When Parenting Becomes Survival Mode: With Paul Voss
Mon Feb 02 2026
When Parenting Becomes Survival Mode is a reality many families know all too well.
In this episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we’re joined by Paul Voss, a father of eight whose life changed when his youngest child was diagnosed with autism. Paul shares the raw, behind-the-scenes truth of parenting through years of exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and emotional burnout while still showing up for a full family.
This conversation isn’t about perfect parenting or clinical theory. It’s about what actually happens when families are pushed into survival mode, and what helped Paul move from constant chaos to a calmer, more intentional home. Along the way, he shares practical changes that didn’t just support his autistic child, but improved life for the entire family including siblings with ADHD.
In this episode, we discuss:
Parenting during extreme exhaustion and sleep loss
Why common advice often doesn’t work in real life
How small environmental changes can create big shifts
The emotional weight parents especially fathers carry silently
Finding hope without minimizing how hard autism can be
This episode is for parents who are tired, overwhelmed, and wondering if it ever gets better. You’re not alone, and survival mode doesn’t have to be permanent.
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When Parenting Becomes Survival Mode is a reality many families know all too well. In this episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we’re joined by Paul Voss, a father of eight whose life changed when his youngest child was diagnosed with autism. Paul shares the raw, behind-the-scenes truth of parenting through years of exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and emotional burnout while still showing up for a full family. This conversation isn’t about perfect parenting or clinical theory. It’s about what actually happens when families are pushed into survival mode, and what helped Paul move from constant chaos to a calmer, more intentional home. Along the way, he shares practical changes that didn’t just support his autistic child, but improved life for the entire family including siblings with ADHD. In this episode, we discuss: Parenting during extreme exhaustion and sleep loss Why common advice often doesn’t work in real life How small environmental changes can create big shifts The emotional weight parents especially fathers carry silently Finding hope without minimizing how hard autism can be This episode is for parents who are tired, overwhelmed, and wondering if it ever gets better. You’re not alone, and survival mode doesn’t have to be permanent.