Raising an autistic child can be hard. It’s different from raising a neurotypical child. I’ll share my secrets to success in raising my young autistic. Find the full transcript at thrivingmomsofautistics.com/1
My Personal Autism Journey
My autism journey started 30 years ago when I had to write a senior paper in high school. The librarian suggested the topic “autism,” which was foreign to me at the time. I couldn’t stop reading about it.
My cousin typed my college papers for me my freshman year and recently reminded me that autism was consistently the topic. I spent most of my career helping families navigate common childhood struggles by empowering parents to shine in the darkness of their journey.
What has your journey with autism been like?
After doctors said I would not have children, I had baby at 41. I cherished my little miracle and dreamed of what his life would be like and how he would impact the world.
Two years later, I learned he was autistic and non-verbal. We grieved like all parents do initially. I sprung into action soon after and embraced early intervention and treatments.
What was it like for you when you heard the word “autism?”
Surviving Versus Thriving in Your Autism Journey
A year and a half ago, my husband and I realized we were not fully thriving in our autism journey. We overcame many challenges but didn’t have the support we needed after experiencing back-to-back medical emergencies.
It was a wake-up call! Everyone thinks it won’t happen to them.
What potential life events have kept you up at night?
We knew something had to change. I valued the strengths approach in my practice over the years. This is a hard concept for many to grasp and takes some work.
What personal resources do you have that carry you through challenges?
From the outside, it appeared that we had our ducks in a row because we used our strengths well. But it takes more than that. In my field, self-care is essential. I have cultivated this skill over time.
How do you care for yourself? Or are you focused on caring for everyone else and neglecting you? That’s pretty common.
Once again, I was in a fight or flight mode. You know what I’m talking about. Thankfully, I was able to manage my stress by setting boundaries and taking care of myself. I was up for the next challenge.
I told myself along the way that we didn’t need the additional support. It was too hard dealing with other’s misconceptions about autism. So I kept charging forward until I couldn’t anymore. I found myself stuck.
Shift to Thriving in Your Autism Journey
I did the unthinkable in autism world. I found my community. Not just case managers and therapists, but people like me.
You can have that too. You deserve it! Raising an autistic child will never be completely stress free, but you can chip away at those mountains with newfound confidence and not go at it alone.
Are you ready to thrive?
