulation, and behavioral challenges.

This episode focuses on the foundation—how the...

In this episode of The Gentle Year, Knikki Hernandez sits down with Robert DeLena to explore a powerful and deeply personal parenting journey—one that challenges how we think about behavior, discipline, and what it really means to help a child.

Through Ryan’s story, this conversation looks at how quickly systems can shape outcomes for children who think and behave differently. From early diagnoses and interventions to mo...

In this continuation of The Gentle Year, we return to Robert and Ryan’s story and take a closer look at how children are supported when their behavior doesn’t align with expectations at home or in school.

Robert reflects on years of navigating diagnoses, school placements, physical restraint, and medication. With time and distance, he shares what he understands now about those decisions, the patterns that repeated, a...

What happens when your child doesn’t fit the life you thought they would?

In this episode of The Gentle Year, I sit down with Robert Delana to explore what it means to parent a child who challenges expectations at every turn. From early behavioral concerns and school interventions to misdiagnosis and therapeutic placements, Robert shares the reality of raising a child who didn’t respond to traditional systems—and h...

What happens when a diagnosis changes everything?

In this episode of The Gentle Year, Knikki Hernandez speaks with Paul Voss, a father of eight, about raising a child with autism—and how it reshaped his understanding of parenting, health, and what children truly need to thrive.

This conversation explores the gap between what we think we know and what real-life experience teaches us. From early signs and misconceptions to daily ...

What if the most important thing you ever build… is your child’s life?

In this powerful episode of The Gentle Year, Knikki Hernandez sits down with Nathaniel A. Turner—TED speaker, author, and founder of the League of Extraordinary Parents—to challenge everything we think we know about parenting, education, and what it really means to raise a capable, fulfilled human being.

Nate introduces a bold idea: most p...