Not Your Average Autism Mom

When Plans Change: Helping Your Autistic Children Handle Disappointment

A canceled outing. A favorite food that isn’t available. A friend who can’t come over. You see another option—but your child is still focused on the plan that disappeared.

In this episode, Shannon shares practical ways to help your autistic children handle everyday disappointments while ...

Autism and Friendship: Is Your Child Lonely—or Are You Worried They Will Be?

Does your autistic child need more friends—or are you worried because their friendships don’t look the way you imagined?

In this episode, Shannon talks honestly about the sadness she has felt knowing that her son Jordan, now 30, has never had a best friend, sleepovers, ...

Your child knows the answer but won’t say it. They’ve completed the task before, but suddenly insist, “I can’t.” They refuse to begin, ask you to do it for them, or fall apart when someone is watching. 

It may look like defiance, laziness, or a lack of effort. But sometimes your child isn’t refusing because they don’t want to try. They’re afraid they’ll get it wr...

A child who is screaming, crying, or falling apart is clearly struggling. But what happens when an autistic child’s response to overwhelm becomes quiet?

Autistic shutdowns can look like ignoring, refusing, withdrawing, or simply choosing not to participate. Your child may stop speaking, become unusually still, retreat to their room, stare into space, or temporarily los...

Your child knows the rule. You’ve explained it, practiced it, reminded them—and they may even be able to tell you exactly what they’re supposed to do. So why do they keep doing the thing they KNOW they shouldn’t? 

It’s easy to assume they’re being defiant, refusing to listen, or deliberately pushing back. But knowing what to do and being able to access that information...