Why Don’t Neurodivergent Kids Believe in Themselves? | NeuroDADverse Ep.49

You can encourage them every single day… and still watch them doubt themselves. In Episode 49 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast, Ben and Dan reflect on self-worth, confidence, rejection sensitivity, and the emotional reality of trying to build belief in neurodivergent children who often struggle to see their own strengths. This week’s episode gets more reflective and emotional than usual as the dads unpack how autism, ADHD, masking, rejection, and school experiences can deeply affect confidence and identity over time. We also discuss: Why neurodivergent children can struggle to accept praise The emotional impact of feeling “different” growing up Encouraging confidence without pressure Parents’ evenings and the importance of safe adults in schools Feeling seen, encouraged, and understood in education Why small moments of acceptance matter so much Parenting through uncertainty while still holding onto hope Plus, Dan shares a genuinely heartwarming update about Frankie being encouraged to run for school council — a moment that would have once felt impossible. This episode is honest, vulnerable, hopeful, and deeply relatable for parents navigating autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, school struggles, and neurodivergent self-esteem. Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world. Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life. If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here. 🔔 New episodes weekly 📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show 📧 [email protected] 🌐 All links & platforms: 👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible 📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube 📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn #NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting #ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse #DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK