This stage usually goes hand and hand with feelings of guilt, whether or not those feelings are well founded or not. A frequent thought in this stage is the "if only" statement: "If only I would have done THIS, than THAT would have never happened", etc. Bargaining can last a while as we sort through our emotions. It can also be fleeting thoughts that come and go as we begin to process our child's diagnosis. Moving in and out of bargaining quickly or being in this stage while simultaneously in an...
Aug 15, 2022•42 min•Ep. 32
On to the next phase of grief: ANGER! When we think of anger, we tend to associate it with being vexed or upset with others. The closer we are to someone emotionally, the more anger we can feel towards them. It's also important to remember that anger can be directed towards ourselves. This is an important part of grief, allowing time for us to feel, acknowledge, and process. It's not the best place to stay sitting in for long though, as we tend to stall in this stage, not making much progress. I...
Aug 08, 2022•58 min•Ep. 31
Denial: It’s the first stage of grief and it can be a sneaky, tricky thing. Most people think of denial as being bad, but truthfully, denial can fill an important role as protector. Denial can give a semblance of control when confronted with situations that are unknown or overwhelming. It allows us time to adjust and grow while grieving. Listen in as we dive into all things denial and our personal experiences with it! Don’t forget to give us a 5 star review if you love the show! Instagram: @moms...
Aug 01, 2022•51 min•Ep. 30
Let's talk all about back to school transitions! We'll discuss how we prepare not only the little things, like school supplies and clothes, but some of the bigger tasks like IEP reviews, transportation services, and working with new teachers. It's hard to get our kiddos back into the routine of early bedtimes and morning wake ups. Hopefully this will give you some great ideas and time to get your own lists started. We would love to hear about your school transitions and experiences: Instagram: @...
Jul 25, 2022•48 min•Ep. 29
You have all heard the cliches about comparing ourselves to others and we know it can be quite harmful if not in check. In this episode, we have a raw conversation, just scratching the surface really, about contrast in the autism community. There are so many different ways to compare: families, abilities, parenting styles, behaviors, the list goes on and on. We've all done it and we're hear to talk about it and share. We want to hear your stories and experiences too! Let us know what kind of com...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 28
Join us and our guest, Catherine Michael, as we continue the conversation of educating our kids and the barriers we face. Catherine Michael JD, has spent more than twenty years working with thousands of families, behavior therapists, psychologists, parents, and teachers on designing success for children with special needs. She is the managing partner of the Connell Michael Kerr, LLP law firm and the founder of Coffee with Catherine, LLC. Catherine is a well-known speaker, and has been featured i...
Jul 11, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 27
How do you get to a point where you can leave your special needs child with another adult? How do we feel comfortable doing so? What steps can we take to help our kids, and let's be honest, ourselves, feel like we can trust others to care for our kids? Today, we have Doug Crabtree (Brittney's husband) on to discuss some of these questions and more. Trusting others is a daunting task and can take time and extra preparation in order to establish good relationships between caregiver and a special n...
Jul 04, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 26
Special Guest Alert! We are thrilled to have Charley Qaqa on the podcast with Brittney today. Charley has three children, two diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic disorder closely related to autism. She and her family have also lived outside the United States and experienced special needs services abroad. Charley talks about the early years, life in Fiji, and the decision to move back to the United States. She explains Fragile X Sydrome so well, we really appreciate her insights and will...
Jun 27, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 25
Proper sleep is elusive to so many special needs families! Join us as we chat about our own kids' sleep histories (thus far) and what we have done to try to not only help them sleep better, but help ourselves catch a few more zzzz's. There isn't a one size fits all perfect answer, but there are a few things we have learned along the way. How's your sleep schedule going right now? Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com...
Jun 20, 2022•58 min•Ep. 24
We have a special guest on the show with us this week! Brittney and Jane have been friends for over a decade, their autistic boys have been in the same preschool and elementary special eduation classrooms through the years. The moms get together often to check up on each other and the boys' progress. We hope you enjoy learning more about Jane's journey with her son, Alex, and how both she and Brittney are learning to care for their autistic teenagers. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@moms...
Jun 13, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 23
We're talking all things siblings in this episode! We offer our perspectives on our kiddo's sibling relationships. How do our neurotypical and neurodivergent kids interact and live in the same space? We'll also share some ideas on how we as parents can tend relationships with each of our children, making sure they feel special in their connection to us. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com...
Jun 06, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 22
We are ALL about inclusion over here at Moms Talk Autism. We want to include our kids in everything we can and we want others to do the same. There are times, however hard it is to make that call, where it just may not be best to to bring our kids. Whether it's due to environmental factors, safety concerns, upsetting others around us, or you know they just wouldn't enjoy the event, we have to make that tough call and exclude from time to time. We'll talk about our personal experiences in this re...
May 30, 2022•58 min•Ep. 21
The last of our Mom Bonus series this month. Come listen to Brittney's story. Mom of four, two with autism. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com
May 26, 2022•1 hr 10 min
It's hard enough to care for our children in the comfort of our own homes, surrounded by familiar objects, food, and routines. It's asking way too much to expect us to take our kids on vacation. Traveling...no way! It is really difficult, and not every experience out in the great, big world is going to go well. It is vitally important for our families to go out on excursions and experience the good, the bad, and the ugly. In the end, it is worth it. Safe travels everyone, we'll see you out there...
May 23, 2022•47 min•Ep. 20
A bonus episode all about our girl Tash! She is fiesty, loyal, warm, loving, and ready to have real talk about anything and everything. Tash is married to her husband, Tyler, and they have two amazing kids, Jack and Sloan, along with their angel baby, Jameson. Tash's energy is infectious. Her love of life, Christ, and plant care is strong and very inspiring to all of us. Have a listen and learn more about one of our favorite people. She has some really great insights to share. Instagram: @momsta...
May 19, 2022•47 min
We're answering listener questions today! Over the last few weeks, we've been collecting your questions through emails and social media. We can't wait to dive and discuss, let's go! If you have a question or topic you'd like to hear us talk about in a future episode, contact us here: Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com
May 16, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 19
Shanny Shan Shan...first responder's wife, Jill of all trades, and mother of all mothers! This lady truly is extraordinary at all things, but she truly shines as a mom. She loves her girls more than anything and is fierce in her advocacy for them. Shannon is all about self-care, especially in the form of moving your body daily. She believes that when we fill our cups first, we can adequately pour into our kiddos. Run over and listen to Shannon's story: where it all began and how it's currently g...
May 12, 2022•49 min
To medicate or not to medicate...that is the question! Brittney, Jean, and Tash talk about looking into over the counter and perscription medications for their autistic children. What works for one child won't necessarily work for another, but hearing our experiences will hopefully shed some light if you are considering medications now or in the future. Disclaimer: we are not doctors or trained medical professionals. ALWAYS consult your doctor if you are thinking of starting or stopping medicati...
May 09, 2022•51 min•Ep. 18
Jean: a simple name, complex in nature. Many of us walk into parenthood with our "stuff". It shades and colors our lens when seeing our child’s diagnosis. Jean wanted an exceptional child and the universe delivered an extraordinary, beautiful, autistic son. Gone were the days of the fast-paced, creative life in hospitality. She carried her intensity and advocacy into a new life; one focused on slowing down and experiencing a deeper, richer side to humanity. Her story is about transformation thro...
May 05, 2022•1 hr 2 min
How do we manage our child's exceptional needs AND our own health, specifically mental health? It's a question we strive to answer in this episode. We share our own personal experiences, struggles, and successes in this area of our lives. We would love to hear your thoughts on this VERY important topic. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com
May 02, 2022•59 min•Ep. 17
Dad's Talk Autism Final Bonus Eposide! In our final April Dad installment, we will hear from Jay: husband to Shannon and father to Gracie and Maya. Jay gives another view of our interesting, and sometimes challenging, parent life. He's honest and you'll never have to wonder where he stands on any topic. Jay also dives into a subject that Shannon hasn't shared on the podcast: his adult autism diagnosis. Tune in and get a look from his perspective! Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalka...
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr 2 min
An autism diagnosis can be life chaning for your child. It can also greatly impact your family and what the future holds for family planning. In this episode, we tell our personal stories of when we decided to have or not have more children after diagnosis. It's a very personal decision and we hope hearing our stories will help you along your family's autism journey. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com
Apr 24, 2022•45 min
Tyler, husband to Tash, father to Jack, Sloan, and Jameson (their angel baby). The Dillmons lead an extraordinary life as a first responder family, working as a Fire Captain in their community. Tyler tells the remarkable story of overcoming the grief of the loss of one child and stepping in as a father, parenting their autistic son and surviving twin, Jack. He also shares a heartwarming story about how autism touched his life before Jack was diagnosed. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@mom...
Apr 21, 2022•1 hr
In this episode, we are interviewing a fantastic guest. William Wherli is an incredible voice in this community who shares powerful knowledge and insight into living as an autistic adult. He covers many subjects, including what it was like growing up as a child. William shares excellent advice to everyone about what he wants the world to know, some insight for parents raising autistic children, and some inspiration to all of us to be and do better for our disabled communities. Follow William: @w...
Apr 17, 2022•37 min
Doug is Brittney's husband and father to their four children. Austin and Ruby are autistic and have very different challenges and needs. Doug is one of the most easy going personalities out there, he's a go with the flow kinda guy, and we love him for it. He offers his perspective on fatherhood and raising children with a wide range of needs and abilities. He tells the story of diagnosis of both children and offers some great advice for newly minted special needs parents. We hope you enjoy heari...
Apr 14, 2022•1 hr 19 min
One of our most requested topics! We get asked often what our children are up to with their current struggles/victories. So, let's talk where the kids are NOW! Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com
Apr 10, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Dads Talk Autism Bonus Episode! Brad, husband to Jean, father to Rory and McKenna, is our very first dad to be interviewed in this series. He doesn’t mince words; a black and white, no grey area kind of guy. Incredibly smart and witty, Brad is never absent of humor or sarcasm, casting him as the cynic in their relationship. Brad and Jean experienced Rory's initial autism diagnosis very differently, but both are important stories and perspectives to hear. Stay tuned, 3 more Dad episodes coming at...
Apr 07, 2022•46 min
Autistic people aren’t two dimensional creatures. Being a member of the community as a caregiver or parent isn’t either. In this episode, we talk with our very special guest, Tiffany Hammond, from Fidgets and Fries. We discuss how she navigates life as an autistic, black female, as well as a parent to two autistic boys. Tiffany draws the distinction of being autistic and parenting autistic children and how they can be vastly different experiences. We hope you find her insights as profound as we ...
Apr 03, 2022•1 hr 25 min
April is Autism Acceptance Month! Join us as we discuss the history and share some of our insight on what this month means to each of us. However you decide to acknowledge and bring awareness is a personal choice and we honor that. We also discuss how we can better advocate and educate ourselves through listening to the autistic community. We hope no matter where you are on this journey, you will find joy in this month and a community to support you and your child. Instagram: @momstalkautism Ema...
Mar 27, 2022•52 min
This episode is all about stimming and other repetitive behaviors that our kids do or have done throughout the years. There's a delicate balance when it comes to stimming, each behavior needs to be individually assessed. A lot of times they can really help regulate and calm an individual, autistic or not. They can also be unsafe and disruptive to a person or others around them. Lots to discuss and talk about, join in and let us know what you think. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstal...
Mar 20, 2022•40 min
