Today I’m welcoming Amanda Diekman back to the show to talk about her new book, The Parents Handbook for Kids in Burnout: A Low Demand Approach to Healing and Thriving, and what parents need to understand when their child is experiencing burnout. Amanda will explain what burnout actually is, how it can show up differently across childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, and why it’s so often mistaken for anxiety or depression. We talk about the signs parents may miss, what’s happening beneath the surface when a child can no longer meet the demands of everyday life, and how a low demand approach can create the conditions for healing. And importantly, Amanda shares what recovery can look like, how parents can support their child without inadvertently adding more pressure, and why healing from burnout requires us to rethink our expectations, timelines, and ideas about progress.
About Amanda Diekman
Amanda Diekman is the author of the bestseller Low Demand Parenting and also the exhausted mom of three kids who have all experienced burnout. With relentlessly hopeful determination, Amanda turns her struggles into signposts, guiding the way into true healing for burned out kids—and their parents too. She lives in Durham, NC, and spends her days homeschooling, writing, and supporting vulnerable neighbors.
Things you'll learn from this episode
How low demand parenting goes beyond simply asking less and instead centers attunement, collaboration, and responsiveness to a child’s capacity
Why burnout is a protective response to prolonged stress and how it can be mistaken for anxiety or depression
How pervasive exhaustion, loss of skills, and extreme sensitivity can signal that a child is experiencing burnout
Why burnout may progress from “I can’t do this” to withdrawal, disordered eating, self-harm, or other risky behaviors
How the three phases of burnout—from total rest to returning curiosity and recovery—can help parents understand the healing process
Why trusting a child’s signals, finding community, and holding onto hope are essential for supporting recovery
Resources mentioned
Amanda Diekman’s website
The Parent’s Handbook for Kids in Burnout by Amanda Diekman
Low-demand Parenting: Dropping Demands, Restoring Calm, and Finding Connection With Your Uniquely Wired Child by Amanda Diekman
Amanda Diekman on Instagram
Why is everything so hard? Quiz on Amanda’s website
Parent Coach Amanda Diekman on Low-Demand Parenting & Finding Connection with Your Child (Tilt Parenting podcast)
A Deep Dive Into Autistic Burnout with Jodie Clarke (Tilt Parenting podcast)
A Conversation with Dr. Megan Anna Neff About Autistic Burnout (Tilt Parenting podcast)
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