Picture this: You’re at the grocery store. The fluorescent lights are a little too bright. The crowd is larger than you expected. The beeping of the checkout lane is relentless and you as you look down to check on your autistic child you see it…the starting of a meltdown.
Not a tantrum, a full sensory overload.
You feel every pair of eyes on you.
Strangers stare — some with confusion, others with judgment. Your heart is pounding. You kneel down, doing everything you can to soothe your child, to help them feel safe in their body again… all while silently pleading for just one person to offer a little grace, even if they don’t understand.
It’s a challenging situation but these are the raw, heart-wrenching moments so many moms live through — sometimes daily — but rarely speak about.
This week, we’re breaking down the difference between tantrums and autistic meltdowns, what’s happening in your child’s body, how to support your child (and yourself), and how to show up for other moms in the thick of it.
🎧 Tune in as we cover:
- What can trigger a meltdown
- How it differs from a tantrum
- How to help your child regulate in the moment
We also cover how YOU can recover emotionally afterward (because let’s be honest: these moments don’t just take a toll on our kids… they take a toll on us too) and how to be the mom who supports another mom in the thick of it.
- What can you do when you see a meltdown unfolding in public?
- How can you be a calm, nonjudgmental presence — even if you don’t know what to say?
Because moms don’t need side-eyes or whispered comments. We need backup. We need each other.
If you’ve ever felt isolated, helpless, or like the world just doesn’t get what you’re going through — this episode is for you.
You are not failing. You are not alone. And you are doing an incredible job, even on the hardest days.
──────────────────
Tools & Links for You:
Meltdowns & Calming Techniques in Autism
https://autism.org/meltdowns-calming-techniques-in-autism/
All About Autistic Meltdowns: A Guide For Allies
https://reframingautism.org.au/all-about-autistic-meltdowns-a-guide-for-allies/
Visual Schedule and Choice Boards
From Teachers Pay Teachers (free & low-cost options):
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:visual%20schedule%20autism%20free
Interactive App: “Breathe, Think, Do” with Sesame Street
Free app for toddlers and young kids to practice calming strategies:
📱 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/breathe-think-do-with-sesame/id721853597
📱 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.sesameworkshop.ResilienceThinkBreathDo&hl=en&gl=US
──────────────────
MORE ABOUT THE MOMVERSATION CLUB:
https://momversationclub.com
CONNECT WITH US:📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MomversationClub
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momversationclub
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@momversationclub
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momversationclub
