In the very first episode of The NeurOrdinary Podcast, we delve into a powerful and overlooked aspect of the autism journey…the well-being of parents and caregivers.
Join me as I share my personal experiences, valuable insights, and practical strategies to create a positive impact on autism families.
My autism parenting journey began when I first noticed something different about my oldest kiddo.
But, like many of you, I faced difficulties getting medical professionals to recognize my concerns. At home, our family encountered challenges that went unnoticed in doctor's offices, leading to emotional roller coasters, stress, and overwhelming situations.
Three years ago, I made a pivotal decision to prioritize my own well-being and practice self-care. This transformative shift had a profound effect not only on me but also on my children and the entire family. As I gained knowledge, strategies, and coping mechanisms, everyone’s lives improved drastically.
The episode shines a light on the challenges faced by autism parents, including managing therapies, caring for other children, and balancing work.
It emphasizes the importance of self-care in reducing stress and burnout rates that are alarmingly high among caregivers.
Join me in building a brighter future for both autistic children and the incredible individuals who support and nurture them. Together, we can shift the narrative, raise awareness, and ensure that self-care becomes an essential part of the autism parenting journey. By taking care of ourselves, we can better care for our loved ones.
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Transcript:
Hey, I’m Karen. And I’m a mom to two amazingly neurodiverse, autistic kiddos. I don’t have the time or tech skills to make a podcast intro, so let’s just get into it…
We live in a world that really likes to focus on the challenges faced by autistic individuals.. And autism is challenging, don’t get me wrong. But I think we need to focus our conversation, at least sometimes, on the caregivers - usually it’s the parents who tirelessly support and advocate for kids. Today, we dive into the story of why I became an autism parent self-care coach, and how I aim to make the world a better place for families and individuals living with autism.
So like I said, my name is Karen, but not like THAT kind of karen…and I'm an autism parent self-care coach. Today, I want to share with you the reasons behind my choice to embark on this journey and why it is so crucial for caregivers to take care of themselves.
Reason number one: I want to help others with what I've learned.
Like many of you, my journey as an autism parent began before the diagnosis of my oldest child…knowing that there was something different about my child and struggling to get physicians and care providers to see what I was seeing. I witnessed the countless hurdles that families face—the emotional rollercoaster, the stress, and the feeling of being overwhelmed. And for a while, those challenges defined our lives…
But about three years ago, I decided to make a change. After five years of everything being all about what my kids needed and wanted, I started shifting gears to focus on me and my needs and self-care. The change in my attitude and perspective had a serious trickle-down effect for my kids, and now everyone in our family is thriving and happy…most days.
Over the years, I've acquired valuable knowledge, strategies, and coping mechanisms that have made a significant difference in our lives. I realized that this knowledge shouldn't be kept to myself—it should be shared with other parents who are walking a similar path.
My experience has taught me the importance of self-care, and I've seen firsthand how it can positively impact the lives of both caregivers and their children. I want to pass on this knowledge and support others in their journey to create a fulfilling and balanced life.
Reason number two: I want to make the world a better place for families and individuals who are living with autism.
Autism is a unique journey that touches every aspect of a family’s life. It's not just about the individual with autism—it's about the entire family unit. As a self-care coach, I believe that when caregivers prioritize their well-being, the entire family does better…the parent or parents (of course), the autistic child themselves, and any siblings that are around.
By focusing on self-care, we empower ourselves to be more resilient, patient, and understanding. This, in turn, creates a nurturing environment where your kids are more likely to feel safe, understood, and regulated. In my experience, it seems to be the “secret sauce” that helps them reach their full potential.
I've witnessed the transformative power of self-care within my own family. When I started taking care of myself, I noticed positive changes in my relationships, my ability to handle challenges, and my overall well-being. My resentment levels went way down…you KNOW what I’m talking about. And best of all, I was able to enjoy just being my kids’ mom without feeling like I was their freaking case manager or care coordinator.
I want to share this message with others and help them create a similar positive shift in their lives.
Reason number three: There is such a huge need for caregivers to take care of themselves.
Caregivers of autistic individuals often face an immense amount of stress and exhaustion. Studies have shown that the rates of burnout and mental health challenges among this group are alarmingly high. It's time we address this issue head-on….and very few people are doing this!
I firmly believe that self-care is not selfish; it's essential. By taking care of ourselves, we can better care for our loved ones. It's like the oxygen mask analogy on an airplane – we need to put on our own oxygen mask first before we can help others or we’re going to lose consciousness before we can do anything meaningful to help.
Through my work as a self-care coach, I provide guidance, support, and practical tools to caregivers, helping them navigate the challenges they face while also maintaining their own well-being. I want to empower them to prioritize self-care without guilt or hesitation.
Finally, reason number four: No one else is talking about autism parents taking care of themselves. Most of what we hear is all about taking care of our kids.
The conversation surrounding autism tends to revolve around the needs of the actually autistic, and rightfully so. In any conversation about autism, the autistic person’s needs should be at the forefront of the discussion! But we can no longer neglect the well-being of those who support and nurture them - usually their parents.
When parents do better, kids do better. It’s really that simple. And when you take a parent who is already struggling under the weight of the challenges their child has at home, and ask them to manage their child’s education, getting them to 10, 20, 30, sometimes even 40 hours a week of therapy, and often, managing another neurospicy child, well, it becomes a lot!
And you know, things that are simple and easy for other families, like getting a haircut, or going to the grocery store, take three times as long for us. And they likely make the rest of the day challenging as everyone winds down from the stressful event and gets regulated again…and that’s if a meltdown doesn’t happen. It’s much more stressful and usually takes a lot longer if there's an MD.
I decided to become an autism parent self-care coach because I recognized the absence of this vital discussion in the autism community. It's time we shift the narrative and start emphasizing, not prioritizing, but emphasizing the importance of self-care for caregivers.
Taking care of ourselves doesn't mean neglecting our children. It means showing up as the best version of ourselves for both of us. It means acknowledging our own needs and finding ways to meet them while also supporting our autistic loved ones.
As an autism parent self-care coach, my goal is to empower and support caregivers to choose to focus on their well-being. By doing so, we create a ripple effect—a world where families flourish, autistic individuals thrive, and compassion guides us all.
Thanks for joining me today. Remember, self-care is not a luxury—it's an essential part of the autism parenting journey. Together, we can build a brighter future for our kiddos, and ourselves.
Thanks for listening, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a comment or review letting me know what you thought about today’s episode. And whatever you do, keep it spicy!
Meet your self-care coach!
