Hi Moms! Who are you surrounded by in your journey? Are you alone when it comes to support?

Or do you have a small number of people around you who understand autism and support you?

You might have a mix of people who get autism with those who don’t. Regardless of where you are in your journey, you won’t want to miss this.

In this episode, we dive into building the support you need for your autism journey starting with where you are based on your needs.

Find the full transcript for this episode at https://thrivingmomsofautistics.com/91

Please share the podcast with other moms to help them grow in their autism journey. You can also do this by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I appreciate you!

Be sure to subscribe to the Thriving Moms of Autistics YouTube Channel!

Can Moms Manage Their Autism Journey Successfully on Their Own or With Limited Support?

In previous episodes, I mentioned the early years of my journey and how I lacked community. Things were very different then.

My husband and I believed that we were doing well on our own. Afterall, it is hard to help others understand autism.

They often have many preconceived ideas about autism. It’s hard to understand something so complex when you have little to no experience with it.

I was a psychologist, so I figured that between me and my husband, we could handle it.

That sounded good, right? But it wasn’t realistic. We needed more. Our lives changed so much once we made the decision to invite others in. The right people, of course.

What Does a Positive Community Look Like for an Autism Mom?

The autism experience has its ups and downs as with anything in life. Sometimes people don’t understand the “why” behind the behavior.

They don’t understand how autistics experience the world differently based on their sensory needs. As humans, we often make assumptions about things we don’t understand.

There is one thing I want you to remember. You only have control over you. Your thoughts… your actions… Others are responsible for themselves. They have to make the decision to get it or not.

A supportive community might look like connecting with other moms, support groups, professionals, and so much more.

When you meet someone who gets your experience, it is a huge relief. There is this beautiful shift that occurs.

Even if support is coming from a professional that deals with it from a different point of view, they can still support based on empathy and tips they have learned from other’s experiences. They genuinely want to help.

When I talk about the shift that occurs, I am referring to hope. That is the best example I can come up with. When I feel that shift in being supported, I feel hopeful, empowered, and more confident.

You deserve to have this too because the road we travel can be hard at times. The increased stress, anxiety, demands, and burnout have an impact on our mental health and well-being.

That is another reason why it is important to have a positive support system.

Here are some tips for finding your tribe:

1. Identify what works best for you. Only you know what a good fit is for you and your family.
2. Be mindful that online communities are wide open in terms of what might or might not be a fit for you. It is okay to keep scrolling when your values are different from other members.
3. Find professions that you mesh well with.
4. If someone (family or friend) pushes their ideas on you or refuse to be respectful of your beliefs and experiences, they are not likely a good fit for your supportive en

Hi Moms! As moms, we are all different. We have different beliefs, different personalities, and different situations.

Our kids are the same way. They experience unique challenges that each face differently based on their sensory experiences.

With that said, moms share a multitude of things and the impact it has on their well-being.

My son went through a very difficult season when my husband and I got sick a few years ago. I recall picking him up from Kindergarten one day.

I still had drain tubes coming out of my stomach and was healing. It took everything I had to pick him up and bring him home.

He was in the middle of a behavior and struggling to find calm. He was in full on fight mode trying to deal with his emotions and regulate his body as his two therapists were getting him into the car.

I avoided turning around from the driver's seat. For one, I didn’t want to distract from what they were doing to help him and the process in general. I did not want him to see my tears. I recall thinking, I can’t do this. “Can’t” is not usually in my vocabulary, but I was at a loss for so many reasons.

Moms are human beings. We experience hard emotions and sometimes do not react well. Sometimes we have thoughts that we are ashamed of.

We have ALL been there. It happens. Where we go from there is critical to our success.

In this episode, I share some tips to help you transition from feeling overwhelmed and incompetent to feeling confident and empowered.

Find the full transcript for this episode at https://thrivingmomsofautistics.com/90

Please share the podcast with other moms to help them grow in their autism journey. You can also do this by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I appreciate you!

Be sure to subscribe to the Thriving Moms of Autistics YouTube Channel!

Self-Awareness and Autism Moms

It starts with self-awareness. Without awareness, you cannot move forward. You must first recognize your thoughts and feelings. Remind yourself that “this” is hard, and you’re going to struggle at times.

Once you recognize that and remember you are an imperfect human, you allow yourself to shift and change the narrative.

Moms often get stuck in the negative narrative. I’ve been there too. You cannot win when you’re stuck. We can judge ourselves pretty harshly.

Key Ingredients for Mom Growth

The first ingredient for growth is awareness. The second is reframing. This allows you to shift away from being stuck in negativity to changing your perspective, which leads to success.

I often say that perception is everything. It can make or break you.

It is so easy to get caught up in what went wrong. It can be hard to find something that went right in difficult situations.

One way to reframe your thoughts is to think of challenges as setbacks and opportunities for growth.

Instead of saying, “I can’t” or “there is nothing I can do,” you can acknowledge what occurred and your part in it. Then, you can consider how you might handle it differently in the future.

Don’t forget to celebrate small wins along the way. That gives you momentum and is a wonderful opportunity to identify what has gone right.

One way to feel empowered is to recognize those small wins. Giving yourself grace in the difficulties goes a very long way.

This is one reason why self-care and building your support network are important.

In my upcoming course, I focus on all of the important ingredients for mom's success. This new course is near to my heart because I recognize that autism m

Hi Moms! Facing the unique challenges of raising an autistic can feel very heavy. If I said that there are ways to lighten your load, would you jump on it?

You might not believe it is even possible. But I know it is because I have experienced it myself. There is also years of research that supports it.

In this episode, I share our common experiences and how you can leverage your own innate tools to overcome challenges.

Find the full transcript for this episode at https://thrivingmomsofautistics.com/89

Please share the podcast with other moms to help them grow in their autism journey. You can also do this by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I appreciate you!

Be sure to subscribe to the Thriving Moms of Autistics YouTube Channel!

Common Experiences of Autism Moms

One of the biggest barriers for any autistic child is communication. As moms we become quite skillful at determining our child’s concerns and needs.

However, there are times we miss the mark, which is completely normal. This can feel overwhelming for moms and their children. We want to support our children the best we can.

Moms typically become very in tune with their child’s heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory inputs. Depending on the child, this leads to meltdowns or withdrawal. Again, there is no perfect calculation for moms to catch this every time.

Transitions and schedule changes often pose issues. Sometimes, moms cannot plan for these. It happens and will happen in the future.

These are things all autism moms experience. The good news is there are things that can help, especially when the unexpected occurs.

When Moms Harness Their Innate Strengths, It Is a Game Changer

Innate just means something within you. Something you are born with whether you are aware of it or not.

What are your superpowers? Everyone has them, but you can’t use them if you’re not aware of them.

Your strengths are key to thriving in the midst of challenges. When you leverage your strengths in these difficult times, you change the outcome.

Sometimes, we feel there is nothing we can do. But we do have some power. Acknowledging this allows for hope.

We are unique individuals and do not all have the same strengths. These are things you are born with. They are a part of you. Once you are aware of your strengths, you can use and grow them like building a muscle.

Here are some examples of strengths that can be used when difficulties arise.

1. Perseverance- Moms with the strength of perseverance do not give up easily and see things to the end. This is associated with courage.
2. Prudence- Prudent moms tend to think things through in the process. They consider the consequences and proceed with caution, wisdom, and reason.
3. Social Intelligence- Moms with higher social intelligence are able to understand their own behaviors and the behaviors of others based on experiences of what has worked and what has not in the past.

They are able to pick up on things relatively quickly. This is an important strength to have when faced with challenges.

So, what are your strengths? This is hard to identify for all of us. Ask yourself, “What do I do well?

If you are still having trouble, remember that everyone has strengths. Ask someone who knows you well to offer their insights into your strengths. Ask a few people if you can.

This is so important because your strengths help you uniquely tackle challenges that often occur.

I hope this helps and I look forward to our time together nex