By Jade Ashman, Founder of My Childcare & Me and The Parent Club As a mum and childcare professional, I speak to many parents who start their day feeling exhausted before they've even left the house. A simple morning routine—getting dressed, brushing teeth, finding shoes—can quickly become overwhelming when you're parenting a neurodivergent child. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many neurodivergent children, including those with autism, ADHD, sensory processing dif

By Jade Ashman, Founder of My Childcare & Me Before I founded My Childcare & Me and The Parent Club, I was — and always will be — a mum first. And one thing I hear from parents time and time again is this: “Why does something as simple as getting dressed feel impossible some days?” If you are parenting a neurodivergent child, routines that other families seem to manage effortlessly can feel emotionally exhausting. Morning routines, transitions, bedtime, school runs, meal time

Hi, I’m Jade Ashman, the founder of My Childcare and Me and The Parent Club—but before that, I’m a mum. And like you, I know what it feels like to want the absolute best for your child—to want them to thrive, feel confident, and be truly understood. One of the most common challenges we see in early years settings is not “bad behaviour”, but difficulty with transitions—moving from one activity to another, leaving the house, bedtime, or even small shifts like tidying up toys. R

Some mornings feel like everything is a battle. Shoes go missing. Breakfast is half eaten. You're asking the same thing three or four times, and before you've even left the house, everyone feels stressed. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. One of the most common things we see with children is not that they "can't follow routines" — it's that the routine around them isn't working for how they actually experience the day. At nursery, children settle into routines much q

By Jade Ashman, Founder of My Childcare & Me When parents first sit down to complete a Disability Living Allowance (DLA) application for their child, many describe the same feeling: overwhelm. The form is long, emotional, and often uncomfortable to complete. You are asked to focus entirely on what your child struggles with — the things you usually spend your time helping them overcome. For many families, that feels deeply unnatural. At My Childcare & Me, we regularly support

“Why is he covering his ears again?” “She was fine yesterday.” “He just needs to join in like everyone else.” These are the kinds of comments many parents of children with sensory needs hear far too often. And if I’m honest, they usually come from a misunderstanding of what sensory processing challenges actually look like in real life. Hi, I’m Jade Ashman, founder of My Childcare & Me and The Parent Club — but first and foremost, I’m a mum. Over the years, I’ve worked with

“I kept being told to wait.” “They said every child develops differently.” “But deep down, I knew something wasn’t quite right.” If you are a parent carrying quiet worries about your child’s development, behaviour, communication, emotions, or learning, you are far from alone. Hi, I’m Jade Ashman, the founder of My Childcare and Me and The Parent Club—but before that, I’m a mum. And like you, I know what it feels like to want the absolute best for your child—to want them to th

“Will they cry when I leave?” “What if they don’t settle in?” “What if they’re not ready yet?” If you’re preparing your child for nursery, chances are you’ve asked yourself at least one of these questions already. Hi, I’m Jade Ashman, the founder of My Childcare and Me and The Parent Club—but before that, I’m a mum. And like you, I know what it feels like to want the absolute best for your child—to want them to thrive, feel confident, and be truly understood. Starting nursery

Parenting can sometimes feel like repeating the same things all day long. “Please put your shoes on.” “Time for bed.” “Finish your breakfast.” “Brush your teeth.” By the end of the day, many parents feel mentally exhausted from trying to keep everything together while managing work, house tasks, school runs, and children’s emotions all at once. Some days run smoothly. Other days feel completely chaotic before 9am. This is why routines matter more than most parents think. N

Some mornings feel like a race against the clock. Someone cannot find their shoes, breakfast gets left untouched, and a parent starts the day already exhausted. By bedtime, many families feel drained again after another round of negotiating over bath time, screen time, or sleep. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many parents struggle with routines, especially when life feels busy, unpredictable, and full of pressure. Social media often shows perfect family schedules