☀️ 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're listening for the first time or coming back for a refresher, I hope it gives you exactly what you need today.

Summer often means more family gatherings, vacations, community events, restaurants, pools, camps, and outings. And with those experiences often comes something many autism families know all too well—society's expectations.

We live in a world filled with unwritten social rules. Personal space. Physical touch. Conversation topics. Waiting in line. Reading social cues. For many neurotypical children, these expectations are picked up naturally. For our children, the social world can often feel confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes unfairly judgmental.

In this episode, Shannon explores the gap between social expectations and autism reality—and the impact that gap can have on both our children and us as parents.

You'll learn:

• What social norms and boundaries really are

• Why social expectations can be especially challenging for autistic children

• How misunderstandings can lead to judgment, exclusion, and frustration

• Why many autism parents feel pressure to meet society's expectations

• How to shift your perspective and protect your peace

• Ways to advocate for greater understanding and acceptance

• Why your belief in your child matters more than public opinion

Shannon also discusses the emotional toll that social expectations can place on families and shares encouragement for parents who often feel caught between helping their child navigate the world and helping the world better understand their child.

This episode is a reminder that while our children may experience the world differently, different does not mean less. Together, we can continue creating a more compassionate and inclusive world—one conversation at a time.

🌟 Leave a Review: If this episode resonates with you, please consider leaving a review. Your feedback supports the podcast and helps other autism parents find the encouragement and support they need.

💙 Looking for additional support, coaching, and connection with moms who truly understand this journey?

Visit Not Your Average Autism Mom to learn more about our private membership, trainings, and resources designed specifically for moms raising autistic children.

🎧 With more than 270 episodes available, summer is the perfect time to explore the podcast library and discover conversations that meet you exactly where you are today.

☀️ BEST of Summer Series Note:
Throughout the summer, I'll be revisiting some of the most impactful episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Some BEST of Summer episodes were originally recorded before the podcast moved to video format and may be available only on audio podcast platforms.

☀️ 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.

Whether you're listening for the first time or coming back for a refresher, I hope it gives you exactly what you need today.

Life runs on rules—and our kids need opportunities to learn them at home so they can navigate the real world with greater safety, confidence, and independence.

In this episode, Shannon shares why rules aren't harsh or unfair—they're loving preparation for life. You'll learn how to make expectations clear, follow through consistently, and use consequences that teach rather than punish.

Shannon also opens up about one of the most difficult parenting seasons she experienced with her son Jordan. She shares the story of electronics in their home, why she used to give in, what happened when she finally held the boundary, and why taking devices away at 24 years old ultimately led to more freedom, not less.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why rules are an important part of preparing our children for adulthood

• The difference between consequences that teach and consequences that punish

• How consistency builds trust and understanding

• Why following through is often harder on parents than it is on kids

• How boundaries can create more freedom over time

• A simple challenge you can start implementing today

This episode is filled with practical encouragement, real-life experiences, and a reminder that teaching responsibility isn't mean—it's one of the most loving things we can do.

🌟 Leave a Review: If this episode resonates with you, please consider leaving a review. Your feedback supports the podcast and helps other autism parents find the encouragement and support they need.

💙 Looking for additional support, coaching, and connection with moms who truly understand this journey?

Visit Not Your Average Autism Mom to learn more about our private membership, trainings, and resources designed specifically for moms raising autistic children.

🎧 With more than 270 episodes available, summer is the perfect time to explore the podcast library and discover conversations that meet you exactly where you are today.

☀️ BEST of Summer Series Note:
Throughout the summer, I'll be revisiting some of the most impactful episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Some BEST of Summer episodes were originally recorded before the podcast moved to video format and may be available only on audio podcast platforms.

☀️ BEST of Summer Series

This episode is part of our BEST of Summer Series, where I'mrevisiting 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 autistic children.

Whether you're listening for the first time or coming backfor a refresher, I hope it gives you exactly what you need today.

How do you teach stranger danger to autistic kids — withoutcreating fear?

In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism MomPodcast, Shannon Urquiola dives into a topic so many parents worry aboutbut rarely feel confident navigating. Inspired by a question from a follower, ValenciaShannon, this episode explores what “stranger danger” really looks like forautistic children and why traditional advice often falls short.

Shannon walks you through:

Shannon also shares personal stories about her son Jordan,including why, at 29, safety planning and supervision are still necessary due to impulse control and lack of fear — and how meeting your child where they are is not failure, it’s love.

💙 For moms in the Not Your Average Autism Mom private membership: Two parent resource downloads are available in the portal and the Village resource section to support youwith online monitoring tools.

This episode is compassionate, practical, and honest —because teaching safety doesn’t have to come from fear. It comes from preparation.

🌟 Leave a Review: If this episode resonates with you, share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a review. Your feedback supports the podcast and createsa space for other parents to find inspiration and connection.

Together, we can overcome challenges and create a brighterfuture for our families.

P.S. Feeling overwhelmed and ready for a change? Check out all the ways we can help you at NotYourAverageAutismMom.com

Additional Resources:

Join ⁠⁠The Not Your Average Autism Mom Movement⁠⁠ FREE group on FB

If there is a specific topic that you would like us to talkabout on the podcast, email us directly at ⁠⁠⁠info@notyouraverageautismmom.com⁠⁠⁠

Don't miss these episodes...

⁠217. Your Words Matter: Raising Resilient Kids⁠

⁠110. Have You Ever Secretly Hated Autism?

☀️ 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 you're listening for the first time or coming back for a refresher, I hope it gives you exactly what you need today.

In this episode, Shannon breaks down why “just stay calm” is one of the most misleading pieces of advice parents of autistic children hear—and what to focus on instead. Calm and regulation are not the same thing, and confusing them can leave you feeling like you’re failing.

Shannon explains how kids pick up instantly when your words and your body don’t match, why chasing calm can backfire, and how your regulation—not your calm—becomes the anchor your child needs. You’ll learn co-regulation strategies and discover simple tools to create space before reacting. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t keep it together during meltdowns, this episode will help you shift your focus from perfection to connection, and from chasing calm to building true regulation.

With more than 270 episodes available, there's never been a better time to explore the podcast library.

🎧 Please Leave a Review: If this episode resonates with you, share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a review. Your feedback supports the podcast and creates a space for other parents to find inspiration and connection and please share it with another autism mom who needs to hear it.

Additional Resources: Looking for deeper support, coaching, and connection with moms who truly understand this life? Visit ⁠Not Your Average Autism Mom to check out all the ways we can help you.

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or like your mind won’t shut off — this workshop was created with you in mind. The Stepping Out of Survival Mode RESET Workshop is a coaching experience designed for moms raising autistic children who feel like their nervous system is always "on."

⁠READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE⁠

No pressure, just something to explore if you need it.

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Not Your Average Autism Mom Movement⁠⁠⁠⁠ FB group.

If there is a specific topic that you would like us to talk about on the podcast, email us directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@notyouraverageautismmom.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

☀️ BEST of Summer Series Note:

Throughout the summer, I'll be revisiting some of the most impactful episodes from the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast. Some BEST of Summer episodes were originally recorded before the podcast moved to video format and may be available only on audio podcast platforms.

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 summer often feels heavier instead of lighter for autism families, how to think differently about learning and progress during the break, and simple ways to support your child without turning your home into a full-time classroom.

Shannon also shares practical life skill activities, ideas for creating predictable summer routines, and encouragement for the moms who are already carrying anxiety because last summer was hard.

If you're worried about keeping it all together this summer, this episode is your reminder that progress isn't as fragile as you think, life skills are learning, and you do not have to create a perfect summer to create meaningful moments.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why summer can feel overwhelming for autism families
• The fear of regression and how to manage it
• Understanding the role of ESY (Extended School Year)
• Everyday life skills that support growth and independence
• Creating simple summer routines that reduce stress
• Letting go of unrealistic expectations
• Finding joy in the small moments

This episode is also our final new episode before we begin our annual BEST OF Summer Series, where we'll revisit some of the most-loved and most-downloaded episodes from the past several years.

🎧 Please Leave a Review: If this episode resonates with you, share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a review. Your feedback supports the podcast and creates a space for other parents to find inspiration and connection. Please share it with another autism mom who might need to hear it.

Additional Resources: 💙 Looking for deeper support, coaching, and connection with moms who truly understand this life? Visit ⁠Not Your Average Autism Mom to check out all the ways we can help you.

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or like your mind won’t shut off — this workshop was created with you in mind. The Stepping Out of Survival Mode RESET Workshop is a coaching experience designed for moms raising autistic children who feel like their nervous system is always "on."

⁠READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE⁠

No pressure, just something to explore if you need it.

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Not Your Average Autism Mom Movement⁠⁠⁠⁠ FB group.

If there is a specific topic that you would like us to talk about on the podcast, email us directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@notyouraverageautismmom.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 live in a state of emotional anticipation and hypervigilance that most people never see.

Because when you’ve lived through enough unpredictability, your brain starts trying to prevent every future hard moment before it even arrives.

In this episode, Shannon shares:
• Why “easy” things often don’t feel easy in autism motherhood
• The emotional exhaustion of constantly mentally preparing
• Summer stress, loss of routine, and end-of-school overwhelm
• How survival mode quietly becomes normal
• Why autism moms struggle to fully relax and stay present
• The nervous system impact of chronic anticipation
• Mindset shifts to help stop emotionally living inside tomorrow

If you’ve ever come home exhausted from an outing that technically “went fine,” this episode will make you feel deeply seen.

You are parenting through something incredibly hard in real time. And you are not alone.

🎧 Please Leave a Review: If this episode resonates with you, share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a review. Your feedback supports the podcast and creates a space for other parents to find inspiration and connection and please share it with another mom who needs to hear it.

Additional Resources: 💙 Looking for deeper support, coaching, and connection with moms who truly understand this life? Visit ⁠Not Your Average Autism Mom to check out all the ways we can help you.

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or like your mind won’t shut off — this workshop was created with you in mind. The Stepping Out of Survival Mode RESET Workshop is a coaching experience designed for moms raising autistic children who feel like their nervous system is always "on."

⁠READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE⁠

No pressure, just something to explore if you need it.

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Not Your Average Autism Mom Movement⁠⁠⁠⁠ FB group.

If there is a specific topic that you would like us to talk about on the podcast, email us directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@notyouraverageautismmom.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

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, and seemingly thriving in the chaos… while you’re standing there exhausted, overstimulated, and barely holding it together?

In this episode, Shannon opens up about those intense moments so many autism moms experience but rarely talk about out loud:

• the constant movement
• the climbing, crashing, dumping, smearing, and sensory-seeking
• the unpredictability
• the hypervigilance
• and the emotional exhaustion of always feeling “on”

Inspired by a powerful post from a friend and fellow autism mom, Ashley at Raising Brantley, Shannon dives deep into the complicated reality of loving your child deeply while also struggling through moments that feel relentless and overwhelming.

Shannon also shares personal stories about raising her son Jordan through these exact kinds of seasons—and how unexpectedly, getting a new puppy named Juno recently brought some of those memories rushing right back. 😅

Inside this episode, we discuss:

✔️ Why dysregulation can actually feel GOOD to some autistic children
✔️ The difference between happiness and regulation
✔️ Why parents and children can experience the same moment in completely different ways
✔️ What sensory overload and nervous system dysregulation can look like in real life
✔️ Practical ways to support yourself during chaotic moments without guilt or unrealistic expectations
✔️ Why autism moms often stay stuck in survival mode for years

Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that you are NOT failing in these moments.

You are parenting through something incredibly hard in real time. And you are not alone.

🎧 Please Leave a Review: If this episode resonates with you, share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a review. Your feedback supports the podcast and creates a space for other parents to find inspiration and connection and please share it with another autism mom who needs to hear it.

Additional Resources:💙 Looking for deeper support, coaching, and connection with moms who truly understand this life?
Visit Not Your Average Autism Mom to check out all the ways we can help you.

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or like your mind won’t shut off — this workshop was created with you in mind. The Stepping Out of Survival Mode RESET Workshop is a coaching experience designed for moms raising autistic children who feel like their nervous system is always "on."

READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE

No pressure, just something to explore if you need it.

Join ⁠⁠⁠The Not Your Average Autism Mom Movement⁠⁠⁠ FB group.

If there is a specific topic that you would like us to talk about on the podcast, email us directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@notyouraverageautismmom.com⁠⁠⁠

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 often follows us home afterward.

This episode explores:
• Why public meltdowns affect parents so deeply
• The stories we start telling ourselves afterward
• How shame slowly shrinks our world
• Teaching independence without forcing overwhelm
• What actually helps in the moment
• The difference between support and survival mode
• Why your child’s behavior is communication, not failure

Shannon also shares a powerful personal story about Jordan at Chisholm Park in Florida — a moment many moms will feel in their bones — and explains how shifting the way we THINK about these experiences can completely change the way we move through them.

This is one of those episodes that will make you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone in this parenting journey.

✨ READY TO STOP LIVING IN SURVIVAL MODE?
Check out Shannon’s RESET Workshop — a powerful coaching experience created specifically for moms raising autistic children who feel emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, stuck, or constantly on edge.

The RESET Workshop will help you:
• Understand why you feel the way you do
• Learn practical tools to calm your nervous system
• Stop overthinking and carrying so much guilt
• Start showing up differently for yourself and your family

Because sometimes the thing that needs support most… is YOU, mama.

🔗 Learn more here:
https://www.notyouraverageautismmom.com/coachingreset

🌟 Please Leave a Review: If this episode resonates with you, share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a review. Your feedback supports the podcast and creates a space for other parents to find inspiration and connection.

P.S. Feeling overwhelmed and ready for a change? When you're ready to take control and see different results, check out our Not Your Average Autism Mom private membership. Access exclusive support, training, and resources to save you a ton of time, and a community that truly understands.

Join us and discover how amazing this journey can be!⁠⁠ https://www.notyouraverageautismmom.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Additional Resources:

Join ⁠⁠⁠The Not Your Average Autism Mom Movement⁠⁠⁠ group on FB

If there is a specific topic that you would like us to talk about on the podcast, email us directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@notyouraverageautismmom.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you listened to these episodes yet?

⁠⁠133. Beyond Helicopter Parenting, Fostering Independence⁠

⁠212. When Progress Pauses; Regression 101

🎧 Watch or listen to the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible, iHeart Radio, YouTube, and more.

#AutismMom #AutismParenting #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismMomPodcast #NotYourAverageAutismMom #MomPodcast