Not Your Average Autism Mom

“We already figured this out. Why is this hard again?”Your morning routine was working. Your child loved going to the library. They could get dressed without much help. Now something feels different, and you’re wondering what changed. In this episode, Shannon shares everyday examples and experiences with her thirty-year-old autistic son, Jordan, to help you understand why familiar routines, activi...

A canceled outing. A favorite food that isn’t available. A friend who can’t come over. You see another option—but your child is still focused on the plan that disappeared. In this episode, Shannon shares practical ways to help your autistic children handle everyday disappointments while taking their feelings seriously. You’ll hear examples from life with Jordan, phrases you can use when plans chan...

Does your autistic child need more friends—or are you worried because their friendships don’t look the way you imagined? In this episode, Shannon talks honestly about the sadness she has felt knowing that her son Jordan, now 30, has never had a best friend, sleepovers, or weekend plans with friends. She also shares what she has learned from paying attention to his experience: Jordan enjoys the fam...

Your child knows the answer but won’t say it. They’ve completed the task before, but suddenly insist, “I can’t.” They refuse to begin, ask you to do it for them, or fall apart when someone is watching. It may look like defiance, laziness, or a lack of effort. But sometimes your child isn’t refusing because they don’t want to try. They’re afraid they’ll get it wrong. In this episode, Shannon explai...

A child who is screaming, crying, or falling apart is clearly struggling. But what happens when an autistic child’s response to overwhelm becomes quiet? Autistic shutdowns can look like ignoring, refusing, withdrawing, or simply choosing not to participate. Your child may stop speaking, become unusually still, retreat to their room, stare into space, or temporarily lose access to skills they norma...

Your child knows the rule. You’ve explained it, practiced it, reminded them—and they may even be able to tell you exactly what they’re supposed to do. So why do they keep doing the thing they KNOW they shouldn’t? It’s easy to assume they’re being defiant, refusing to listen, or deliberately pushing back. But knowing what to do and being able to access that information quickly enough to stop an imp...

You ask your child a question. You wait a beat. Then you ask again, explain it differently, or add another direction. But what if your child is still processing the first thing you said? We’re back with brand-new episodes after our BEST OF Summer series! I’m sharing a quick update on my recovery from hand surgery and basal cell removal on my nose, then getting into a conversation that’s especially...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series , where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 233 , The Back-to-School Parent Pep Talk: What Every Autism Parent Needs to Know couldn't be more timely. School has already started for some of ou...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series , where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 191 , Unlocking the Mystery: Decoding Splinter Skills is one of those episodes that helps parents understand one of the most fascinating—and often misu...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series , where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 227 , They're Not Ignoring You: It's a Skill Gap is one of those episodes that changes how parents see one of autism's most misunderstood c...

☀️  BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our  BEST of Summer Series , where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 240,  Pragmatic Language: Why It Matters and How to Help Your Child Build  It  continues to be one of the episodes parents tell me changed the way th...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series , where we're revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 221 , When Behavior Speaks: Medical Insights into Autism Aggression continues to be one of the conversations that has helped parents look beyond beha...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series , where we're revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 174 , Unwrapping the Rule Book: Strategies for Discipline continues to be one of the conversations that resonates most with moms raising autistic chi...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series, where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 248, Reset & Reconnect: What to Do After You Lose Your Lane (and You Will) continues to be one of the conversations that resonates most with moms ra...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series, where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 143, Social Expectations vs Autism Reality continues to be one of the conversations that resonates most with moms raising autistic children. Whether you...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series, where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 241, Rules Matter: Consequences That Teach, Not Punish continues to be one of the conversations that resonates most with moms raising autistic children....

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series, where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most sharedepisodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 252, Stranger Danger,Autism & Online Risks: When Safety Isn’t Simple  continues to be one of the conversations thatresonates most with moms raising a...

☀️ BEST of Summer Series This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series, where I'm revisiting some of the most impactful, most downloaded, and most shared episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Originally released as Episode 234, Stop Chasing Calm: The Truth About Regulation continues to be one of the conversations that resonates most with moms raising autistic children. Whether...

Summer is coming... and if you're already feeling overwhelmed thinking about it, you're not alone. In this episode, Shannon talks about the unique challenges summer brings for families raising autistic children—from the loss of routines and the fear of regression to the realities of ESY, sibling dynamics, and trying to keep everyone regulated when structure disappears. You'll hear why...

Why do autism moms feel exhausted before we even leave the house? In this deeply relatable episode, Shannon talks about the invisible mental load so many autism moms carry every single day — constantly preparing for things that haven’t even happened yet. From summer vacations and graduations to hotel stays, school transitions, family gatherings, airports, and everyday outings, autism moms often li...

Parenting an autistic child often feels like navigating a storm without a pause button. You may find yourself overwhelmed, trying to manage behaviors that seem chaotic and unpredictable. This episode is one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet about the reality of severe dysregulation in autism parenting.  What happens when your child is completely overwhelmed, sensory-seeking, impulsive...

If you’ve ever left a store in tears, replayed a public meltdown in your head for days, or avoided going places because it just feels easier than risking another scene… this episode is for you. In this deeply honest conversation, Shannon opens up about the emotional weight so many autism moms silently carry after public meltdowns — the stares, the judgment, the overthinking, and the shame that oft...

One of the things autism parents hear all the time is,  “You should just get a babysitter and take a break.”  But what most people don’t understand is—it’s not that simple. Sponsor:   Neuro-Free 🌐  https://neuro-free.com  📞 (504) 294-8333 This episode is sponsored by  Neuro-Free , a U.S.-based provider of patented cell infusion therapy designed for children and young adults with autism. Their ph...

Raising a child with autism can bring incredible love and purpose into a family’s life—but it can also put enormous pressure on a marriage. This episode is sponsored by  Neuro-Free , a provider focused on supporting neurological wellness through patented cell infusion therapy for children and young adults with autism. To learn more or schedule a consultation, call  (504) 294-8333 or visit  ⁠https:...

Behind every autistic child is often a brother or sister quietly growing up differently too — and in this episode, Shannon Urquiola shares the honest, complicated, and deeply meaningful side of sibling relationships that autism families understand but rarely talk about out loud. This episode is sponsored by  Neuro-Free , a provider focused on supporting neurological wellness through patented cell...