Not Your Average Autism Mom

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...

Medication decisions are some of the hardest choices autism parents ever face — and they’re rarely simple. In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast , Shannon Urquiola takes a deep, honest dive into medication and autism, sharing both professional insight and decades of lived experience. This episode covers: Why medication does not treat autism — but may help treat co-existing cha...

How do you teach stranger danger to autistic kids — without creating fear? In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom Podcast , Shannon Urquiola dives into a topic so many parents worry about but rarely feel confident navigating. Inspired by a question from a follower, Valencia Shannon , this episode explores what “stranger danger” really looks like for autistic children and why traditiona...

In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast , host Shannon Urquiola wraps up 2025 with a powerful conversation about what it really means to find your people when you’re raising an autistic child. Inspired by a request from a NYAAM member, Shannon shares real stories from her own journey with Jordan and Maddie and talks about why surface-level friendships aren’t enough in this life....

In this milestone 250th episode, Shannon sits down for one of the most honest, heartfelt conversations she’s ever had on the podcast — a conversation she  wishes  someone could have had with her 20 years ago. If you’ve ever wondered whether things will get better… If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing… If you’ve ever questioned your strength, your patience, or your progress… This episode is for...

— A Holiday Pep Talk If you’ve ever dreaded the question “What does he want for Christmas?” this episode is for you. In Episode 249 of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, Shannon sits down for a heartfelt, honest conversation about gift-giving when your autistic child doesn’t like toys, doesn’t care about unwrapping presents, or doesn’t connect with gifts the way the world expects. In this ep...

In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, host Shannon Urquiola continues her holiday series with a conversation every autism parent needs before the real chaos hits—what to do after you completely lose your lane. Because no matter how hard you work on staying calm, holding boundaries, and choosing your lane… there will still be moments where you snap, shut down, or say something...

This week, we’re continuing our holiday series with a conversation that every autism mom needs this time of year — learning how to stay in your lane when everything around you feels like chaos. In this episode, Shannon shares real-life holiday scenarios that trigger overwhelm — the change in school routines, sensory overload, family expectations, and well-meaning relatives who just don’t get it —...

As the holidays approach, you’re probably already feeling the shift — routines change, emotions run high, and suddenly you find yourself “choosing your battles” more than usual. But what if it’s not really about choosing battles at all? In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, Shannon dives deep into what’s really happening when you decide whether to enforce a boundary or let it...

If you’ve ever found yourself snapping, shutting down, or spiraling after your child’s behavior, this episode will help you understand why. In this week’s episode, Shannon unpacks what’s  really  going on beneath those moments — when your nervous system takes over, your emotions run high, and you react before you can think. You’ll learn how three hidden triggers —  identity, social, and loss  — sh...

When your child says things that hurt—or acts out inways that feel personal—it’s easy to let those moments sink deep. You love them, you give everything you have, and hearing “I hate you!” or watching a meltdown unfold can break your heart. But what if those words and behaviors aren’t about youat all? In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, host Shannon Urquiola shares how to s...

When your child is melting down, your instinct is to fix it. To solve it. To make it stop. But here’s the truth—before you can teach regulation, you have to model it. In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom Podcast , Shannon dives deep into why emotional validation is the foundation for every behavioral strategy that actually works. She explains what “feelings first” really looks like i...

Advocating is part of everyday life when you’re raising a child on the autism spectrum — but it can also be exhausting. In this episode, Shannon shares how to manageyour energy so you can advocate effectively without burning out. Learn how to protect your peace, choose your battles wisely, and sustain your advocacy over the long haul. Shannon also recommends revisiting Episode 157, “Reframing Defe...

Life runs on rules—and our kids need practice learning them at home so they can navigate the real world with safety and confidence. In this episode, Shannon shares why rules aren’t harsh or unfair; they’re loving preparation. You’ll learn how to make expectations clear, follow through consistently, and use consequences that teach (not scare). Shannon opens up about Jordan’s electronics story—why s...