Not Your Average Autism Mom

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...

For many of our children, food-seeking is a constant source of frustration and anxiety.  They may constantly ask for food, even when they have just eaten, or they may fixate on specific foods or textures and exclude all others.  Sometimes, no matter how much they eat, they never seem to feel full, which can lead to weight gain and other health issues. Many children with autism have a heightened se...

In this episode, I am talking about the importance of finding the balance between helping and controlling our children on the spectrum.   As parents, it's natural to want to protect and care for our children, and for parents of autistic children like us, this is even more true. However, there's a fine line between helping and controlling.  It's important to recognize when we're doi...

This is a topic that many parents avoid like the plague but listen, it is important and especially for our children who are easily influenced, and to be honest, they can be very vulnerable. The truth is that many of us can’t imagine our child going thru puberty since maybe their chronological age isn’t aligned with their cognitive age or abilities. All children go through puberty regardless of the...

Transitions refer to changes that occur in a child's routine or environment, such as moving from one activity to another, changing locations, or starting a new school year. Transitions can be challenging for many children, but they can be especially difficult for autistic children. There are many reasons for this that I talk about in this episode. -Executive functioning -Difficulty with flexib...

As women and mothers, we are beating ourselves up way too much and way too often and the reason that is happening is that we create stories and we have these beliefs about how life should be or how you should be doing this or not doing that or how nothing ever goes right and you are failing in so many areas of your life and parenting. Ever felt that way? That is why I did this episode because this...

How do you handle those unpredictable and sometimes explosive moments without losing your ever-loving mind? The good news is that there are some strategies that I am going to talk about in this episode, but on the flip side, the bad news is that there will probably be times when absolutely none of these strategies will work, nothing will work, and that mama, that is just autism. Aggression, unfort...

This episode is all about interrupting conversations. I’m going to talk about some reasons why our kids do it, why it seems more difficult for them than it does for their typical peers, and most importantly, how you can help them to develop this skill. They often will interrupt a conversation to share random facts they know that may not even pertain to the topic of conversation.  The concept...

Does your child struggle to pay attention? Do they have challenges with following multi-step directions? Do they lose track of what they are supposed to do? Or have difficulty applying what they know in different settings? Appear very distracted or like they are daydreaming? If any of those things sound familiar, today’s episode may just be enlightening for you, or I hope it is anyways.  One...

I asked this question a million times if not more along this journey.  Is their behavior a result of their autism or just bad behaviors and how can we discipline them if their behaviors are a result of their autism?  So many moms I have worked with through the years say this is their biggest challenge.   The reason we discipline our children is not to punish or embarrass our childre...

Our kids often have difficulty navigating social situations, yet, this skill is necessary for all aspects of social interactions, and maintaining relationships so then it is up to us, to you, to their team to help them build these skills.   Much of the problem is that they miss the non-verbal social cues like body language and facial expressions and then add to that, their inability to unders...

Here is something that most parents don’t know, most parents don’t know that they have an option if the school says no.  Unfortunately, all schools and school districts don’t always do what is in your child’s best interest. When you have a child who will require additional educational support, learning and understanding special education isn’t optional, it is necessary. So you have to be will...

Playtime for our kids can look a lot different than it does for their typical peers.  Many of our children have social and communication deficits that are noticeable at an early age, and their ability to learn from their peers is significantly impacted. While our kids may not always use toys the way others would, you can help them expand what they are focused on if you play with them.  J...

Many of us find ourselves judging ourselves when our kid's actions or behaviors take us right to the end of our rope, right?  Have you ever been there? I know you have because all kids, whether they are on the spectrum or not seem to find a way to get on our very last nerve sometimes, don’t they? I want to help you not only get through those times without losing your mind or at least thinking...

Think about all of the sounds in the world, not just speech, but the sounds of the environment, the birds, the crying baby, the motorcycle, the garage door opening, and the wind, those sounds all have to be filtered throughout our day and that doesn’t even include our words or people talking to you. Some of our kids struggle to take in information verbally even though they don’t have a hearing pro...

In order for you to embrace your relationship with your autistic children, you have to first accept that it isn't going to look like or probably even resemble the relationship you have with your other child or children or the relationship you have with your own mother.   The mother-child relationship is a unique bond that lays the foundation for a child's physical, emotional and social develo...

Today we have our very first guest on the podcast, and who better than my daughter, Jordan's sister, Madison?   Maddie and I talk about her experience growing up with a brother with autism and a single mom. It is a candid and open conversation and she shares her perspective on what it was like and the differences she sees now as a young adult.   What was the most difficult part for you g...

It isn't uncommon to feel like you are losing yourself in this parenting journey and you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, and alone, right? You might have even had thoughts that you aren’t cut out for this autism parenting thing and you constantly feel like you aren’t doing enough.  Caring for a child on the spectrum takes a lot of time and energy parenting isn’t easy...

Ever hear that inner voice telling you that you weren't made for this autism parenting journey?  It's too hard and you don't have enough patience to withstand it?   What about this? Do you ever feel guilty because you just want time away from your kids?  Do you feel guilty for loving your job and going to work and you think that those stay-at-home moms must be much better moms than...

An autism diagnosis can definitely take a toll on a family and very well could be a contributing factor to divorce and on the other hand, some couples come together and grow stronger every day. For parents like us, raising autistic children, our life can be pretty crazy and unpredictable.  Having an autistic child does not mean that your marriage is going to fail.  I have worked with som...

We harbor so many unspoken fears, anxiety, and often hopelessness not to mention wanting to be the perfect parent to our child and then the guilt that comes along for the ride when we feel like we are falling short, right? I know, I’ve been there too.  In this episode, I am going to talk about something that every single one of us comes up against along this autism parenting journey and that...

Sometimes, in our autism homes, the holidays are as stressful as they are joyful but much of that comes back to you and how willing you are to do things differently.  Most people assume that everyone enjoys receiving gifts, especially children right? But if your child exhibits more stress and difficult behaviors when they receive gifts, maybe it is time to try something new this year. I spent...

The holidays can be a magical time, but for us who are parenting a child on the spectrum, there is often additional pressure from so many different directions.  We all likely have family members who don’t understand, right? In this episode, I am going to focus on giving you permission to do the Holidays however it works for you and your family. There are no rules… the holidays can be whatever...

Today I am talking about placement decisions on an IEP, Least Restrictive Environment, and Prior Written Notice.  I also side note on supplementary aids and services as it pertains to the placement in the gen ed setting.   A child’s placement in a general education classroom is always the first placement that should be considered when the IEP team is determining placement.  The prim...

Grief can be complex for all of us. Everyone responds to grief differently. Some may be angry, some may be sad, others may withdraw and some might seem totally unaffected. For our kids with autism, there could be a variety of emotional, behavioral, or physical reactions to grief. There might also be a delayed response because of their processing delays so their reactions are delayed or they may ha...