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Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

TPP 017: One Mother's Radical, Nature-Based Approach to Helping Her Daughter Live with Anxiety

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Debbie Reber

Education, Kids & Family, Parenting

4.81K Ratings

🗓️ 19 July 2016

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, I talk with Jill Emmelhainz, the mother of a 14-year-old differently-wired daughter who struggles with severe anxiety. Over the years, Jill and her husband noticed their daughter Anna’s anxiety was greatly reduced when she spent time outdoors and in nature, so this past year, they decided to try something radical and fully immerse themselves in nature for extended periods of time to see what would happen. For six weeks in fall 2015 and five weeks in spring 2016, Jill and her daughter have hiked the Appalachian Trail in the eastern U.S. The result? During those weeks in nature, Anna’s anxiety all but disappeared, and she’s found ways to bring the learnings from those experiences back into her day-to-day life in a helpful way. JIll and her daughter’s story is fascinating…we have a sense you’ll think so, too!   Jill Emmelhainz says: “I have had the privilege of raising and homeschooling our seven children. Travel and creativity have always been part of our family life. Now that we have only one child still at home, she and I enjoy outdoor adventures as a way to help her cope with significant life challenges.”   THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: How trying something completely new and radical can sometimes have unexpected, positive consequences The power of having shared, powerful experiences with a child (especially one who’s a teenager) Suggestions for getting kids more excited about and engaged in outdoor time and nature   RESOURCES MENTIONED: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv Jill’s blog, The Big Epic Support the show Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

If you're listening to this podcast, it's probably because a child you love and care for is differently wired.

0:07.0

Are they also struggling in their current educational setting, seen only for what they're doing wrong, while longing for positive relationships with peers and

0:14.8

others?

0:15.8

Envision a world where your child's unique abilities are not just recognized but celebrated.

0:21.0

A world where they can connect with others and their true potential is seen and

0:24.9

appreciated. The Strength-based Assessment Lab's mission is to build a world for your child just

0:30.7

like that. Through its innovative approach that aims to empower students, families, educators, and professionals

0:36.3

to create positive, effective, and collaborative learning experiences.

0:40.2

Be a part of shaping a brighter future for your child.

0:43.0

Visit W.

0:45.0

BGS.ed.

0:47.0

to learn more about what a strength-based assessment could mean for your family.

0:51.0

That's BGS.

0:52.0

E.D.U's BGS. Edu.

0:54.0

At home with medication, with the therapist.

0:57.0

She usually has two to three, maybe four significant meltdowns a week because of anxiety.

1:04.1

When we got out there in the woods in that six weeks, she had one partial meltdown and that was all.

1:19.6

Welcome to the Tilt Parenting Podcast, a podcast featuring interviews and conversations aimed at inspiring, informing and supporting parents raising differently wired kids.

1:23.0

I'm your host Debbie Reber and today we're talking with Jill Emmel Hines,

1:28.0

the mother of a 14 year old daughter with anxiety who's taken extraordinary measures to support her daughter.

1:35.0

Last year, Jill and her daughter have gone on extended hiking expeditions on the Appalachian Trail,

1:41.2

the longest hiking only footpath in the world that extends all the way

...

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