It's another grab bag, your questions answered! This episode we will touch on five different topics: *vocal stimming and how we handle volume in a public space *anxiety in our kids and how we approach it *ABA vs. Preschool *extracurricular activities tips/tricks/ideas for our ND kids *cultivating adult relationships especially with those who do not have ND kids Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.co...
Mar 13, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 61
This week is all about how we connect with our neurodivergent children through play. We will talk about our four individual experiences, but also some ideas we've heard from experts. Remember, each ND person is different and the way we engage with them should be considered through their cues and interests. With time and experience, we can fine tune and explore great options for play and connection. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momsta...
Mar 06, 2023•59 min•Ep. 60
Moms talk.. Moms?! Whatttttt? That’s right. Today, we are talking about the moms. The idea and hope for this episode is that you’ll get to know each of us a little better. Yes, as moms to exceptional kids, but also as you know... regular humans. Think of this as a fun conversation with your girlfriends at the coffee shop! Let’s build community. Get to know one another a little better. Time to chat, friends! Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com je...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 59
Our very own Natasha had the honor and privilege to attend this year’s Super Bowl as a volunteer for KultureCity! We talk about the who, what, why, and how it all came about as Tash talks about her amazing weekend in Phoenix. The best part? Tash got to see and experience what KultureCity is all about firsthand. She was able to tour the Sensory Activation Vehicle (SAV), pass out Sensory Bags to ticket holders attending the many events during the week of the Super Bowl, and meet so many amazing pe...
Feb 20, 2023•37 min•Ep. 58
We are thrilled to bring you our interview with Meg Raby, author of the children's book series, "My Brother Otto". Meg is autistic herself and discusses many relevant topics on the website "Scary Mommy". You will feel inspired and walk away learning things you didn't know about, not just Otto, the beloved character in her childrens' literature series, but so much about Meg, her additional advocacy, her work as an SLP, and many more life-changing endeavors to come. Sites + Platforms mentioned in ...
Feb 13, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 57
Today's episode is all about our favorite non profit, KultureCity! We had the incredible privledge of sitting down with board member Renae Ingles to chat about her family’s autism journey for their son Jacob. That experience brought them to their advocacy and work with KultureCity. Renae tells us all about the influential and important work of this amazing organization and how all of us can be involved. We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did! Check out KultureCity here: https://www.k...
Feb 06, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 56
The doctor will see you now... If your child has an autism diagnosis, there's a good chance you are also seeing some medical or therapy specialists. Everyone has a different path and will respond to treatments in different ways. We hope you can gain some insight from our experiences with specialists to figure out your own therapy and medical plan. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstal...
Jan 30, 2023•58 min•Ep. 43
Regression can happen in many different areas of our kids' lives: language, functional skills, physical abilities, academics, etc. Refusal can also manifest itself in many ways. Join us as we discuss these differences and share some of our own struggles in trying to distinguish between these two parenting challenges. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Jan 23, 2023•57 min•Ep. 54
It’s time for another grab bag episode baby! We’re answering your questions and diving deeper into what you want to know. Join us as we discuss relevant topics, share stories, and just spend some good old fashioned quality time together. Topics for this episode include birthday parties for our autistic children, mood swings/changes and their possible triggers, packing school lunches (no judgment here), and more. As always, if you have any questions for us, please reach out. We are always adding ...
Jan 16, 2023•55 min•Ep. 53
What did you wish your teacher knew?!?! I think that answer changes over time. It's static. And our experience and engagement with our educators can feel one or two-dimensional at most times. I will tell you what helps, though; it's drawing out your care map. Who freakin’ knew?!?! If you don’t know what that is, Google it. There is not one website I recommend over another, but knowing how to make a care map can serve as one of the foundational documents for parenting a child with any disability....
Jan 09, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 52
Discussing a new year ahead of us: new goals, new experiences, and more time together with YOU! 2023 is filled with possibilities, let's talk about. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Jan 02, 2023•55 min•Ep. 51
It's here, the 2022 Year in Review! We have a year much like many of you, filled with ups and downs and everything in between. Thank you for letting us be a small part of your lives. Enjoy our last episode of this year and we'll see you in 2023! Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Dec 26, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Join us as we chat with one of our favorite returning guests, IEP Coach Lisa Baskin Wright! We love to pick Lisa's brain with all of our (and your) special education and IEP questions. Lisa is a fountain of knowledge and experience. Dive in and don't forget to contact her directly if you have further questions or thoughts. Lisa mentions two of her favorite speech therapy Instagram accounts on this episode. We've provided the links for you if you want to check them out: @meaningfulspeech @bohospe...
Dec 19, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 50
As parents to autistic children, we only want what is best for our kids. Making decisions on what therapy, diets, or supplements to give them can quickly become confusing. There are so many people, companies, and professionals with differing ideas. How do we decide what information is helpful and what can be potentially harmful? We will share a little insight on what to keep in mind when doing your own research. Our biggest takaway is, ultimately as parents, we should always listen to our intuit...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 49
Join us today as we discuss marriage and parenting kids with diverse needs. We talk about our own experiences and stories, but also marriage in general and how autism can affect a relationship in postive, and sometimes, negative ways. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Dec 05, 2022•56 min•Ep. 48
The Tash and Brittney episode is here! This week is all about FAITH and the blessing of believing. We are Christians and speak of our own experiences, perspectives, and faith. We would never presume or try to speak for any other faiths or churches, but know that we think this topic, and our approach, can be applied to any belief system, Christian or not. This is about believing in a higher power, whatever that may be, and how that belief can help aid you in your day to day life caring for and pr...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 47
Topics and questions discussed in today's episdoe: Working outside of the home Finding friends and community support Regression/breaks from therapy Bonus: potty training and who's the best cleaner/stain remover in the group. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Nov 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 46
That first responder family life, though... you know? And if you don’t, we'll talk all about it today. What does life look like when you layer first responder life with special needs parenting? Tash and Shannon talk about it from their personal experiences. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Nov 14, 2022•48 min•Ep. 45
In today's episode we'll talk all about those extra diagnoses that our kids have in addition to autism. We have different experiences: some receiving other diagnoses before or after the autism diagnosis. For others, it was all at the same time. Either way, it can be a lot to take in. We will share what those diagnoses are, how they present for our kids, and the specialists and/or medications we use to treat certain behaviors or medical concerns. Though our kids may have similar or the same autis...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 44
Come join in the conversation as we discuss separation anxiety and autism. Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Oct 31, 2022•55 min•Ep. 43
Do the holidays bring you feelings of happiness and joy OR is it a time of stress and anxiety? Maybe a combination of both? For our kids, there are added layers of sensory awareness and accommodations that need to be considered, prepared for, and executed. If the upcoming hoildays fill you with dread, specifically because of these extra layers that are added to our plate, this is the episode for you! Let us know what you think and if there additional related topics that we can chat about. Instag...
Oct 24, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 42
Today, we answered a few of the behavior-related questions you've been asking about. Here’s a breakdown of the chat: How do you handle self-harming behaviors? What obsessive behaviors do you experience with your kiddos? Any advice on how to handle certain sensory behaviors? How do you talk to siblings about behaviors? Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Oct 17, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 41
Tricks, treats, and an honest conversation about Halloween and all the extra variables to consider during this holiday with our neurodivergent kids. Let us know what you think and if you have anything to add to our chat. We'd love to hear from you! Instagram: @momstalkautism Email: hello@momstalkautism.com brittney@momstalkautism.com jean@momstalkautism.com shannon@momstalkautism.com tash@momstalkautism.com...
Oct 10, 2022•52 min•Ep. 40
Tash and Jean talk all things ADHD with our special guest this week, Beth Gardner. Beth was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 13. She is now raising her son with the same diagnosis and strives to help other families with similiar situations and challenges. In 2019, Beth started an online support group, "Driven to Connection". We are so thrilled to learn and talk with Beth and we hope you enjoy it too. You can learn more about Beth and her organization here: Instagram: @bethg_driventoconnection T...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 39
Join us as Brittney talks with her friend Tami, a mom of six, living in California. Tami and her husband care for their adult autistic son, Jaron. We talk about Jaron’s initial diagnosis, growing up, and what it’s like to care for him now. There are programs available for autistic adults (although not as many as we would like), listen and find out how you can find programs in your area. We also touch on the subject of conservatorship, wills, and trusts. Tami is an amazing person and wonderful mo...
Sep 26, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 38
Answering YOUR questions again! One of our FAV things to do! Here is what we talked about today! How do we handle tantrums/meltdowns? How do we differentiate them? (2:10) Physical strength. Worrying about our kids being too fast or too strong. (21:40) How do you deal with the real (or imagined) judgment when your kids have meltdowns in public? (31:50) How do you manage public restrooms with our kids, particularly mother & son pairs? (40:15) How do you fit in healthy meal options? (45:48) Hop...
Sep 19, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 37
What can we do as parents to help plan for the future of our children? Just like everything else in life, there are additional layers and concerns when it comes to future planning for our children with special needs. What kind of legal options are available to me? What should I do to ensure the well-being of my child? Jeff Stephens is a lawyer in Northern California who focuses on tax and estate planning. He has three young children, one with autism. Jeff answers our questions and gets us starti...
Sep 12, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 36
This is the final installment on our version of the stages of grief. We bring it all together and discuss what happens during and after the process of grieving an autism diagnosis. You've reached a level of acceptance and peace...now what? There is a wheel of adaptation in relation to grief, broken down into four hemispheres, all intersecting and overlapping. This concept was first presented in the book "Nobody's Perfect" by Dr. Nancy B. Miller. We hope you find her research and our discussion i...
Sep 05, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 35
The idea of acceptance can give the false impression that everything is ok or that you are not struggling anymore. A better way to look at acceptance is that you have reached a certain level of resolve or can see the reality of your life for what it is now. In this episode, we talk about the first time we reached a level of acceptance with our autistic children and how we strive to come back to that place over and over in a variety of ways. It's a great discussion, real and raw, about the diffic...
Aug 29, 2022•54 min•Ep. 34
Depression is an appropriate response to processing any kind of grief. It is often portrayed as unnatural, something to be fixed, or to get rid of as quickly as possible. The truth is, it would be unusual NOT feel it. There are times and circumstances when a longer period of depression may be part of your life and having discernment to recognize and know when you are depressed is essential to your grief journey. This episode explores the many sides of depression and how it has shown up in our li...
Aug 22, 2022•44 min•Ep. 33
