Samantha and Lauren share Samantha’s experience competing for Mrs. Idaho to encourage parents, especially those raising neurodivergent kids, not to feel guilty for doing something for themselves with the right support. They then discuss choosing “real connection” with a child over society’s idea of “right connection,” emphasizing that behavior improves when children feel connected, safe, and understood, and that a dysregulated nervous system can’t learn or be reasoned with. They explain how typical expectations like eye contact, loud praise, adult-led conversation, or insisting on “proper” responses can backfire, and encourage observing needs (hunger, tiredness, overstimulation, anxiety, masking) before correcting. They suggest supporting regulation through reduced demands, co-regulation, sensory-aware environments, predictability, and joining a child’s interests, and invite listeners to a free Parenting the Child You Have online summit on March 13.   Register for the Summit: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/summit Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/   00:00 Welcome and Hosts 00:07 Samantha’s Pageant Story 00:28 Self-Care Without Guilt 02:20 Pageant Connections and Confidence 03:59 Real Connection vs Right Connection 05:00 Connection Before Correction 06:34 Why Safety Comes First 08:01 When Typical Connection Backfires 10:53 Check Basic Needs First 12:55 Body Clues and Misreads 15:17 Co-Regulation Over Consequences 16:18 Create a Supportive Environment 17:54 Predictability and Shared Interests 19:52 Join Their World in Practice 22:49 Trial and Error Mindset 23:38 Parenting Summit Invitation 24:59 Register and Closing   Connect with Samantha Foote!Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferentYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent