Routine Rollercoaster

Too Much to Ask?When you're a dad of a child with a disability, asking for support at work can feel like walking a tightrope. In this episode, I share a personal story and perspectives about disclosing my family's needs in the workplace and how one employer said all the right things… until it got inconvenient.We’ll talk about:The silent stigma dads face in the workplaceWhat happens when “supportive” is just surface-levelThe emotional cost of hiding what's really going onThe very real legal protections you have as a carer under Australian lawAnd practical advice for other dads navigating work, disclosure, and advocacyThis one is for the dads quietly carrying the load, and wondering if telling the truth will cost them their job.

Ever find yourself reacting before you even realise what you’re reacting to?In this episode, I unpack a moment where I defaulted back into an old emotional thinking pattern taking things personally, called personalisation. It’s a cognitive distortion that creates reactions like snapping when I didn’t need to, and realising too late that it wasn’t about my wife… it was about me.I talk about how these loops form, why they hit hardest at home, and how even after years of therapy and CBT, the old stuff can sneak back in when we’re tired, overwhelmed, or stretched too thin.This is for any dad of a child of disability, partner, or human who’s ever thought: “I should’ve known better.”You’re not alone. You’re just in the loop. Let’s find our way out, together.

After a long hiatus, I’m back.Recorded in the car. No mic, no script, no polish. Just me, reflecting on the last 48 hours with Leo and the massive progress I didn’t know we’d made.In this episode I reflect on two surprising experiences with my son Leo that reminded me just how far he’s come. From a night out at Sydney Zoo’s Glow event to a doctor’s appointment I was dreading, both moments showed me what real, hard-won progress looks like and how easy it is to miss it in the day-to-day.It made me realise: growth isn’t always visible until you try the hard thing again.If you’re a parent in the thick of it, wondering if anything’s changing... it probably is. You just might not see it, yet.

As dads of children with disabilities, one of the hardest truths we need to face is the isolation and loneliness that comes with the territory of parenting a child with a disability. In many ways your life as a disability parent may mirror your child’s own experiences, such as less friends, less places you go, more social anxiety, more reasons to stick to routine. In this episode I confront the difficult reality of loneliness as a disability dad and share my perspective in the hope you can relate and it validates what’s going on in your reality as you are doing your best.

How can you try and be your best as a disability dad? Try starting by finding what works. For your child’s therapy, for their needs and most importantly for you as a dad.Living by the code is a mantra that many people have adopted to guide their lives, and something that works for Peter. It’s a set of principles, values and beliefs that help him navigate through the man at challenges that come with disability parenting. Peter shares why living his personal code, doing the work and ultimately “finding what works” is the real key to balance and happiness as a dad

There is the event itself and then there is the story we tell ourselves. Too often we exaggerate the story and get into unhealthy thinking patterns about our ability to stay calm and dela with challenges as das of kids with disabilities. Perception precedes action. The right action follows the right perspective. It is so easy in the day to day challenges of juggling dad responsibilities to let our internal judgements of events actually change how we perceive them. What if you could use this knowledge to change all that and change your perception to then change your thoughts and actions for the better?

On the season 3 opener I share my experiences about a very relatable challenge we all face as dads of kids with disabilities in terms of navigating whether we choose the path of least resistance of the predictable world of routine or whether we brave the unknown exploration of the new unpredictable world to potetnially find other experiences our kids may enjoy just as much or even more.

I made a commitment when I started Dad-ability that I would openly talk about the struggles as well as the successes and practical strategies. This episode is me at my most vulnerable. It’s raw. It’s honest and it’s something every parent of a child with disability can relate to. What happens when everything becomes too much? What happens when you reach your limit? What happens when you don’t have all the answers. On todays episode I don’t have the answers, but I wanted to share this experience in the hope next time you find yourself feeling overwhelmed that you talk about it too, you ask for help and support and you don’t judge yourself for feeling this way.

Coming to terms with grief of the life you thought they would have is an ongoing challenge for many parents of children with disabilities. What can we learn from our beautiful unique kids about how to deal with it better? I offer a personal perspective grounded in a ‘Peter Pan’ Mentality of youthful adventure, freedom and innocence that knows no limits and the child like ability to beleive in the possibility of flying

The most common question I get asked is what advice do I have for dads who has just received a new disability diagnosis for their kids. I have summarised my top 5 tips I have learned so far from my own experiences to help a dad come to terms with the diagnosis, how to handle it, and what to do to start getting into action and supporting your family