It’s OK to Take Things Slow
with Jenny Lai
Behavior Bites Podcast - Ep64June 11, 2025How often do you slow down?
What would it be like to pause and connect before interacting?
During today’s meal–— I speak with a phenomenal woman about career choices, getting into ABA, parenting neurodivergent children, learning and healing from generational trauma, and ADHD projects like making chili oil from scratch.
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Amuse-Bouche
You recently celebrated your podcast’s first anniversary.
What has it been like for the past year? What have you learned?
Appetizer
How did you get into Behavior Analysis?
Something you wish you could have told yourself when getting started?
Palate Cleanser
Describe your favorite thing to cook.
Entree
When was a time you failed, and what did you learn from that experience?
Dessert
Your favorite thing about what you do?
Excerpts from the Episode
(*Paraphrased highlights)-
At that time, I felt like I needed to know it all. As I was working as a Behavior Interventionist, everything was data, data, data. I remember feeling at that time, just making sure I would get enough trials. I remember feeling that this doesn't feel natural to me, but I did it anyway.
So something I would tell myself is that it's okay to take things slow. It's okay to ask questions, and it's okay to just get to know your clients.
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Professionally, I'm working on my speaking. I am a very nervous person, so I would try to be over prepared, not really focusing on who my audience is. I would put so much energy into making things perfect that it would detract from what truly matters, the caregivers. I would bombard them, giving too much information where it becomes hard for caregivers to sustain all that information.
What I learned from that is like, what is the most important? There's so much I want to say, and I can also go off on tangents, but people are there to get the most basic information and just have a connection with the speaker.
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My favorite thing right now, what I am trying to put all my energy into, is building an inclusive community where I'm at.
My son is a regional center client. It’s a county-funded resource if your child has a diagnosis or disability. They provide resources such as respite care and social recreational activities reimbursement. I can take my son to baseball if I want to, so he can be with other peers, and the regional center will reimburse me. Part of his plan is for him to connect with others; increase social interaction.
Currently, I feel like there aren’t any programs or activities that are the best fit for him or kids like him— activities like adaptive bowling or adaptive golf. I'm seeking out what our community needs, trying to find ways to make things more accessible and more inclusive, and it's obviously not just for kids with special needs. It’s for anybody. The point is just to create a safe space where we can all get to know each other, and play together.
ABOUT Jenny
Jenny Lai, BCBA
Hi, I'm Jenny Lai. I'm a mom to 2 autistic children and also a BCBA. I've been in the field for 7 years. I'm also the co-host of a podcast called Not a Tiger Mom with my friend Bettina who is an SLP, where we talk about parenting, autism, and breaking old-school parenting habits in Asian families. I care a lot about helping families feel supported and seen. I currently work once a week for an ABA company and I own a private practice.
When I am not doing ABA things, I am spending time with my family and friends, working out, and getting into cooking (juicing, protein bars, chili oil).
CONNECT with Jenny
Instagram: @msjennybx@jennysunbehaviorconsultant@notatigermompodcastPlease support our podcast by leaving a rating or review!
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Visit my Podcast page to learn more about Behavior Bites!
