Episode 184: Laurie Anderson The Power of Showing Up

The Power of Showing Up: Laurie Anderson on Redefining Success in Caregiving

What if success as a caregiver wasn’t about getting everything right, but about showing up again and again?

In this episode of The FASD Success Show, Jeff Noble sits down with longtime community leader, moderator, and coach Laurie Anderson to talk about what it really takes to keep going through the hardest seasons of caregiving — with compassion, connection, and calm.

Laurie’s story is one so many caregivers will recognize: years of navigating systems, learning on the fly, carrying invisible emotional weight, and holding everyone else together while trying to stay regulated yourself. Now, after retiring from her career and continuing to serve as one of our incredible coaches and moderators, Laurie reflects on what real success looks like for caregivers.

Meet Laurie Anderson

Laurie is one of the anchors of our community. She’s the lead moderator in our Free Parent and Caregiver Facebook Group (facebook.com/groups/FASDForever), where thousands of families turn every day for help, reassurance, and humor. She’s also one of our FASD Success coaches, known for her empathy, insight, and ability to make caregivers feel seen and supported.

Now newly retired, Laurie is reflecting on her own journey — from those chaotic early years to finding rhythm, community, and confidence in the role she never applied for but now helps others navigate.

In This Episode You’ll Hear

Why showing up matters more than getting it right
Caregivers often measure success by outcomes, but the real progress happens in the moments of consistency — when we circle back, repair, and keep showing up. Neuroscience shows that these repeated moments of connection strengthen co-regulation and build long-term trust between caregiver and child.

How connection literally calms the brain
Laurie and Jeff talk about how human connection isn’t just emotional support — it’s physiological. According to Polyvagal Theory, social engagement cues the body’s “safe and connected” state, reducing cortisol and bringing the prefrontal cortex (the logical, problem-solving part of the brain) back online.

Redefining success through regulation
Success isn’t about perfect behavior or spotless routines. It’s about how often we recover, reconnect, and regulate — even after hard moments. Laurie reminds caregivers that this work is slow and layered, but it’s working, even when you can’t see it yet.

Rest is not quitting
After years of caregiving and community work, Laurie talks openly about the importance of rest. Her story is a reminder that caregivers need recovery time too. Rest keeps your nervous system balanced, your brain flexible, and your compassion intact.

Why your story matters
Laurie’s experience — like so many caregivers — is filled with both exhaustion and hope. She’s proof that the things you learn in the trenches can change not just your family, but your community.

Why It Matters

Laurie’s story is more than one family’s experience — it’s a reflection of what every caregiver faces in this journey.

Science tells us that caregiving for individuals with FASD is not just emotional work; it’s neurological work. Every moment of calm connection literally helps wire your loved one’s brain for safety and belonging. It’s not visible progress, but it’s deep, lasting change.

Laurie reminds us that showing up, staying curious, and forgiving yourself are as important as any strategy or support plan.

This is the heart of The FASD Success Show: real people, real science, and real stories that remind you that you’re doing better than you think.

Watch or Listen to the Full Episode

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FASDSuccess 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ntB51glqYnRPmXCh6lOGq?si=f006bfa2966d4972 
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-fasd-success-show/id1492499195 

Resources and Links

Join our Free Parent and Caregiver Group: facebook.com/groups/FASDForever 
Follow Jeff on Instagram: instagram.com/FASDSuccess 
Follow Jeff on Facebook: facebook.com/FASDSuccess 
Full Show Notes and More Episodes: fasdsuccess.com/podcast