The Gentle Year

What Grandparents Need to Understand About Autism | Jennifer Kaufman (Part 1)

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 episode, topics include: *  The emotional shift from educator to grandmother after her grandson’s autism diagnosis  *  How grandparents can support families without overwhelming parents with advice  *  Communication delays, sensory behaviors, and repetitive patterns in autistic children  *  The connection between communication development and behavioral regulation  *  Why routines, predictability, and patience matter in autism support  *  Socialization challenges and helping siblings and cousins understand autism  *  The evolving relationship between grandparents and autistic grandchildren  *  Wandering/elopement behaviors and the dangers associated with water safety  *  The importance of swimming lessons specifically designed for autistic children  [https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit-excerpt/swim-and-water-safety] *  How Jennifer’s personal experience changed the way she approached students, families, and IEP meetings as a school administrator  *  Autism, pattern recognition, creativity, structure, and intense focus on objects and systems  *  Shifting expectations as a grandparent and learning how to lead with support instead of control  The conversation also explores broader questions surrounding leadership roles within families, emotional restraint, advocacy, and what it means to truly understand and support neurodivergent children in both educational and home environments.  This episode of The Gentle Year is powered by Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com], personalized academic coaching for students who think differently, and Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com], where creativity and confidence come to life on and off the stage. This episode is also sponsored by Your Wish Is Your Command [https://www.yourwishoffer.com/md25f?aff=31b60c6fa70ce94c5292b3eaf1a9c87cea1f1bf8cb64977a2d46f15a691ed43b], a transformational success and mindset program focused on helping people reshape the way they think, create, and pursue personal growth. Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share products, programs, and resources that I personally use, believe in, and genuinely feel have had a meaningful impact on my own life and work. Thank you for supporting The Gentle Year and helping make these conversations possible. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/fan_mail/new] Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com] Sponsored by Turning The Tide Tutoring — empowering students and parents to grow and thrive. Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com] Acting with Pippi is acting program that helps youths build courage & presence through performance. Your Wish Is Your Command [https://www.yourwishoffer.com/md25f?aff=31b60c6fa70ce94c5292b3eaf1a9c87cea1f1bf8cb64977a2d46f15a691ed43b] A resource for deepening awareness around thought patterns, perception, and intentional response. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/support]

The Systems That Shape Your Child’s Mind | Raeanne Johnson (Finale)

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 explores: * Emotional regulation tools for children * How to create a “regulation station” at home * Parenting through meltdowns in public * Discipline vs. discipleship * The role of structure, routines, and systems in family life * The neuroscience of video games and screen overstimulation * Dopamine, attention, and emotional regulation * Why board games and shared activities matter for brain development * Sleep, movement, nutrition, and mental wellbeing * Faith-centered parenting and identity formation Raeanne also walks listeners through the systems and rhythms inside her own home — including reduced screen exposure, movement-based regulation, collaborative family routines, reading culture, and practical strategies that support emotional wellbeing for both children and parents.  The conversation also connects to broader ideas explored throughout The Gentle Year surrounding mindset, thought patterns, personal responsibility, and intentional living — themes that strongly overlap with concepts discussed in Your Wish Is Your Command, particularly the relationship between belief, environment, habits, and the direction of a person’s life. If you’re interested in parenting, neuroscience, emotional regulation, family culture, homeschooling, faith-based parenting, or the long-term effects of screens and overstimulation on children, this episode offers both practical insight and deeper reflection. Powered by Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com] — personalized academic coaching for students who think differently — Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com], where creativity and confidence come to life on and off the stage — and Your Wish Is Your Command, a book and audio experience focused on mindset, awareness, and intentional thinking. Join The Global Information Network [https://globalinformationnetwork.com/?invite=ghostwritinggenerationalcopynet] Join The Gentle Year Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BuRpMjGU3/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/fan_mail/new] Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com] Sponsored by Turning The Tide Tutoring — empowering students and parents to grow and thrive. Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com] Acting with Pippi is acting program that helps youths build courage & presence through performance. Your Wish Is Your Command [https://www.yourwishoffer.com/md25f?aff=31b60c6fa70ce94c5292b3eaf1a9c87cea1f1bf8cb64977a2d46f15a691ed43b] A resource for deepening awareness around thought patterns, perception, and intentional response. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/support]

Neuroscience, Scripture, and Emotional Healing | Raeanne Johnson (Part 2)

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 impact of hope, and the role faith can play during fear, uncertainty, grief, and hardship. Raeanne also shares personal stories about motherhood, parenting through difficult moments, and the practical ways she helps children and families build emotional resilience through both clinical wisdom and Biblical truth. This episode is reflective, honest, encouraging, and filled with meaningful conversation about what it looks like to hold onto hope in the “messy middle” of life. Topics discussed in this episode include: • Neuroplasticity and the “renewing of the mind”  • Can faith influence emotional and physical healing?  • The connection between hope and perseverance  • Parenting through fear and uncertainty  • Faith, suffering, and emotional resilience  • Scripture and neuroscience working together  • “Glory Glasses” and teaching children to recognize faithfulness  • Family catechisms, emotional regulation, and mindset practices  • Thought patterns, belief systems, and mental renewal  • Practical encouragement for parents navigating difficult seasons This podcast is powered by Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com] — personalized academic coaching for students who think differently —  Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com] — where creativity and confidence come to life on and off the stage — and Your Wish Is Your Command — an audiobook experience centered on mindset, belief, and human potential. Join the Facebook community: The Gentle Year  For inquiries: turningthetidetutoringllc@gmail.com Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/fan_mail/new] Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com] Sponsored by Turning The Tide Tutoring — empowering students and parents to grow and thrive. Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com] Acting with Pippi is acting program that helps youths build courage & presence through performance. Your Wish Is Your Command [https://www.yourwishoffer.com/md25f?aff=31b60c6fa70ce94c5292b3eaf1a9c87cea1f1bf8cb64977a2d46f15a691ed43b] A resource for deepening awareness around thought patterns, perception, and intentional response. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/support]

What Every Parent Should Know About the Brain | Raeanne Johnson (Part 1)

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 brain works, how neurotransmitters influence mood and reactions, and why behavior often reflects internal processes that parents don’t always see. Instead of reacting in the moment, this conversation helps parents begin to recognize patterns, build awareness, and respond with more clarity and confidence. Raenne brings both clinical insight and a faith-rooted perspective, helping parents understand that their child’s brain is not a problem—it’s part of how they were designed. If you’ve ever wondered why your child reacts so strongly, struggles with emotional regulation, or seems unpredictable from one moment to the next, this episode will give you a clearer lens. In this episode, we discuss: * How the brain influences child behavior and emotional responses * The role of neurotransmitters in mood, focus, and regulation * Why children experience dysregulation and “big feelings” * How to begin responding instead of reacting as a parent * What it looks like to support your child’s emotional development with intention * A faith-based perspective on how children are created and wired This is part one of a three-part series. In part two, the conversation moves into faith, identity, and what this means for how we guide our children day to day. Support The Show  If this conversation is shifting how you see your child—and how you want to respond moving forward—these are resources connected to that same work: Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com] — Academic coaching for students who think differently, focused on helping them build clarity, confidence, and strong thinking so they can actually understand how they learn. Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com] — A space where kids develop confidence, voice, and emotional expression—because how a child sees themselves matters just as much as how they perform. Your Wish Is Your Command [https://www.yourwishoffer.com/md25f?aff=31b60c6fa70ce94c5292b3eaf1a9c87cea1f1bf8cb64977a2d46f15a691ed43b] — A resource for deepening awareness around thought patterns, perception, and intentional response—the same kind of thinking that shapes how we show up as parents and guides. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/fan_mail/new] Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com] Sponsored by Turning The Tide Tutoring — empowering students and parents to grow and thrive. Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com] Acting with Pippi is acting program that helps youths build courage & presence through performance. Your Wish Is Your Command [https://www.yourwishoffer.com/md25f?aff=31b60c6fa70ce94c5292b3eaf1a9c87cea1f1bf8cb64977a2d46f15a691ed43b] A resource for deepening awareness around thought patterns, perception, and intentional response. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/support]

The Cost of Trying to Fix Everything | Robert DeLena (Episode Finale)

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 moments of breakthrough and connection, Robert shares what changed everything—and what didn’t. This episode goes beyond surface-level parenting advice and examines the tension between supporting a child and trying to control the outcome. It also explores the idea of being a “good parent,” the risks of over-intervening, and how fear, pressure, and past experiences can quietly influence parenting decisions. At its core, this conversation is about understanding the child beneath the behavior—and what can happen when a parent is willing to keep searching for what truly works. In this episode, we discuss: *  Behavior vs. deeper psychological needs  *  The impact of systems on children and families  *  Overparenting, micromanaging, and the urge to fix  *  Identity, resilience, and finding a path that fits the child  *  The role of passion and environment in a child’s growth  *  What “good parenting” actually looks like over time  Listen to hear how one experience changed everything—and why the answer isn’t as simple as it seems. Join the conversation with other parents inside The Gentle Year [https://www.facebook.com/groups/4406492376301593] Facebook community, where these ideas continue beyond the episode.  For guest inquiries, partnerships, or to connect directly, email: turningthetidetutoringllc@gmail.com Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/fan_mail/new] Turning The Tide Tutoring [https://turningthetidetutoring.com] Sponsored by Turning The Tide Tutoring — empowering students and parents to grow and thrive. Acting With Pippi [https://actingwithpippi.com] Acting with Pippi is acting program that helps youths build courage & presence through performance. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535237/support]