Sometimes, even when we understand that our autistic child’s behavior isn’t personal… it still hurts.

In this episode, Tara shares a raw, mom-to-mom conversation about what happens when understanding autism through a nervous system lens doesn’t make you numb, it makes you human.

Drawing from real life with her autistic grandson, Tara explores:

• Why autistic behavior can feel deeply personal

• How nervous system awareness changes the way moments land

• The difference between emotional resilience and emotional shutdown

• Why behavior was never the real problem. It’s information

• How parents can stay connected without losing themselves

This episode is for parents of autistic children, teens, and young adults who are exhausted from behavior-based parenting and are ready for a deeper, more compassionate way of understanding what’s really happening underneath the surface.

Tara also shares why she wrote What Your Autistic Child Wishes You Knew — not to give parents more strategies, but to offer clarity, context, and relief in moments that feel heavy.

📘 What Your Autistic Child Wishes You Knew is available on Amazon and free with Kindle Unlimited.

https://a.co/d/dGvc2n0

If you’ve ever felt the sting, the guilt, or the quiet confusion, this conversation is for you.

Parenting a neurodivergent child can feel especially overwhelming during the holidays. More noise, more expectations, more emotional fallout and very little explanation for why things unravel so quickly.

In this episode, autism specialist and parent mentor Tara breaks down what’s really happening in your child’s brain and nervous system, using simple visuals and real-life examples to explain meltdowns, shutdowns, and emotional dysregulation. You’ll learn why traditional parenting strategies often fail under stress, how the amygdala drives behavior when a child is overwhelmed, and why emotional regulation is still developing well into adulthood sometimes into the early 30s.

This conversation is especially for moms who feel exhausted, confused, or stuck in constant survival mode and want a calmer, more connected way forward without fixing their child or blaming themselves.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the holidays intensify nervous system overload

• What meltdowns and shutdowns are actually communicating

• How your regulation influences your child’s ability to regulate

• Why emotional regulation develops much later than we’re told

• How understanding the nervous system changes everything

If you’re ready to stop fighting fires and start responding with clarity, confidence, and connection, learn more about The Empowered Mom Method™, a nervous-system-first approach for moms of neurodivergent kids.

https://taratrievel.thinkific.com/courses/empowered-mom-method

In this episode of Unapologetically Mom, Tara sits down with #parentcoach Amy Bernier of Beyond Behavior Coaching for a powerful, real conversation about behavior, #neurodivergence, and what kids are actually communicating beneath the surface. Together, they break down common misunderstandings, #highmasking patterns, and why compassionate, #nervoussystem based support matters more than ever.

When life feels like one wave after another — meltdowns, chaos, and exhaustion — how do you stay calm?

In this 15-minute reflective episode, Certified Autism Specialist and mom mentor Tara Trievel unpacks what’s really happening in your brain and body during stressful moments with your teen — and how to gently rewire your reaction through awareness, breath, and compassion.

You’ll learn:

• Why your brain reacts before you even realize it

• The 3 emotional “loops” that keep moms stuck in stress

• How to shift your body out of survival mode and into calm

• What it looks like to truly ride every wave — with steadiness and self-trust

If you’re ready to stop feeling like you’re drowning in your own reactions and start finding calm in the chaos, this episode will feel like a deep breath. 🌊

✨ Join Tara’s upcoming masterclass — Rewire the Reaction — November 12 at 1 PM ET
→ [Insert registration link]

#Parenting #AutismMom #autismstrategies #EmotionalRegulation #EmpoweredMomMethod

You know that moment when you know what to do — take a breath, stay calm — but your body reacts before you can stop it?You’re not failing, mama. You’re wired for survival — and that wiring can be changed.

In this 10-minute episode, Tara explains:

• What’s really happening in your brain when you lose your cool

• Why knowledge alone can’t override your body’s alarm system

• A simple first step to start calming your nervous system before the spiral

• How neuroplasticity helps you rewire your reactions, one breath at a time

This episode blends compassion and neuroscience to help you move from self-blame to self-awareness.If you’ve ever thought “I know better, but I still react,” this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now and learn how peace isn’t found — it’s wired.

👉 Join me live for “Rewire the Reaction” — Wednesday, November 12 at 1 PM ETThis is a one-time live masterclass — just $27 — where we’ll practice the exact 3-step process to:1️⃣ Recognize the wave2️⃣ Disrupt the pattern3️⃣ Rewire your response

You’ll get a printable worksheet, the replay, and a front-row seat to the shift that changes everything.After this live event, the class moves inside my Empowered Mom Method™ course at a higher rate — so this is your moment to join live and save your spot!

💻 Reserve your seat now: ⁠https://tara-s-site-3e92.thinkific.com/courses/ai-placeholder⁠🌿 Ready for the full transformation? Learn more about the Empowered Mom Method™ — the proven 5-stage journey that rewires your nervous system, restores your confidence, and rebuilds connection from the inside out. [insert link]

⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHB3Xu0FaBqh8Ls1ju4x7y-YGqIZQQp2KrdsLZHxen4Zp7Zg/viewform?usp=header

In this powerful episode of Unapologetically Mom, Tara sits down with Cynthia, a mom who joined The Empowered Mom Method™ hoping to find support for one of her sons — and ended up discovering something far greater.

Through the course, Cynthia found a new way to understand her children, communicate through challenges, and stay grounded even in the hardest moments. She shares the real stories, lessons, and mindset shifts that helped her move from exhaustion and overwhelm to calm, confidence, and connection — not just with one child, but with her entire family.

💛 Listen in to hear:
✨ What it’s really like to go through The Empowered Mom Method™
✨ How small mindset shifts create big emotional breakthroughs
✨ The tools that helped her handle tough parenting moments with peace and clarity
✨ Why her transformation started by focusing inward

This is one of those conversations that reminds you — no matter where you are in your journey, it’s never too late to reconnect, rebuild, and rediscover yourself as a mom.

If you’ve been listening and thinking, “That sounds like me,”
I’d love to invite you to schedule a free 15-minute chat with me — no pressure, just real talk. https://calendly.com/taratrievel/chat-with-tara
We’ll figure out what’s keeping you stuck and what the next step toward calm, confident parenting could look like for you.

#UnapologeticallyMom #EmpoweredMomMethod #ParentTransformation #MindfulParenting #MomGrowth #ParentSupport #NeurodivergentParenting #CalmConfidentConnected

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the IEP process or unsure how to advocate for your child in the special education system — this episode will ground you.

Tara sits down with Dr. Kristin Meyer, Ed.D., co-founder of The REACH Group and The REACH Group Foundation, for an honest, heart-centered conversation about what parents can do to navigate school supports with confidence.

Together, they unpack:
✨ The parent’s real role in the IEP process
✨ What schools often miss (and how to bridge that gap)
✨ How to advocate without burning out
✨ Why your calm and clarity make the biggest impact

Dr. Meyer brings over 15 years of experience walking beside families and helping them build the confidence, language, and perspective to make the system work for their kids — not against them.

https://thereachgroup.net/

#UnapologeticallyMom #EmpoweredParenting #SpecialEducation #IEPJourney #NeurodivergentParenting #ParentAdvocacy #TheReachGroup #EmpoweredMomMethod

Parenting with ADHD (or raising an ADHD or autistic child) is never simple, especially when you’re juggling your own brain, your family, and your professional role. In this episode of Unapologetically Mom, I’m joined by Maria Slavin, founder of INSYNC and Social in the greater Philadelphia area. She’s an occupational therapist, parent coach, and fellow mom navigating the same world I do.

Together, we dive into:
🧩 What it’s like parenting while managing our own ADHD brains
💼 How professionals balance expertise with real-life struggles
💬 The raw, unfiltered side of being both a mom and a pro in the neurodivergent parenting space

This isn’t a polished how-to—it’s a Philly-style, mom-to-mom conversation full of honesty, laughter, and relatable tangents. If you’re in the Philadelphia area looking for ADHD parenting support, autism resources, or just a place to feel seen, this episode is for you.

👉 Tune in for authentic stories, local connection, and permission to parent your way with support from moms who truly understand.