Thriving Moms of Autistics

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  When I started Thriving Moms of Autistics, it was clear that I needed to support women. Over the years, I focused primarily on moms raising children on the spectrum.  It has been a huge blessing to walk alongside other moms during this time. However, I have been led to expand my walk w...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  I often hear from moms that their greatest fear is dying and leaving their child behind.  I recall being in the hospital. I was fighting so hard. Unfortunately, sepsis doesn’t always have a good outcome. I had never been so sick in my life. At one point, I was spitting up blood and it...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  Why do people do the things they do or think the way they do? Those are burning questions we all have, which is why I chose positive psychology as a specialty.  I study happiness and have found that optimism and internal locus of control are strong predictors of happiness or what we ca...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  Moms are often in a high alert state. Because anything goes with our kids. Even though we are good at anticipating, we never really know what to fully expect.  Now, weather events occur all over the world. You can’t get away from it. This week, we dealt with a lot of crazy weather acro...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  So many moms find themselves at a crossroads when they are experiencing their child’s behaviors, others judging them for their parenting practices, or literally falling into exhaustion because they are supporting everyone else’s needs and not their own.  Did I mention that one of the b...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  Let’s play the old game, Have You Ever… Okay, ready? Have you ever been in a place mentally where you felt so alone and just wanted another human being who has been there to listen to you? You know.. Vent! Have you ever rushed around trying to find someone to watch your child in an eme...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  Franklin D Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Let that sit for a minute. Moms of autistics are in high gear dealing with all the what ifs and fears.  That is why we are planners. We scan rooms for danger in less time than the CIA. We have our stuff togethe...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  Feel like you are just trying to survive? Like you are running on fumes? You don’t even know what day it is or what month?  You can continue on the trail of surviving but not forever. It’s not sustainable. Surviving is exhausting.  This is common for moms raising autistics. I have a qu...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson.  Moms raising autistics are the queens of transitions and change. My mother was quite intuitive.  She knew everything I was up to when I was growing up. It’s a good thing too. I suspect that my mom was also neurodivergent. Girls are often maskers and really good at blending in. I recent...

Welcome moms! I'm passionate about supporting fellow moms in becoming their best selves. As I wrap up the final lesson for the upcoming Thrive course—focused on using our strengths to navigate the unique challenges of raising an autistic child—I'm reminded of the power inherent in our strengths. I truly believe that our strengths hold the key to problem-solving. In this episode, we’ll de...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast.  Have you ever had a close call or been in an accident where you felt that lightning bolt of fight or flight go right through you? Your heart was beating a mile a minute, and you were left with disbelief, asking yourself “What just happened?”  When my son was about 4, he loved running up and down the hallway giggling at chu...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast.  Raising children brings a whole other layer of experiences. There are immense joys, sorrows, especially when they are struggling and when you are struggling. Then there are periods of grief sprinkled throughout your journey.  Grief is experienced by everyone whether your child is autistic or not. Our grief is slightly diff...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast.  When my son was two we were referred to an ENT (ears nose and throat specialist) because my son wasn’t talking. There was a concern he might need tubes in his ears or have an issue with his hearing.  We were proactive and made an appointment right away. The thought that he might need surgery was overwhelming. He was so lit...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast.  There is nothing more emotionally provoking than an epic meltdown in public. No matter how many years you’ve been raising your child, you never come out of it completely unscathed.  It happens! Your child drops to the floor in absolute overwhelm. You feel the eyes in the room piercing through you as you flush from head to...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast. I recall the excitement and nerves associated with my son starting school for the first time. The interviews with the principal, school tours, paperwork, and all that goes with it.  Then you bring the paperwork signed and ready as requested but something doesn’t feel right. You are left there waiting. The principal you are...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast. Do you ever ask yourself, “Who am I?” Who am I, really? Moms of autistics have a lot of going on and a lot of moving parts. It’s easy to get lost in the daily aspects of your life.  Unfortunately when that happens, you lose yourself, which is not good for you. One of my red flags that pop up is when I am moving so fast in l...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast. 2024 has been a year of transitions and challenges for many. It has flown by for me, but I felt every minute of it. It’s embedded in my brain. And if I’m not careful, it will take control of it, it will take control of me.  In this episode, we break down tips for getting unstuck in the peril of 2024, ways to shift our minds...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast. Navigating emotions can be really hard. Have you ever been in a situation where your emotions were so strong that they hijacked the situation? Everyone has experienced this. You are not alone. This is why I encourage you often to show yourself some grace.  In this episode, we dive into the neurodivergent experience of emoti...

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast. I talk about a mom’s journey quite a bit because life is essentially a journey for all human beings.  Our journey is made up of our experiences along the way from the time we are born until the time we pass. That is what shapes us and is important for the women we are becoming.  We are constantly evolving. Who doesn’t want...

Hi moms! Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast. Can you believe it is December already? Where did the year go?  Right now you are building up to the holiday season. It can be super stressful. That compounds the already ongoing stress of meeting your child’s needs.  I want you to know that you are not alone. There are many moms out there feeling it too.  Last yea...

Hello, wonderful moms! Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast. I'm thrilled to have you here today because we're diving into something truly special—a space built just for you! As moms of autistic children, we face unique challenges, but we also share incredible strengths and triumphs.  This journey can be tough, but we don't have to walk it alone....

Welcome moms! How are you? No, how are you really? When was the last time someone asked you that? I am not talking about meaningless pleasantries. I mean asking you because they really want to know and hear the answer. Moms get super enmeshed in caring for their child and often neglect themselves in the process. It’s very common!  In this episode, we’ll explore finding your mad ninja skills for sl...

Welcome moms! I'm passionate about supporting fellow moms in becoming their best selves. As I wrap up the final lesson for the upcoming Thrive course—focused on using our strengths to navigate the unique challenges of raising an autistic child—I'm reminded of the power inherent in our strengths. I truly believe that our strengths hold the key to problem-solving. In this episode, we’ll de...

Hi Moms! Life is ever changing. We go through seasons as we raise our children. Some seasons are better than others.  The same goes with our community. People come and go, which causes anxiety for autism moms. However, so many moms are completely isolated. I recall being isolated before I built my supportive community. I had convinced myself I could do it all on my own. There was an incident where...

Hi Moms! Raising an autistic child can feel like a roller coaster at times. Typical challenges occur when you try to help your child adjust to transitions or unexpected situations that come up. But they also occur when you encounter others who are clueless about autism.  That is never easy, especially when they are resistant to understanding your daily walk. It happens. And there will always be th...