Not Your Average Autism Mom

☀️ 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...

There are some lessons you only learn after years of raising a child with autism. The kind of lessons no one tells you when your child is first diagnosed. The kind that comes from experience, exhaustion, reflection, and growth. In this episode, Shannon Urquiola shares some of the hard truths and powerful realizations that autism parenting eventually teaches many moms—lessons about control, expecta...

Why does your autistic child take things so literally? Why do they sometimes focus on details that seem completely unrelated to the situation? And why can conversations with them sometimes feel like you’re both talking about two totally different things? In this episode, Shannon Urquiola breaks down what she calls “The Invisible Communication Gap” — the difference between how many autistic brains...

ABA therapy is one of the most talked about — and often misunderstood — therapies in the autism world. Some families swear by it. Others strongly oppose it. And many parents are left wondering what to believe and whether it’s something they should consider for their child. In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, Shannon Urquiola breaks down what Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)...

“Just make him go.” “They’ll eat when they’re hungry.” “He’ll catch up.” If you’re raising a child on the autism spectrum, chances are you’ve heard some version of these “helpful” suggestions more times than you can count. And while most people mean well, advice like this can leave you feeling misunderstood, frustrated, and sometimes even questioning your own parenting decisions. In this episode o...

In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast , Shannon Urquiola explores a topic many parents quietly wonder about but don’t always know how to navigate: biomedical testing and autism. Shannon discusses common tests that are often mentioned in the autism community—including OATS testing, MTHFR genetic variants, CBC panels, vitamin deficiencies, gut health testing, and sleep studies—a...

In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, Shannon Urquiola dives deep into one of the most overlooked — yet powerful — tools in special education: the Parent Input Statement. If you’ve ever walked into an IEP meeting feeling unprepared, intimidated, or unsure what to say, this episode is for you. Shannon breaks down: • What the Parent Input Statement actually is • Why it legally...

“Is this autism… or are we missing something?” It’s a question so many autism moms quietly wrestle with — especially when behaviors shift, anxiety increases, focus drops, or school becomes harder than it used to be. In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, Shannon Urquiola dives into one of the biggest conversations happening right now in the autism community: Autism and ADHD ov...

Have you ever sat in an IEP meeting, a doctor’s appointment, or even a family gathering and thought…  You’re not seeing what I’m seeing ? In this episode of the  Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast , Shannon Urquiola talks about what it feels like to be the only one who sees your child’s struggle — the masking, the shutdowns, the after-school crashes, the 2 a.m. anxiety spirals — while everyone el...

Rules can feel like constant battles in autism parenting— especially when you’re repeating yourself, feeling frustrated, and wondering why things that should be simple just aren’t clicking. In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mompodcast , Shannon Urquiola breaks down why rules without context often don’t work for autistic children — and why that isn’t defiance, disrespect, or failure. Y...

Advocacy isn’t a phase of autism parenting—it’s a long-term role that evolves from diagnosis through adulthood. And for many moms, it can feel exhausting, overwhelming, and never-ending. In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast , Shannon Urquiola walks you through what advocacy really looks like across every stage of the autism parenting journey—from early intervention and school...

Autism parenting changes you. Not just how you parent — but how you think, how you feel, and how you move through the world. In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast , Shannon Urquiola talks honestly about the parts of this journey we don’t always say out loud — losing pieces ofyourself, living in survival mode, feeling isolated even in a room full of people, and carrying fears a...

All-or-nothing thinking is one of the most common — and most damaging — thought patterns I see in autism parenting. If today is hard, it suddenly feels like  everything  is hard. If your child is struggling, it feels impossible for  you  to beokay. And over time, hope, joy, and motivation quietly slip away. In this episode, we’re diving deep into how all-or-nothing thinking shows up when you’re ra...