Not Your Average Autism Mom

Join me as I chat behind the scenes with real moms just like you who are raising children on the spectrum and finding balance and happiness along the way! These women are MY VILLAGE as much as I am theirs. Each of their stories is different, yet similar. You might just hear your story in theirs. They were drowning and felt overwhelmed and since becoming Not Your Average Autism Mom they are becomin...

The path of being an autism mom is a unique and often challenging one. It's a journey that begins with a diagnosis, then often becoming consumed with confusion, fear, and uncertainty. Many of us start this journey feeling overwhelmed by the unknown that lies ahead. We fear the unknown. We fear for our child's future, their well-being, and our ability to navigate this complex world we weren...

My goal in every podcast is to share things that will help make your day-to day mom life a little easier and if you want to go deeper and work more closely with me, I invite you to consider joining our NYAAM PRIVATE Membership.  Why Do After-School Meltdowns Happen?  Imagine your child was an absolute star at school, but as soon as they get home, it feels like all heck breaks loose. You're not...

Asking "Why" is a natural response to life's challenges, a way to make sense of our experiences. But there are a few reasons why asking "Why" may not be as helpful as we think.  Asking why is really just us searching for insight, right?  We are trying to make sense of what we think are our negative experiences in life. But here's the thing - we can't always know or...

Individuals on the spectrum have what we can describe as different brain wiring. Their neurological connections between various brain centers are not as strong, which makes it challenging for them to process multiple pieces of information rapidly. This can make navigating our fast-paced world incredibly exhausting and difficult for them. Neurotypical people like you and me can effortlessly filter...

Today's episode is one that hits close to home for me. We're going to talk about maintaining relationships successfully while raising autistic children. As a Master Certified Life and Parent Coach, I've made it my mission to help families like yours navigate these challenging waters and I'm also here to tell you that it's possible to thrive as a couple and as parents raising au...

Today's episode is all about a topic that's near and dear to my heart - the guilt that often accompanies us on this incredible journey of parenting that we weren’t prepared for. When you are parenting a child with autism, this journey may take on unique dimensions. Guilt tends to creep in when we dwell on our perceived shortcomings. It can manifest in various ways: We all make mistakes, bu...

It's remarkable how our journey evolves over time.  Every moment you're navigating, every lesson you're learning, it's all building a foundation of skills and resilience that you'll carry forward as your child grows. With each new challenge, you'll be able to lean on the expertise you're cultivating right now.  Even though Jordan is older now, I vividly recall those ear...

Every week I talk about topics that directly impact your life along this parenting journey and today, I’m talking about a fascinating topic that many parents and caregivers encounter on their journey: verbal stimming . Verbal Stimming is a behavior that many autistic children will do.  It's like a window into your child's world, helping them cope with various situations and even express th...

Our journey begins with an autism diagnosis, a diagnosis that flooded you with a wave of emotions and the weight of uncertainty like you’ve never experienced before.  And then as you begin to navigate all the uncertainty, you're told that "one day," your children will overcome their challenges and live lives similar to their neurotypical peers. But what happens when that "one da...

Raising a child on the autism spectrum presents unique challenges that can be difficult to grasp for those who haven't experienced it firsthand.    I really believe that the difficulties we face out in the world often stem from a lack of understanding about autism. I hope that by increasing awareness and embracing inclusivity, together we can bridge the gap and create a more supportive and und...

As the new school year begins, I know many of you may be feeling a mix of emotions - excitement, anxiety, and maybe for some of you, a bit of sadness as summer comes to an end. For our children on the spectrum, this transition can be particularly challenging. Open communication and collaboration with your child's school team will pave the way for your child's success. Communicating with yo...

Society has certain expectations regarding social norms, which can be challenging for families like ours raising children on the spectrum. We live in a world that values conformity and often overlooks individual differences. Certain unwritten rules govern how we interact, communicate, and behave in society. For neurotypical children, these norms are often picked up naturally through observation an...

Maybe you recently received an autism diagnosis for your child or maybe you’ve been navigating life for however long with your child but you spend a lot of time feeling discouraged and disappointed or maybe even sad, if this is you, this episode is for you. Do you find yourself wishing, hoping, and dreaming your life was different? I want you to know that it is completely normal to have a range of...

I am going to explore some reasons why our children might lie and why it is important for you to recognize when you find yourself feeling betrayed or angry or frustrated when it happens. As parents, we know our children on the spectrum face unique challenges in communication, social understanding, and problem-solving skills. Lying becomes an easier way out for them because it allows them to naviga...

Our life is surrounded by technology. Electronics are a part of everyone’s life but it is important that you understand the negative effects too much screen time can be causing for our children with autism. Some studies suggest that increased screen time in young children is associated with decreased cognitive ability, impaired language development, mood, and autistic-like behavior including hyper...

"BEST OF" SUMMER PODCAST SERIES featuring our most downloaded episodes of all time. We know that in autism our children's repetitive and fixated behaviors are generally the strategies they use to reduce the chaos and minimalize their overload by seeking the predictability and routine of sameness. These are their attempts to decrease their overwhelm from the stimulation and provide so...

This is our "BEST OF" SUMMER PODCAST SERIES featuring our most downloaded episodes of ALL TIME. Raising our children is difficult at times, we know that. When they exhibit often unexpected and disruptive behaviors it can be hard to determine if it is just a phase they are going through or if there is more.  Autism is not a single disorder, but a spectrum of closely related disorders that...

BEST OF SUMMER PODCAST SERIES - Featuring our most downloaded episodes of all time.   This is a HOT topic in the autism world today.  Autism diagnosis or being autistic.   Puzzle piece or no puzzle piece.   Our company name, Not Your Average Autism Mom, and what our values and beliefs are. Who we are and what we do and do not do as a growing company in the autism community.   Do you believe that m...

Assuming competence means recognizing that our children have thoughts, feelings, and dreams just like every other child. But why is assuming competence so crucial? The answer lies in the power of belief. When you believe in your children, you instill in them a sense of self-worth and the confidence to believe in themselves.  Your belief in them becomes a driving force behind their determination, r...

If there’s one thing that I see over and over, it’s like, we know summer is coming, but we’re not prepared for it, and then what do we do? The kids are home, there’s no school, there’s no structure, there’s no routine, and we feel panic. You have to ask yourself, “What it is that you want? What is your big why and what are you committed to doing?” Once you have those questions answered, you have t...

Many typically developing children will do some toe walking prior to age three, but for our children on the spectrum who continue to toe walk past the age of three or four, there may be some cause for concern. Toe walking is fairly common in children on the spectrum. It is a walking pattern in which a child walks primarily on their toes instead of using their entire foot.  One of the most signific...

As a parent coach working exclusively with moms raising autistic children, I continue to see how challenging it can be to explain to other parents and other kids why your child acts and behaves differently. In this episode, I am sharing some ideas to hopefully help make it a little easier for you.  Maybe it’s on the playground.  Maybe it’s at a local restaurant or maybe you are in the line at Targ...

The word “triggered” comes up a lot when I am coaching and I think that understanding the truth about where it comes from will be so helpful for you.  Whatever it is your kid does or doesn't do, that is not what is triggering you. The trigger is coming from a thought you have about what they did or didn't do. If you want to see changes in the way you parent, then you have to figure out wha...

As parents raising autistic children we are all likely very familiar with the challenges that come with language development for our children.  Language is a system of communication that involves words, and grammar, and it allows us to express what we are thinking and feeling, share our thoughts, and connect with others. However, just because someone has language, it doesn't mean they can use...