Have you ever thought about someone, remembered all sorts of things about them, and still not remembered that you never replied to their message? Or are you the person waiting on that reply, wondering what you did wrong?

This week Alison shares something that genuinely blew her mind. Remembering a person and remembering the task you meant to do for that person are not the same memory. She unpacks prospective memory, why some brains open someone’s “entire file” while others don’t, and why forgetting is not a reflection of how much you care.

She also gets real about the way we talk about ourselves when our brains don’t do what we expect. As a mum, it breaks her heart to hear kids say “I’m hopeless at remembering things”, and she shares how we can swap self-criticism for self-compassion without letting go of accountability.

In this episode:

• What prospective memory is, and why everyday cues (like the empty toothpaste tube) matter so much
• Why thinking about someone doesn’t guarantee you’ll remember the reply you owe them
• The “open the whole file” brain vs the “there’s Alison, file closed” brain
• How ADHD can affect prospective memory, and why these differences aren’t exclusive to neurodivergent people
• The difference between “I’m struggling with this” and “I’m hopeless”
• Separating the behaviour from the person, for our kids and for ourselves
• Intent, behaviour and impact, and why self-compassion and accountability can exist together
• Practical systems that help, from reminders to communicating how your brain works
• The hidden weight of carrying everyone’s open loops, and the idea of a little mental pruning

which brain are you? Do you run a massive filing system, or can you think of someone and close the file? Send Alison a DM and let her know.

If this episode made you think of someone, share it with them. It might change the story you’re both telling yourselves.

Follow Alison On IG HERE

Check out the Our Neurodiverse Family Website HERE

What if the question isn't "why can't my child regulate better?" but "where does this nervous system find regulation more easily?"

In this episode, Alison shares her recent trip to Binna Burra in the Scenic Rim, where she was invited to see the new lodge ahead of its opening later this year. Visiting on the seven year anniversary of the lodge burning down made it an emotional weekend, and it got her thinking about why this place means so much to her as a neurodivergent person. When she arrives there, her brain goes quiet. Not empty, just quiet.

From there, Alison explores why time in nature can feel so regulating for many ND people, and why the environment matters so much more than we give it credit for.

In this episode:

• Why ND traits don't exist in a vacuum, and how the same child who can't concentrate in a busy classroom might spend 40 minutes examining rocks by a creek
• The fascinating (and slightly weird) science of phytoncides, the compounds trees release, and what forest bathing research suggests
• Why nature's sensory input is often slower, more rhythmic and less demanding
• An honest reminder that nature isn't automatically sensory friendly. Sand, heat, bugs and crowds can be awful, so it's about finding the kind of outside that works for each nervous system
• How movement outdoors happens naturally, without anyone announcing "regulation exercises"
• Why nature takes the pressure off performing. A tree doesn't need eye contact, and you can walk beside someone without filling every silence
• A small study showing children with ADHD concentrated better after a 20 minute walk in a park

Alison is clear that nature doesn't cure ADHD or make anyone less autistic, and it isn't a replacement for medication, therapy or support. But it does show that attention and regulation are shaped by context, not just by how hard someone is trying.

And this isn't another thing to add to your to do list. It can be ten minutes under a tree after school, afternoon tea in the backyard, or a quick walk collecting leaves and sticks. It still counts if it's only five minutes, and it still counts if your child brings their device along.

Connect with Alison On IG HERE and Visit the OND Website here

A TikTok came across Alison's feed: a woman asked if her partner could join her on a walk, and the honest internal answer was yes, absolutely, but ONLY if he can understand that he will cease to exist for the next forty minutes.

It sounds harsh until you understand what that walk is actually doing. In this episode Alison pulls the whole thing apart and asks the question that changes how you look at everyone's afternoon routines, including your kids': what job is this activity doing for their nervous system?

Because a walk isn't always exercise. A shower isn't always hygiene. And Lego is almost never just Lego.

Follow Alison Here

Check out the ONDF Website here