Episode 309
In this episode, number 309, my guest is Princess Owens. She is parenting educator, writer, and mindfulness facilitator whose work uplifts neurodivergent families with compassion and intention. As the founder and lead consultant of Bloom Village Co., she helps family-serving organizations build more inclusive, culturally grounded, and community-centered spaces. A dedicated neurodiversity advocate and mother of five, she brings real-life insight, heart, and expertise to every conversation. Based in New Jersey, Princess blends mindful parenting, storytelling, and lived experience to guide others toward more supportive and human-centered care for children and families. She is here to share her journey and talk about Bloom Village and her upcoming appearance at ICDL’s 2026 DIR® conference!
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Discovering Neurodivergence
During the early months of the pandemic in 2020, Princess began following a parenting autism and disability advocate known as Supernova Momma, whose messages about Autism awareness and acceptance deeply resonated with her. As she listened and started doing her own research, she began reflecting more intentionally on her children’s experiences and the ways autistic people describe perceiving and feeling the world. What began as curiosity gradually turned into recognition.
Princess’ youngest son was developing typically in infancy—making sounds, giving eye contact, responding to his name, even saying a few early words. Then, around 12 months, those skills suddenly faded. The eye contact stopped, he no longer responded to his name, and he seemed less socially engaged. Concerned, she brought this to his pediatrician, who discussed developmental milestones and referred him to a neurologist. Through that process, her son was diagnosed as autistic. Two of her five children are neurodivergent, including her older son, who has auditory processing disorder and ADHD.
As Princess learned more about her children’s neurodivergence, she began to reflect on her own experiences. Listening to her older son describe his sensory needs and challenges, such as feeling agitated when he had to sit still for too long, felt surprisingly familiar. In many of his words, she recognized herself. What started as supporting her children gradually became a deeper self-exploration. After working with a therapist and being referred to a psychiatrist, she was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism as well, which helped her better understand her own lifelong patterns.
This experience strengthened Princess’ connection with her children. She describes her parenting as rooted in empathy. She could genuinely step into their shoes because she has lived similar experiences. While her mother would comment on her remarkable patience with her children, Princess attributes it to understanding what it feels like to move through the world as a neurodivergent child who may not always have had the words to explain what was happening internally. That perspective, she says, allows her to guide her children with compassion and deep attunement.
Career Prior to Motherhood
Before becoming a parent, Princess was in the wellness and nutrition field. With an academic background in nutrition and a foundation in fitness and holistic health, she initially focused on writing and leading group sessions centered on overall well-being that she believes in: mind, body, and spirit. Even before she was a mother, many of her conversations with women naturally gravitated toward mental health and the realities of parenting. She found herself holding space for mothers, listening with empathy and building community. In hindsight, she sees that season as preparation for what would come next.
When she became a parent, her work evolved alongside her life. She continued writing and facilitating groups, but her focus shifted from individual fitness culture to family and household wellness. Wanting to move away from the rigid, black-and-white parenting models she had grown up with, she pursued further education and certifications in parenting and child development. She embraced a more nuanced, human-centered approach that recognizes children as whole people with complex inner worlds.
As she stepped more fully into parent coaching, especially within the context of neurodivergence, her professional and personal paths merged. Her message became less about gym culture and external standards of health, and more about sustainable, authentic well-being. She believes in supporting nervous system regulation, mental health, and family balance in ways that truly fit each household’s unique reality. I love how what Princess is doing is giving families permission to be themselves and that every family is unique.
Bloom Village
Bloom Village grew out of her desire to teach and amplify! While Princess enjoys leading parenting workshops, she realized she was equally passionate about listening to experts, educators, and advocates in marginalized communities whose stories often go unheard. She saw how many people were doing powerful, community-centered work to uplift neurodivergent families, yet lacked access to larger platforms. Bloom Village became her way of changing that by highlighting voices that offer practical, sustainable support and real hope to families who often feel like they’re barely holding on.
Through Bloom Village, Princess collaborates with changemakers like Gennaia James, a Black business owner in New Jersey who opened an inclusive childcare program intentionally designed to support Black and Brown autistic children. Drawing from both her professional credentials and her lived experience as a mother navigating childcare barriers, Princess helps tell stories like Gennaia’s about genuine inclusion, not just marketing language.
Princess also works with educators like Ms. Monica, a special education teacher and YouTube creator producing early-learning content rooted in representation and healing. Monica’s work is deeply personal, inspired by her own painful preschool experience, and driven by a commitment to ensure children feel safe, seen, and supported. For Princess, Bloom Village is about cultivating that kind of ecosystem where stories, resources, and representation create the conditions for families and children to truly bloom.
The Upcoming DIR® Conference
Princess is excited to speak at the upcoming International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) 2026 DIR® Conference, taking place at Kean University in New Jersey this month. Her presentation will focus on conscious parenting and how it aligns with the DIR® model which is a shift from compliance-based approaches to relationship-based, connection-driven support.
Drawing from her lived experience as a mother, Princess plans to share how practicing DIRFloortime by getting on the floor, slowing down, and waiting for her child to invite her into his world has transformed not only her parenting, but her personal growth. Learning to pause, to follow her child’s lead, and to respect his individual differences has made her more patient and attuned in all her relationships.
As a Black mother raising a Black son, she emphasizes how meaningful it is to embrace a developmental model rooted in connection rather than control because it honours autonomy, safety, and dignity. She’s looking forward to contributing to a growing community of professionals and caregivers who believe children thrive when they are understood, respected, and met where they are.
The Future of Bloom Village
I asked Princess where she sees Bloom Village heading towards in the next five years. She envisions it growing far beyond a branding or PR platform. Her ultimate goal is for it to become a true community hub that connects families, self-advocates, and professionals to meaningful, accessible resources. She hopes to host free events for parents, especially those in marginalized and underserved communities, where they can learn about supports available for neurodivergent children and find guidance they might not otherwise have access to.
Princess also wants Bloom Village to support parents not just as caregivers, but as whole people navigating complex systems. Having experienced moments of deep uncertainty and hopelessness in her own journey, she is passionate about ensuring that others don’t feel alone like she did. In a state like New Jersey, where strong autism resources exist but aren’t always widely known, she sees Bloom Village acting as a catalyst that bridges gaps, amplifies information, and fosters real belonging.
At its heart, the vision is simple but powerful. Princess wants to build that village by creating spaces where families feel safe, connected, and empowered. She wants to continue growing that village through collaboration, storytelling, and community impact. I hope you will check out the Bloom Village!
This episode’s PRACTICE TIP comes from Princess Owens:
Let’s make a plan to respond with empathy, curiosity, and connection to our child’s dysregulation.
For example: The next time your child is dysregulated, pause and ask yourself, “What might this feel like in their body right now?” Before correcting or redirecting, respond the way you wish someone had responded to you when you were overwhelmed as a child. Maybe that sounds like, “You’re not bad. You’re not too much. You’re having a hard time, and I’m here.” Lead with curiosity instead of control. Remember that every child deserves to be understood in the context of who they are, including their sensory profile, culture, communication style, and lived experience.
Thank you to Princess Owens for introducing us to her journey and her mission and for giving us a preview of the Bloom Village that she’ll be talking about at the upcoming 2026 DIR® Conference in New Jersey. If you found this episode helpful and informative, please consider sharing it on social media!
Until next time, here’s to choosing play and experiencing joy every day!
