In this episode of Notes Due at Midnight, pediatric occupational therapist Casey Openshaw explains why children cannot always access familiar coping skills during a meltdown. She shares practical ways to prioritize safety, reduce stimulation, use fewer words, maintain necessary boundaries, and support recovery without trying to force calm.

Sometimes success isn’t stopping the meltdown. Sometimes it’s getting through the moment safely, reconnecting afterward, and trying again tomorrow.

In this episode of Notes Due at Midnight, pediatric occupational therapist Casey Openshaw explains the differences between meltdowns, tantrums, and challenging behavior; without labeling children as “bad.” She shares how to look beneath the behavior, recognize possible sensory or emotional overload, maintain boundaries, and teach better responses once everyone is calm.

Because behavior is communication... but that doesn’t mean every behavior is acceptable.

I’m sharing our visit with Korro and the testimonials we provided, my upcoming opportunity to present with Ensora at Pedsapalooza, and the full-circle moment of watching my stepdaughter Reagan and niece Sarah head to Husson to begin their OT journeys.

Plus, a little OT history, how World War I helped shape the profession, and the time I excelled at basket weaving while my very artistic mom…had a different experience. 😂

An episode about new beginnings, a busy practice, and remembering why we love this profession.

Sources & resources:

• AOTA: Occupational Therapy’s History
• AOTA: Reconstruction Aides During World War I
• AOTA: OT’s Arts-and-Crafts Roots
• Korro: Occupational Therapy Platform

The N in COPEN has always stood for Nurture—and I’ve always put it last. But after following the Lindsay Clancy trial and reflecting on my own experience with postpartum depression, I’m starting to wonder if I’ve had it backward.

In this heavier episode of Notes Due at Midnight, I talk about maternal mental health, parental capacity, and what it really means when someone says they’re “drowning.” I also share a part of my own postpartum story that I haven’t talked much about: being diagnosed with PPD, finding myself in a difficult situation far from home, living with a friend while waiting on the Colorado court system, and trying to care for baby Theo while my own family was changing around me.

As an occupational therapist, I spend my days teaching parents how to understand and regulate their children. But this case made me ask a question I should probably be asking much sooner:

Who is taking care of the person doing all of the taking care of?

Maybe Nurture isn't bubble baths and self-care checklists. Maybe it's support, sleep, asking for help, accepting help, professional care when it's needed, and having someone notice when you're not okay.

Maybe before we ask parents to co-regulate their children, we need to make sure someone is helping support them, too.

Nurture may be the last letter in COPEN, but from now on, I think it needs to come first.

This week, I’m talking about something I see both as a pediatric OT and a mom: kids need a voice, choices, empathy, and validation...but they also need boundaries.

Your child is allowed to be mad at you. They’re allowed to hear “no.” They’re allowed to do things they don’t want to do. And sometimes, “I don’t wanna” simply isn’t a reason to change the plan.

We’re talking about the difference between child-centered and child-controlled parenting, why big feelings don’t automatically mean a boundary is wrong, and why kids actually feel safer when the adults are confidently in charge.

After spending the day at the waterslides with Theo, I started thinking about play....not just why kids need it, but why adults do too. We spend so much time working, parenting, cleaning, answering emails, and checking off the next thing that sometimes we forget we're allowed to do things simply because they're fun.

In this episode, we're talking about play as an important part of childhood, why boredom isn't always a bad thing, how play helps with regulation and connection, and why our kids need to see us having fun too.

Go down the waterslide. Play the video game. Jump in the pool.

The laundry will still be there.

And the notes? Well…they can wait until midnight.

In this episode, I'm sharing how years of working with children with ADHD eventually helped me recognize it in myself—and how that journey inspired me to create COPEN (Coaching on Parenting and Emotional Navigation).

We'll talk about why behavior is communication, why parents are the most important part of a child's therapy journey, and why I believe empowering caregivers creates lasting change.

As a thank-you to families, COPEN is completely FREE during the month of August, with both virtual and in-person options available. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, questioned your parenting, or just wanted practical strategies that actually work, this episode is for you.

This is an episode about the power of showing up, being someone's safe place, and remembering that sometimes the most important work we do will never fit inside a therapy note.

Whether you're a parent, therapist, teacher, foster parent, or simply someone who loves a child, this episode is a reminder that one caring adult can change the trajectory of a life, and that every caregiver deserves someone in their corner, too.

Everyone talks about the exciting parts of owning a business—but no one talks about the messy middle.

In this episode of Notes Due at Midnight, Casey shares the real story behind building a pediatric therapy practice in rural Maine, the incredible people who helped make it possible, and the leadership lessons she learned the hard way. From an employee introducing her to her husband, to dreaming about opening a clinic with a classmate in graduate school, to working alongside her brother, this episode is full of heartfelt stories, humor, and honest reflections.

If you've ever led a team, owned a business, or simply wondered if you're "doing it right," this episode is a reminder that there is no perfect way to lead; only the courage to lead authentically.

Grab your coffee, finish those notes, and join the conversation.

Did you know I changed my college major seven times? In this episode, I share the winding path that led me to occupational therapy, from art education and psychology to pharmacy, industrial design, and everything in between. We also dive into what occupational therapy really is, why it's about helping people live life to the fullest, and how sometimes the detours in life are actually preparing us for where we're meant to be.