I know all the parents thinking of how to take care of the kids.
You know, how to train them, how to improve them and all these
things. But a lot of time they need
neglect of themselves as a parents, right?
Not taking good care of themselves.
Yeah. The parents also have a lot of
anxiety. The parents also kind of like
burned out and in many situations.
So I think that episode is is actually the most feedback that
the parents really benefit. This podcast shares personal
stories and professional insights, but it's not a
substitute for medical advice or therapy.
If you're looking for support, do speak to someone qualified
and trained in child development or special needs care.
You'll find the full disclaimer on the screen and in the show
note. Wow so fast.
We are now in episode 26 which is almost like a one year
anniversary since we started this podcast called Adapting
Together with the aim to have this as a voice or a platform to
support, inspire and empower parents and family with special
needs or children. So today we are here with just
three of us, no guests, only all the Co hosts to reflect and
understand what have we learned and also to share some of our
reflection and experiences for almost 25 episode and close to a
year. There's a lot of recording, a
lot of stories, a lot of lot of surprises as well and a lot of
things that I think a lot of lessons we have picked up at the
same time. So maybe I can start with one
question to common, because your video is the biggest one here.
Looking back at the past year, what motivated you to agree to
do this podcast? And is this reason still stay
the same now after a year? Yes, yeah.
So if you have listened to our first episode, we actually share
why we why we start, why would why we would like to start this
podcast. And I think after a year,
although it's really, really tiring at time with our very
packed schedule and yet we still commit on releasing every one
episode, every two weeks. It's because I feel like the the
podcast has benefited so many parents and not only the
parents, the therapist that is that we are working with, you
know, that tune into the podcast even ourselves whenever we we
had this interview with the parents, every interview or
every part, every recording, Yeah, I actually pick up
something. Yeah.
So the I would say that the benefit of it and how we how
this podcast can bless the community is actually continue
to drive as, or at least myself, you know, to continue for
another one year for this project.
Yeah. OK, so at least there will be 52
episode up by the end of next year.
We have kind of planned until 40 plus now and I think 52 is still
achievable. Achievable.
OK, so for those who may not know, I guess many people are
not aware, only two of me and Sydney will know.
Carmen is the scheduler for our podcast.
She's the one who responsible for all the amazing guests that
we have on the show for the last many, many episodes.
So she's the one who checked everyone's time and make sure
all of us find a good sweet spot for the time to do all the
recording and have all these amazing and meaningful
conversation. What about you singing after
training? Continue, continue from Kevin.
So I think, I mean, the effort is also a lot like that's not
easy to to make to match everybody's schedules and yet
this is still going on. Yeah, so for me, I think when I
started this one, of course it's also because that Carmen invited
me at the very first place. I honestly, I'm not the one who
who initiated this. But then when she told me, I
feel like I one year ago, I had a lot of doubt.
Maybe now or so a little bit yeah, a lot a lot of doubt that
that I I think because I am not I never really been like someone
who who is really actively share content on social media.
So and also is also very not of my style, like to put things out
there so openly. So when she told me I'm like my
first mindset, like let's try first laugh, maybe I participate
and see how it goes. But then it is like one year
already. Like today when we talk about
it, it's so fast. It's already so many episodes
that we have done. So yeah.
So I think what motivated me still motivate me to continue
doing this. I think part of it is also this
team like you, Kelvin and also Carmen, like everybody know out
of your busy time. We are all busy people.
But still, we, we, we still, I feel committed to this.
No, without, I mean, like seeing both of you is also part of the
motivation to keep this going. And also some of the feedback
that I've heard sometimes some of it were from comments, some
of it I read it online myself. Those feedback from the audience
is also one big factor that OK, we are doing something and and
it is also making impact or influence to people who follow
us and also trust us and follow our content.
Yeah, wow, that's very good. Thank you so much.
How about you, Kevin? I never thought of this because
to me it's like if there's still still meaning then obviously
it's worthwhile my time and my energy to continue to do.
Especially I'm the parents with a child who is on the spectrum.
So I guess to me the mission is still the same is to how to
ensure that the society in general, especially in our
country, the awareness, the empathy and the understanding
not to the parents but to the children who is on the spectrum,
who has to overcome a lot of natural wiring challenges.
You know, to learn new things to them is a lot tougher and
difficult compared to other children.
So we need the society to be more understanding and
accommodating to know that if certain child, they behave in a
way that perceive as weird to us, it's not because they are
weird, it's because it's neural divergent.
So to me, the reason will exist all the time.
Yeah. So it's like a fight to continue
to do. Yeah.
So speaking that, I think the key thing is that time
management for three of us is definitely not easy.
And I guess it's also fair to take this opportunity to express
our sincerest gratitude to all the guests because they are also
as busy, if not more busy than some of them are doctors, some
of them are therapy, some of them are, you know, they are all
the experts in their own area, including those parents who have
to juggle multiple responsibility, like their work,
their family, their children, who has special need as well.
And also to be so courageous, so brave and put themselves in a
very vulnerable position to share about their stories, which
is really something that we have to give them the credit for
doing all this when is really, you know, a choice and they make
a choice to contribute a very, a lot of a lot of meaning to, to
benefit more people. I'm sure along the way.
I'm, I never asked you guys before, did you have anything
that you consider is a challenge or what were the some of the
biggest challenges you faced when you started and to continue
until now, who would like to go first?
For me, I think it's really time management.
I have that feeling that every time to prepare, you know, to
arrange, I feel like sometimes it's very hard to match the
speaker timing, you know, and all this thing.
I feel a bit demotivated. But every time without fail,
after this recording session, I feel like, wow, I learned so
much, you know, and if I am in this line for 20 years, I
learned so much. I believe this, this information
also will bless, you know, the, the, the families, you know,
and, and, and even people who work with this group of
children. So that's why I feel like it's
still worth it at the end. I always have that like it's
like a cycle kind of emotion that is happening.
Yeah. Like now I think before like we
start this this episode, I feel like I really don't know what to
say, you know, and notice it. But once you go in, you feel
like, OK, yeah. So we we are in and we are
learning, we are sharing, you know, and, and things like that.
So I think the biggest challenge for me is actually with our busy
schedule, our time and sometime the challenges is actually
matching the time of everybody. Yeah, I think just these two for
me. I think for me there are quite a
number. But yeah.
You know, I feel the the first one is really seeing things in
front of a camera is really my challenge.
Like from the start I have never been like very natural that I
can say what I want to say, like saying things fluently and some
of be a host like asking question and knowing how to
navigate the conversation and how to open and close the
conversation. I just have this challenge, but
I don't need to share it out because I always have these two
good partners. Singy and Kevin always will be
the one who to hold. The thing so so.
It doesn't become It's not my challenge anymore, although it's
actually the biggest. Actually, you, you make us do
the thing. So you're all well trained.
So see, you really improve so much right from the. 1st I have
to do a lot of homework like before the thing I I think y'all
will know I write a lot of things down on the paper.
Maybe in the end also, I never say, but I just have to practice
that. Maybe not one time sometimes
like multiple times in my head and knowing how to say.
I think that is one of the thing I'm still learning now.
But that's one, one thing that I do to help myself to do better.
And another thing that I feel that unlock from this podcast is
also video editing. I have never been that video
editor before in before this project, but I'm still learning
and I feel previously was biggest challenge because I
spent a lot of time like researching and studying how can
it be done? But luckily I have my seafood
here, Kevin, to also teach me how to do it.
Then now I think now it's just exploring, like exploring.
And I still enjoy this this thing.
Yeah. No wonder you took up the
editing role for the last 4 episodes.
I'm OK. I'm OK to to just continue to
continue to help out the team, yeah.
Yeah, Speaking of editing, we also have to express our
gratitude at least. Not sure about Carmen, but
because he's your son. But for me and singing, I think
we are grateful for Aston for helping us out with two
episodes. Yeah.
I hope he can continue to help us more because I know that we
all getting more and more on our plates and at one point we are
thinking should we not to do so many episode for this year.
But at the end of the day three of us still agree on doing 2
episodes to reduce 2 episodes a month.
What makes us so gung ho to do it all out?
It's really because of we really want to help more parents and
get more information and inspire more parents.
Very good. So among all these episodes so
far, we have 25, including this one is 26 out of 25.
You know, some Part 1, Part 2. So I think if we have spoken or
hell meaningful insightful conversations with easily 15
guesses or more, right? So is there or has there been
any memorable conversation or episode for each of us?
Maybe Kevin, you can start first.
Maybe I can start first, it will be until the end of the day.
Also cannot finish because almost all episodes are
considered my favorite. But I know I asked the most
memorable conversation. So to me the most memorable will
always be the first one because the first one is the first time
and is something new to three of us.
It includes sourcing for a venue which adapt as sponsored the
venue of course. But also we have to set up and
everything. And I think we take a long time
to set up because we have to find an angle that everyone is
satisfied with. But unfortunately I think for
singing the camera was a little bit off, so the angle is very
side view. So I'm happy that eventually we
improve a lot from there as well.
But also because the first episode is so for me it relates
to a challenge as well because it's like I'm not someone who
knows anything about autism or anything.
The only thing I have is my experience dealing with my son.
And that's also like that time was just two year plus only into
the journey. So I would have a lot of doubt
like why am I doing this? Is it right thing to do or not?
So I have a lot of question mark as well.
But it's also because people like you guys have in the
profession for 10 years, 20 year, also feel like it's
something meaningful to do and gives me the confidence to
continue. And that's why it's memorable to
me, yeah. Yeah, For me, I think it's a
chance that I can visit back my previous client, the episode of
Andrew sharing about the son, two sons, you know, and also the
sister Celeste to share about the experience with the sibling.
I would say that is memorable because because of this podcast,
I really have this chance to meet them again, to see them
again. From the time that I left the
team, they are still at my shoulder height, you know, and
now they are much taller than me.
So I appreciate the opportunity, definitely, you know, and that
helps that help us click again. And apparently I heard from
Daddy Eaton got his license last two weeks.
So very, very happy for them. Yeah, yeah, that that's one of
the episode and definitely does a lot.
But one of these more meaningful to me is because of and even
Nina also, yeah, got a chance to see Martini at a very familiar
environment that I visited back then 10 years ago.
So yeah, it's a, it's a very memorable for me.
If you have not listened to this episode, Andrew sharing from a
father's perspective, I think it was episode #6 so he talked
about his story with Ethan and Kim, both his son.
And then he also shared some story and some experiences.
I remember 1 is that during the MCO time when they were crossing
the road, I think it was keen ride was hit by some car motto,
which was a very horrible experience for sure.
And no one should actually go through that.
So you can listen back to that. And Nina wants more recent
episode. So yeah, she shared about her
experience in foreign country and then there was some, again,
a memorable experience for her family.
And they had to spend, I think close to two to three hours in a
police station in a place that they don't know their native
language. So please, if you have not
listened to that and just check it out, I think you will find a
lot of good sharing from them, which is very truthful and
heartfelt one. Yeah.
So thank you, Carmen, for sharing.
But singing? I never forget to ask you.
So what's your favorite or memorable episode of
Conversation? Yeah, for me, the family series
always touches my heart love when you ask me, I think those
stories and the struggles that they share are so real.
Sometimes you don't see it And also I know like how these
stories can just give give strength to other other
audience. But I also think that meeting so
many professional in the line that also something that I
appreciate and it's also really memorable for me, like me, even
though no, we have worked with this population for a while, but
still there are so many other different perspectives and
approaches then that also give me a lot of new perspective and
no change. Sometimes also change in
influence the way that I work with my current client.
So I I think no, all episodes are also memorable.
But of course that this field, this field that I will
particularly find it more memorable.
Actually, there's another thing that's considered very memorable
experience for me personally, and I think if I share it, you
guys will be able to relate to that as well.
Do you remember the first time we went out for a recording at
the Outside, which is with Doctor Rajini episode at the
hospital there? And that was the first time we
went out for a recording. And the incident was when we
want to leave the hospital. Then I realized that I cannot
enter my car. And then we thanks to you guys,
you have to bring me around to try to buy a battery for my car
remote control. And then we couldn't find.
And then in the end, luckily before I called the tow car, I
decided to try to open the car door with the key.
And it turned out that the car was never locked in the 1st
place. No wonder the remote cannot so
there was so manyu so there was a very memorable in a bed
waiting for me. But looking bad is kind of fun
for must be too stressed like to record and see Doctor Rajini
forget to. Look, yeah, so this is a long
waiting list, right? And yet you can see and some
some I also very thankful because all these doctors, they
are all willing, you know, to. To arrange, let us arrange
another appointment with them either this year or the coming
episodes, You know. So I think we are really blessed
with that. So these are the things that
memorable for us and it become part of our life experience,
right. And definitely I think the
podcast or this episode has also enriched somehow parents or
professional. So I'm not sure whether you
receive any feedback or criticism from any listener or
feedback. OK.
I think earlier, I think in the earlier episodes I heard about
very like it's more like a technical issue.
Like sometimes the recording is very like very echoey, like
cannot I I heard feedback like that.
And then I think along the way we also improve in our gadgets
and the the things for our recording.
Then I think it improves from there.
I think I must say that we also learn a lot.
We don't start like being like a really professional editor.
The 1st place life. Yeah, yeah.
Constructive. Feedback and constructive
criticism. That.
Help. Yeah.
Yes, the some of the first few feedback that I've heard from
from the few audiences. Yeah.
Then we, we, so you, you bought a new tripod and then I also
have new tripod and then we also have new camera.
And then we also are very grateful to receive a
sponsorship from Mr. Keith Lowe, who sponsored our wireless mic.
I don't remember the name of the mic, but it's a, it's a mic that
has helped a lot with noise cancellation and dual channel
recording. Yeah.
So we need more sponsor. So if you have any constructive
criticism or feedback for us, do.
And if you can provide a solution or become the solution,
we really welcome you to do that.
OK. Any.
Any parents like common and singing?
You guys work with a lot of parents man, so anyone actually
comes to you and say that what they listen to eat and then
better certain episode they can relate to eat.
So after like for example, after Nina episode, some parents
already start flying and they already use use the yeah, the
butterfly. If I the advice from Nina Yeah
so and parents specially came a message and thanked us for that
yeah and I would say that a lot of parents actually gave good
feedback due I was after faithful episode because that's
about self help like I. Know all the parents thinking of
how to take care of the kids you know.
How to train them, how to improve them and all these
things. But a lot of time they need
neglect of themselves as a parents, right Not taking good
care of themselves. Yeah, the parents also have a
lot of anxiety. The parents also kind of like
burnt out and in many situation, you know.
So I think that episode is is actually I collected the most, I
would say from from my side is actually the most feedback that
the parents really benefit from that particular episode.
But it's a good thing that is the one is episode number 4.
Episode number 5 is on couple relationship and also couple
acceptance on the situation and challenges by Doctor Day who is
a licensed counselor. Yeah.
And I, Kevin, actually I want to thank you a lot because you
contributed 233 episodes. Yeah, in in among this 20
episodes, three are from you. And really, for me, I would say
that whenever I I interview you, I feel like, yeah, I'm getting
advice from someone that I don't need to pay for the
consultation. To me, to me, it's like to fill
up the episode when there is no gas, so I don't mind.
I don't this is one of the episodes.
Yes, No, I think your episode because I know that you are a
consultant and every hour that you spend to consult, you
actually can earn, you know, but I'm so thankful that you share
this three episode with us without even charging us and
giving us so good tips in handling financial, you know,
and all these things. Thank you for saying that.
But actually to be, to be exact, I mean, to be honestly, I think
one of the challenges for parents and caregiver, we want
to provide the word to our children.
But a lot of time, financial consideration could be one of
the biggest challenge that we, we think that is the challenge
that actually stop us from doing what we can.
And eventually we may not be able to continue.
And therefore, it's very important and it's my, it's a
blessing that I'm able to contribute what I know or my
experiences to the audience as well.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you're welcome.
And maybe from here it's a good time to to also for me to share
that. That's one thing that sometimes
make me feel a little bit awkward is like, let's say I'm
waiting for my son. Then sometimes the parents walk
by, then some of them will look at me.
Then I will be thinking, is there any dirt on my face or my
shirt is, you know, So then some of them will be friendly.
Now when they was asked, are you the one who do the podcast?
To me, it's like, well, it's a surprise actually.
In my heart. It's like people listen to it.
So people listen to it, but I have to.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I have to pretend to be very
calm and no, no emotion. But actually I'm very happy to
know that there are people who listen or watch the contents.
You don't Remember Me. It's fine.
But I the good thing is you remember some of the invaluable
and golden lessons you can find there.
That's the market, right? So therapist that.
Yeah, therapist that. Tell me.
Oh, come on. I saw the podcast Cohoes, you
know, shopping in which mall? Which mall?
I'm like wow, seems like Kevin is more famous than last time.
Really. Yeah, yeah, most likely you will
see me in ice cream shop like cafe.
OK, OK. So so we have come, I would say
come a long way, although it's not very long, but to us it's
quite long because we are like, there's no definite target.
Like, you know, we will do one year and stop or one not right?
So and then you have to work very hard to keep finding
guests. And sometimes we have to
reschedule because of maybe one of our Co hosts not not
available or the guest, right. So, yeah, if you never said
that, I think I've forgotten that it's not an easy thing to
do actually. So thank you a lot, Carmen.
And CG also has spent a lot hours in editing for sure.
So these are a lot, a lot of time.
And every one of us of time is worth a lot of value, not
necessarily money. And we can use our time to do
good deeds, which we are doing now.
And it's a blessing that we are able to do that as we continue
this journey. Because just now you mentioned
you plan until 40 something already.
So would you be able to share some sneak peek like what we can
expect or what the audience can expect?
Yeah. So this coming year, definitely
we will because the first I would say that the last year we
want to target a bit more on the earlier stage issue, you know,
like diagnosis, you know, what is OT about the fundamental
speech about and all this thing. And moving forward, we, we would
like to, but definitely there are some, some topics that like
for example, social development has not even touched on that
area yet. So this is all the upcoming one.
We would, we would still want to have a balance, a balance of
parents interview, a balance of from counsellor and a balance of
from professional. And definitely something that we
add on is I hear from enrichment like some of the kids they go
for horse riding, some of the kids they go for rock climbing,
some of them they go for art class music.
We would like to focus a bit more.
Yeah, swimming. So this coming year I would like
to focus a little bit more in terms of that so that the
parents, when they choose to know what other things that my
kids can do besides sending for therapy.
Yeah. So they have all these people
who are experienced and they will be able to share as yeah,
why, how this about how swimming can support and benefit kids on
the spectrum. OK, sounds like a lot of things
to look out for. And of course, if you know
someone who you think might add values and bring values, we
welcome you to drop in a comment or you can e-mail to us.
You will find e-mail address in the show note as well.
And if you are a parent and you think that you have something to
share, do we do welcome you a lot as well.
Yeah, We will say thank you very much if there's anyone who want
to share because that means this podcast, right, is doing what it
is supposed to do to provide a platform and a voice for more
people to be more understanding and to know more about unique
challenges and the journey and experiences that family,
especially children go through and form a community that is
really caring for each other. So I think we've got this is
just about the right time for us to wrap up this episode.
And I would like to encourage you, if you have not subscribed
and follow the show, this is the right time and the best time for
you to do now. And you can also share the show
to people who you think may benefit from it as well.
Before I say goodbye, does anyone have anything to add on?
Yeah, feel free to let us know what are the upcoming topic that
you all want to know. Yeah, we would like to create
more content that, you know, close to our audience hire.
Yeah. OK, singing anything?
No edit more video. OK.
All right. So again, thank you very much.
All right, and thank you. So see you.
Bye bye.