In this episode, I will explore common stressors for moms of autistics and why it is important to combat stress.

All parents have stress. Raising an autistic brings on additional stressors. We worry about bullying, if our child will eat enough nutritious food, if they will ever talk, if they will be able to tolerate a public event or stay in the classroom that day. The list goes on!

Safety is a major stressor. It is up there with what will happen to my child when I die. While we have a lot of eventual firsts with our children, we also understand that some milestones may never be met.

It’s just a different journey raising an autistic. I’m usually pretty laid back, but my stress level was through the roof when we learned our son was autistic. I was swallowed whole by all the what ifs. The unknown causes a lot of stress. 

Can moms change the course of their autism journey?

Absolutely! I picked myself up and dusted myself off quickly. I went straight into fight mode. I hear this theme often when I interview and work with moms of autistics. 

We are a unique group! That doesn’t mean we don’t still experience grief and stress. Every mom works through this in their own time.

Some days it feels like we are moving 100 mph and engulfed in stress. It often seems like a normal part of our day to day.

Since stress is inevitable, how do moms of autistics combat stress?

First, you must be aware of stressors. Identify your common stressors by listening to your mind and your body. Your body will give it away every time. 

You might struggle with getting to and staying asleep. This is common. Your sleep might be disrupted. I have two common nightmares related to stress. One is where my teeth keep falling out. The other is that I’m in public and have to go to the bathroom, but all the public toilets are overflowing and not in working order. I have had dreams where I lose my son and can’t find him. 

You might be a stress eater and experience digestive upset or even struggle to eat anything at all. You might have more headaches, panic attacks, or even increased blood pressure. Listen to your body!

Next, you must figure out the origins of your stress. This is usually the easiest step, but it might be more than one thing.

Finally, something must change. You might not have much control over the stressor, but you do have control over how you react to and deal with the issue. 

Tools that Moms of Autistics Can Use to Conquer Stress

1. Be mindful of your thoughts. Catch your stinking thinking and evaluate your mindset. If you have a fixed mindset, that is a red flag! I explore mindset in episode 2, episode 4, and episode 12.
2. How can I use my own strengths to deal with issues that arise? You must be aware of your personal strengths. In my Thrive VIP Program, I help moms identify and use their strengths to up your game and cope with stressful situations. Our strengths act as a buffer and are quite valuable. 
3. What can you do differently? This might be setting better boundaries with others and engaging in self-care. I always say that your own self-care has an impact on your child’s well-being. Self-care is not selfish! 

Give this more thought over the next week. Decide how your body might be giving you stress signals. Consider your potential stressors. And think about what you can do differently to increase your well-being.

If you haven’t already, grab my FREE 4 step guide to help. You can find it as Thriving Moms of Autistics 

Raising a child isn’t easy. They all have different personalities and temperaments. The same is true for moms. We are all different creatures with different strengths that make us unique. I explore mom strengths in episode 5 and episode 9.

People tend to unknowingly lump autistics together. But the truth is that if you’ve met an autistic child, you have met an autistic child. That is why your child doesn’t come with a manual. 

With different personalities comes different perspectives. We view the world differently based on how we were raised and our experiences and beliefs, which were derived from our parents and caregivers. Even our location plays a part in our perspective. 

For the longest time, it didn’t appear that my son was often aware of what was going on around him. I am referring to the toddler years. When he plays, he plays hard and gets lost in his own world. 

He and I are similar. When I get lost in a project, someone can be calling my name and I just don’t hear them. However, it is different for my son. I assumed he was the same way since he wasn’t communicating with me and that he was unaware. 

What I found was that he didn’t miss a beat. Even though he was non-verbal until he was five, he was taking it all in and soaking it up like a little sponge. He just didn’t share or communicate this with me at the time. 

So, what was he soaking up? Everything! He is my mini. He is a little perfectionist, which is unfortunate. I don’t want that for him. He is also very funny and loving. He says the darndest things now that he is verbal. 

Yes, there are innate factors, such as personality and temperament that play a role in our child’s behaviors and perceptions, but they learn behavior and attitude from others as well. 

THIS is one reason why a mom’s mindset matters. Their mindset will influence their child’s view of the world, thus impacting the child’s behavior. The other reason why a mom’s mindset matters is that it impacts their own self-care and stress level. 

Neuroscience suggests that our brain is impacted by our experiences. For example, chemical changes occur when we experience trauma resulting in changes in the brain. 

Our brains are quite malleable, meaning that there is potential for growth and neural connectivity with practice. In essence, we can bounce back and even grow. Our beliefs are powerful. This shapes our perspective. 

Where are you on the Mindset continuum? Do you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? Check out my mini mindset quiz in episode 4. The first step is becoming aware of your own mindset. Once you increase your personal mindset awareness, you can explore ways to grow.

Tips to grow your mindset as a mom of an autistic

1. Acknowledge that raising an autistic is hard by recognizing that you are unique. You have unique gifts and talents. These strengths can help you grow your mindset too. There is always room to grow.
2. Be open to change. Autism parents tend to increase flexibility as they grow as a parent. They understand that flexibility helps their child adapt to changing situations. 
3. Parenting is hard. Be kind to yourself. When you make mistakes, be willing to learn from them.
4. Avoid perfectionism! You will dig yourself into a deep, dark hole through perfectionism. Perfect doesn’t exist. Don’t set yourself up to fail. Instead, be mindful that you are doing your best and will improve in time. 
5. Find learning opportunities. You have started by listening to the podcast. I explore mindset often. Also, you can download the FREE 4 Step Guide from Thriving Moms of Autistics.

Isn’t it frustrating when someone looks at you like you have three heads for making a simple request regarding your child. 

People tend to not understand because our child’s needs are unusual in comparison to a neurotypical child’s need. They simply don’t understand the meaning behind your request.

In this episode, I explore those feelings as a mom of an autistic and remind you that you don’t have three heads and your child’s needs are just as important. 

It’s natural for moms of autistics to advocate for their child. It doesn’t feel good when those simple requests are ignored or misunderstood. 

In fact, your advocacy doesn’t make you a bad person or a needy person. Even if someone infers this is the case. It makes you a good mom! Other’s ideas about you do not paint an accurate picture of who you are as a mom or a person.

I am one of the most flexible people you will ever meet. Moms of autistics are flexible at their core. They must be given their circumstances. Yet others view them as difficult or impossible.

Does that sound selfish on their end? It is based on the fact that they don’t have the experience of raising an autistic making it hard to understand.

As moms, we might not start out with a high level of flexibility, but raising an autistic requires you to transform yourself into a highly flexible mom. 

There will be those, who simply refuse to budge. That doesn’t mean you don’t follow through with your request. Your child’s safety always comes first.

What does that mean? You know what your child’s triggers are, but others do not because they do not know your child like you do. 

Our job as moms is to set our child up for success and not failure. This is why we make these requests of others. That is being a good mom. Not a difficult mom…

When your child is doing well, so are you! This is a type of self-care. This is why setting boundaries with others is so important. 

I set firm boundaries with my son too that are developmentally appropriate. This is how he learns. I am also aware of what he can handle and don’t push him until he is ready. 

This is what we call, “meeting them where they are at.” We must meet all individuals where they are to facilitate change. 

You might want someone to join your autism journey, but they simply are not ready. That doesn’t mean they won’t be ready at some point. You know the old saying, “You can lead the horse to water, but you can’t force them to drink.” So true! 

Don’t try to herd cats! If someone isn’t willing to budge when you set boundaries, you can walk away from that. You are advocating for you AND your child and creating a safe space for both of you to grow and feel cared for. It shouldn’t be one sided. 

People, who see the meaning behind your boundaries will meet you halfway. They will at least try to understand and show some flexibility. How does this happen?

In one word … education. Not only are you a mom of an autistic, but you are an educator too. I do a lot of educating. 

It is up to the individual to choose to understand or not. That is out of your control. You gave them the information. They must choose to use it. 

When others do not understand our methods of parenting, it is usually written all over their face or in their tone and body language. You will become quite skilled at recognizing this. 

I often ask, “You seem like you have questions. How can I help? That opens up the conversation and educational opportunity. They tend to let their guard down. 

Do you have to do this with those who are hostile? Absolutely not! Let it go! Do not hang on to others negativity. You do not deserve it. 

In the next week, consider those moments that you could have educated others and set firm boundaries when making requests. How might you do things different in the future?

One thing I have learned is that life is not without challenges. When difficulties occur, we must move forward to experience renewal.  As the saying goes, “The sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

In episode 8, I revealed my personal story of how my life changed when I created a supportive community. That was the point where I realized I was surviving in my autism journey. I needed to thrive as a mom for my son. My family deserved that. I deserved that. 

In this episode, I take the message of community support a step further and explore the origins, common barriers, and considerations when building a community for moms of autistics.

Find the transcript for this episode at https://thrivingmomsofautistics.com/10

I would love your input so please leave a review on Apple Podcast. When you do, you help others find the podcast. I love when moms help other moms!

I’ve mentioned in previous episodes that awareness is at the core of many aspects of autism parenting. This includes community supports. Having a keen awareness allows us to evaluate our lives and resources. 

We all have community around us. Ask yourself, “Does the community that I currently surround myself with bring out the best in me?” The answer might be yes, but you only have one or two people in your circle. 

If the answer is no, you need to consider changing that. Don’t do what I did and wait until there is an emergency. I think back about how things would have been very different for us in those three months had we surrounded ourselves with the support we desperately needed. 

Positive community means that you are surrounded by people, who understand autism, support you without harsh judgment when you are struggling, show you compassion, and help you out when you are in a pinch.

Community isn’t only about you. It’s about your child too. When you care for your needs, you are essentially caring for your child’s needs. Healthy moms lead to healthy children. Let that marinate a bit. 

One of the things I love about my supportive community is that I have people around me that get it. When something comes up with my son, they can recall experiencing the same thing or something similar. It brings some normalcy to my life instead of always feeling like the outlier. 

Also, our children have an opportunity to create bonds with one another. Autistic children often struggle with making friends. This allows them to also be around others, who have things in common with them. As parents, we don’t have to walk on eggshells when our child has a behavior that is typical of autistic children.

There are many barriers to finding support, but I have seen moms do it. You might live in a rural area, be a single mom, or struggle making friends for whatever reason. Positive community is still an option. So is not having a supportive community in your journey.

Consider these questions to guide you in finding your community.

• Do I have access to the Internet? If not, is there a library nearby? Even most small towns have a library.
• Is my child in school or ABA where there are other families like mine?
• Who are the family members and friends that I can count on or can learn about understanding autism?

It might take some time but tightening up your circle is worth it. You might have someone in mind. But they aren’t quite there yet. That doesn’t mean they won’t be. 

You are a natural advocate for your child. It is okay for you to advocate for yourself too. You can set boundaries with others and say, “I need x or y!” More about setting boundaries in episode 11. 

The point is that there are others like you. When you come together, you can achieve so much as moms! 

I developed the term positive centered life because it is the summation of what has made my own autism journey successful. Is a successful autism journey without challenges? Absolutely not! Is it perfectly wrapped in a nice, neat package? Nothing is! 

In this episode, I explore the benefits of leading a positive centered life as a mom of an autistic. It is a learning process that uses your own strengths to guide you in making those challenges a little easier. Overall, it makes your journey a little less bumpy. 

A journey that encompasses a positive centered life is one that moms of autistics can strive for and in time achieve. 

In episode 3, I explored how awareness was important in reducing stress. Awareness is literally at the core of many aspects of autism parenting. 

In positive psychology, we implement techniques, such as mindfulness to become more aware of our thinking, feeling, and emotions. 

In my Thrive VIP Program, I help moms become more aware of their own innate strengths that we may or may not be aware of. This helps us cope with the challenges of autism parenting and be more proactive rather than reactive. 

This is what positive psychologists refer to as fostering intuitive resistance to adversity. We become more resilient by learning from our past experiences, engaging in self-care, and developing a supportive community. 

I have mentioned in previous episodes my battle with perfectionism. Moms of autistics are super hard on themselves. Throw in some perfectionism and you have a recipe for disaster. 

We must show ourselves some grace. I cannot say that enough! Living a positive centered life is essential for not only showing yourself grace but your autistic as well, which lowers the impact of our experience of difficult situations. 

This means that when we employ positivity, we tend to nurture and grow rather than get devoured by the problem or negative experience. This is easy to do, but positive psychology helps us to rewire our brains for success. 

There is room to improve for every human being. I got into the field of psychology because I firmly believed that people could change. Changing course is not easy, but it’s not impossible either. 

This is where mindset comes in. Our personality, beliefs, and experiences contribute to our mindset. Check our episode 2 and episode 4 for more on mindset and moms of autistics. In my Thrive VIP Program, I help moms identify there they are on the mindset spectrum and ways to develop a growth mindset. 

This is important because children are sponges. They soak in how we handle ourselves and situations in the world, which impacts our relationship with our children and their experience with the world. Parents lead by example.

We rewire our brains by engaging in and practicing positivity more consistently. Even the so-called “Negative Nancy” can retrain her brain to think more positively. 

When you become more aware of your thoughts and behaviors, you can start flipping the negative script in your mind to a more positive one. This takes lots of practice. 

It’s so much easier to get stuck in stinking thinking than it is to practice positivity. In the long term, the pay off is significant and makes our lives easier. 

I shared a couple of benefits to leading a positive centered life. I will explore many more in future episodes so stay tuned. You don’t want to miss! 

When I chat with moms of autistics or any child with special needs, I commonly hear how isolating it can be for them. Boy, I get that! When you raise a neurotypical child, your path is very different for many reasons. 

As a clinician, I taught parenting groups successfully for over 20 years. Interventions are very different for families of autistics. I practically threw many of those methods out the window with my own son. 

Many of my parent friends of children with special needs do not go to other people’s homes. In fact, they fear going to visit family during the holidays for the fear of something getting broken or others not understanding their parenting methods or even their child’s unusual behaviors. 

Parents of autistics often hear, “Can’t you spank the autism out of him or if my child did that..”

Instead, it is easier for them to just stay home and avoid the public or family’s judgments. It’s not healthy for human beings to isolate. We naturally need others whether we realize it or not. 

When I got married, I moved to a new city. I got pregnant quickly. My husband was an engineer, and I was practicing at the time so there was little time to make friends in our new city. I made friends easily in the past but worked all the time. Most of our church family had adult children. 

Being an older mom in my 40’s, my parents had passed away and other family was hours away. I decided to join a mom group. That did not go as I had hoped due to the age differences. 

Also, many of the moms didn’t understand why I was testing my son for autism when he simply wasn’t talking. I would hear things like, “Oh, don’t worry. He’s not autistic. My son did that too. Oh, my son walked on his tippy toes and lined up cars. It’s no big deal.” 

Looking back, they were just trying to be helpful, but pretending it wasn’t true was anything but helpful. Not everyone is a fit for your community and that is okay. We have challenges that others do not understand. Support is essential. So who we choose to be in our community is important for our own and our familial wellness. 

My husband and I managed to make it through the diagnosis and get early intervention regardless of the nay sayers. Locally, our main support was from my son’s treatment team. They were wonderful but we needed more than professional supports. 

During the pandemic, my husband and I had medical emergencies two months apart. It is by the grace of God that we are here today. It was pretty dire for a few months. 

During this time, my son’s behaviors worsened due to the impact of the pandemic and me being in and out of the hospital. After my husband’s medical emergency, I realized how hard it was to find someone that could watch my son in an instance. 

Like many of you, we did not have babysitters with the skillset to safely watch an autistic. I made it to the hospital in time for the ER doctor to meet me in the parking lot to tell me they were taking my husband to emergency surgery. 

Shortly after, someone lovingly said, you need others. You need more! They were right.

How do moms of autistics find their community?

In terms of developing a support system, I wish there was a perfect calculation for this. But we are all so different. Our personalities, locations, and so many other things factor into this. What I do know is that it is not impossible. It once seemed so impossible for me until it wasn’t. 

So my method of gaining community might look very different from yours. The point is that it can happen, and it should. You deserve it! My life is so different now. 

In my Thrive VIP Program, I help other moms of autistics develop their supportive community that is the best fit for them. 

Hello autism mamas!

I’m so happy you’re here. If you’re listening right now that means you have taken steps to do something for you. That should be celebrated. I am so proud of you and you deserve it! 

In this episode, I’ll give you tips to move from merely surviving to fully thriving. We all have the potential to thrive. Thriving doesn’t have to just be a dream. Thriving can be your reality. 

Find the full transcript at thrivingmomsofautistics.com/7 

Be sure to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. I appreciate your input and support.

What brings joy to moms of autistics? 

We’re all such different creatures. That’s what makes us so interesting. Some people like to shop. Others like to visit with friends over coffee. I don’t like shopping. And I don’t like coffee. I know!

Instead, I like to be productive. No kidding. Productivity makes me happy. I like checking things off my list of things to do and get creative. This can get me into trouble quickly, especially when raising an autistic. 

Moms of autistics tend to carry a lot of stress

As moms of autistics, we have a lot on our plate. We stress about taking our child out in public, unexpected behaviors or transitions, loud noises, someone coming to the front door, last minute changes, IEP meetings, and the list goes on. 

So how do you know when it’s time to slow down? Can you realistically slow down? We all have stopping points, even when there is too much going on to stop.

And if we don’t stop, our body will for us. Let me repeat that. If we don’t stop, our body will for us. 

There are often signs along the way that we need to slow down. We just miss them because we are busy in the midst of chaos in our lives. 

In episode 6, I explored mom hacks for moments of chaos. One way to do this is to uncover your personal strengths as tools to counter challenging times. Now let’s dive deeper into understanding how to individually alleviate stress so it doesn’t continue to build and weigh us down. 

Questions that guide self-care in moms of autistics

• We tend to get stuck in worry in how to handle situations. What are some ways you can exercise your mind to shift your thoughts?
• We often spend our time doing for others and neglect what is important to us. What hobbies would you like to engage in?
• We neglect our physical health and focus on solely on our child. What ways are you able to get moving?
• How can you say yes when others offer support?
• Sometimes we isolate because people do not understand autism, and we are left to do everything on our own. What areas do you need to set boundaries the most?

Spend some time this week thinking about your answers to these questions and evaluate where changes need to be made. Perhaps you already do well in some areas. Or maybe you are struggling across the board. 

The word Thrive means to be successful, to grow, or to flourish. I have shared that my husband and I woke up one day and realized we were just surviving, which is pretty common in autism families. We transitioned from surviving to thriving and you can do. It is not impossible. I want that for you. So let’s thrive together!   

Have you noticed that people are on edge now more than ever? It seems that we experience the world differently post COVID. You know what I’m talking about. 

In this episode, I’ll share ways to conquer self-care as a mom of an autistic, especially in a pandemic.

Find the full transcript at thrivingmomsofautistics.com/6

When my son was a baby, my mom group had an art project. We made t shirts. Mine said, “Mommin Ain’t Easy!” This was before autism was a thing in our family and definitely before the pandemic. 

Autism moms juggle many balls daily

As moms of autistics, we wear many hats. They are all important. But in the midst of deep challenges and chaos, there is one hat that is a must.

So when things get crazy and you are at that boiling point or teetering on the edge … You know what I’m talking about. Put on your special hat!

The key to pulling it all together when your autism journey takes a turn

What I mean by that is think HAT. Halt what you’re doing. So stop! 

Acknowledge what is going on in your body. Are you feeling shaky? Is it hard to focus? Does your belly hurt? The list goes on.

Now that you’ve taken a hot minute to stop and acknowledge, tap into your talents. Talents are your personal resources or strengths. This is important because those talents will get you through the tough times. 

We all have personal strengths. It’s hard for all of us to pinpoint those strengths. That’s not unusual. I explore this in more detail in episode 5. So be sure to check it out if you haven’t already. We can identify our challenges much easier than identifying our strengths. 

I love positive psychology because it allows us to focus on what is right about ourselves rather than solely on what is wrong. 

When we do this during hard times, our strengths will carry us through. Strengths are great tools to have in your mom toolboxes. 

What are your strengths?

I can almost hear the chirping in your mind right now. It’s hard to identify your own strengths, isn’t it? You might consider grabbing a 90-minute clarity session with me to dive deeper into your personal toolbox.

Challenges to using HAT when parenting a young autistic child

So the whole HAT is important. It sounds easy enough to halt in the midst of chaos, but it’s not. You have to do this when it’s safe. It’s not always safe for moms of autistics to just stop and take a moment. 

I was in Walmart recently and my son was slightly walking behind me because he was dawdling. He wasn’t paying attention and walked into a little girl walking with her mom in the opposite direction. 

Her mom looked perplexed. I wasn’t able to stop and deal with the situation because my son darted off toward a preferred item. You know what I mean. He’s an eloper … a runner. Many of us have them.

So I had to deal with him in that moment. There was no time to stop and explore the situation further. 

Moms of Autistics Master Transitions

Successful moms of autistics are able to pick their battles and be okay with moving forward without perfect transitions. In a perfect world, I would have loved to have explored the situation further with the little girl’s mother. But I had to make sure my son was safe first and foremost. 

That is hard for a perfectionist such as me. I have learned to be comfortable with moving on from situations that do not end as nice, neat packages. Therefore, I wear another hat. It is the magical hat of letting go. 

When I was a clinician, I started each evaluation with asking the individual to identify their personal strengths. They were excellent at identifying their problems. That was easy! Identifying strengths? That was another story. It was often like pulling teeth.

In this episode, I’ll share how identifying and using your personal strengths can lead to significant growth in your autism journey. 

Find the full transcript at thrivingmomsofautistics.com/5

What do you do well? Can you list 5 or more of your strengths?

Easier said than done!

We are not programmed to focus on our strengths in our society. Instead, we focus on our problems, which presents a challenge when trying to improve your life. 

Importance of Using Your Strengths in Your Autism Journey

Why is it important to be strengths focused when parenting an autistic? 

In episode 2, I explored why I use positive psychology in my Thrive VIP Program. I love positive psychology because it is so different from what is traditionally taught about human beings. Not to mention the substantial research that supports its practice and measures.

Instead of focusing on what is wrong with others, we focus on what is right about them. Then we use those strengths to empower them to improve their lives and move away from problematic behaviors. 

In my Thrive VIP Program from Thriving Moms of Autistics, we explore ways to tap into personal strengths. We all have gifts we aren’t aware of just waiting to be used. 

How amazing is that?

The good news is that all individuals have personal strengths. One person’s strengths might be different from the next persons. 

What happens when parents of autistics are problem focused?

When parents of autistics fail to use their personal strengths to improve their outlook and interactions with their child, they get stuck. It is better to keep moving in a positive direction than to remain stagnant. 

One of my strengths is that I am an optimistic person. As a result, I am resilient. This is consistent with the research on optimism and resiliency, which has made me a believer in my own journey. 

I have experienced many challenges in life, which have allowed me to strengthen that optimism muscle. While there is beauty in autism, there are also many challenges that come with it. 

So where do you go from here?

Start Thinking About Your Possible Strengths as an Autism Parent

Start by considering these questions

Don’t you hate it when a potential employer asks what you do well? Again, it’s like pulling teeth.

So what do you do well?

What skills do you possess?

If you were to ask someone who knows you well, what would they say?

Ponder these questions over the next week and see what you come up with. I’ll ask them again.

What do you do well?

What skills do you possess?

If you ask someone that knows you well, what would they say?

I know it’s hard to evaluate yourself in these terms. But it is necessary for growth. I am talking about deep, sustainable growth. 

You owe it to yourself and your young autistic. Do you remember The Wizard of Oz? The good witch says to Dorothy, “You’ve always had the power, my dear.” She was right. 

You might have some idea of your personal strengths because they are often tied to the wins in your life. They give you a boost when things are hard. They help you achieve. Then again, you might not have that awareness quite yet. 

It’s something to think about. A positive mind opens positive doors. We can and we will! Let’s do this together! 

Making mistakes is a given when raising a young autistic child. You have the power to learn from those mistakes. In this episode, I’ll share what drives my success in raising my young autistic. 

Find the full transcript at thrivingmomsofautistics.com/4

We will explore a bonus mindset quiz in this episode!

What is in Your Control as a Mom of an Autistic?

Have you ever been asked to describe a half glass of water? Is it half empty? Or half full?

It turns out that there is something to that. Happiness researchers have found that optimistic individuals tend to be happier. In fact, my recently published research determined that not only is optimism highly correlated with well-being, but the combination of optimism and internal locus of control significantly impacted well-being. 

Locus of control is how one views their control over a situation. So, if we believe an event was out of our hands, we have external control. If we take responsibility for the outcome, we have internal control.

Do you tend to be a glass half-full person or glass half empty?

It is hard to be an optimistic person raising a young autistic child. So much feels out of your control, especially in the beginning. You are the expert on your child. You are also the expert on you! 

We learn through experience. We make mistakes along the way as we use trial and error. 

What does it feel like for you when you wished you had done things differently in a situation?

Moms of Autistics Have High Standards

Historically, I have been my biggest critic. It wasn’t until I started to view my mistakes as learning experiences and allowed myself some grace that I changed my perspective. 

This was not easy. It took lots of practice. I was raised by a mom, who struggled with anxiety. That was all I knew. I learned that mindset is critical for success. 

Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right!” Perspective is so powerful. 

Changing Your Perspective to Improve Your Autism Journey

My life changed when I started implementing positive psychology in my life on a daily basis. I want this for you too. This is why I use positive psychology concepts in my Thrive VIP Program for Thriving Moms of Autistics. It helps you evolve as a parent by changing your perspective and using your own personal resources to deal with life challenges.

In the Thrive Program, we explore ways to nurture a growth mindset. Our mindset guides how we experience the world. It impacts our thoughts, our feelings, and our behaviors. 

Mindset occurs on a continuum with a fixed mindset on one end and a growth mindset on the other. Individuals with a fixed mindset tend to give up easily and steer away from challenges. They believe we are born with certain talents and that’s it. Whereas those with a growth mindset view life as a learning process and believe that skills can be developed.

Where are you on the mindset continuum?

Regarding Your Autism Journey, Consider These Statements?

• I measure my outcome based on my current parenting skills.
• People often judge my parenting decisions negatively based on my child’s behavior.
• I already know everything I need to know about parenting my autistic.
• It is what it is, and there is nothing I can do about my situation.
• I always struggle with parenting my autistic child.
• There is no point trying to change if I am just going to fail.

If you connect with any of these statements, you will benefit from shifting to a growth mindset.