Autism Parenting Secrets

In this episode of Autism Parenting Secrets, we reveal ten commitments that a parent can make to help them have a smoother and more successful journey to help their child with Autism.Parents react in various ways after hearing that their child was diagnosed with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Some are excited to finally have some answers, while others may be feeling shell shocked. There’s no 'right' response, but we have found that there are some beneficial habits that parents can commit to after receiving the diagnosis. Our goal in everything we do is to help make your journey to feel easier.  We want you to be the strongest version of yourself.  We want you to feel empowered because we know how hard this can feel, and we know there is an easier way. It all starts with a commitment, and the first one is truly committing to being unstoppable. It all comes down to your attitude and mindset. You have to believe in yourself and your ability to be there for your child.Secondly, take charge as the CEO. We've discussed this in a previous episode, but it all essentially boils down to you know your child best. The third commitment is to relentlessly overcome obstacles. Number four is to have a 360-degree view.  Ask yourself what's happened in the past? What's currently happening? What are the future goals that I'm going after? This 360-degree view is so important because it allows you to examine your landscape. You can position yourself on a map of sorts. Remember, there isn't a final destination in sight, so this map is about your journey.The fifth commitment is that the parent knows exactly what they're going after. Do you have a long term vision? Do you know where you're going? This vision keeps you motivated during the hard moments. Allow flexibility for change but stand confidently in the knowledge that you have a plan.There is no such thing as perfection, and that leads us to your next commitment. It demands excellence, not perfection, while also acknowledging reality. Number seven is minimizing exposure to toxins. Toxins come in many forms, whether it's food, chemicals, or even social influences. You won't be able to eliminate it completely, but awareness is truly half of the battle.The eighth commitment is to harness the healing power of food. Every living being needs food. So truly choose to make each bite count because it is such a powerful gift!Number nine is the commitment to trusting yourself. Trust your inner knowing and intuition. You are a parent, and that is such a powerful position. And finally, never give up and get the support you need to be successful. This is a journey, not a destination. There will be hard moments, but you can equip yourself with the tools you need to help your child thrive.  Key TakeawaysThis week’s secret (1:05)The initial Autism diagnosis left us heartbroken but it wasn’t necessarily the same for others (5:45)You get to make the decisions (8:15)Have a 360-degree view (12:20)You don’t have to be perfect (15:30)Why you need to minimize toxins (18:30)Trust your decision making (22:00)Additional ResourcesTo download your copy of the 10 Commitments of a Warrior ParentTo learn more, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.comBe sure to follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/warriorparentcoaching/Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉  https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

In this episode of Autism Parenting Secrets, we take a deep dive into how the word 'should' can make a hard journey even harder. We want parents to do things because they 'choose' to not because they 'should.' It is so easy to feel pressure to do things that others expect. But when you commit to helping your child with Autism heal, this pressure can do way more harm than good. It puts enormous weight on your shoulders to meet specific guidelines and benchmarks that, in the long run, don't really matter. When our son was first diagnosed, most people believed the window of healing closed around the age of five. For Len and I, that meant we were on a mad dash to do any and everything we could in the span of a few short years. We were so stressed and overwhelmed throughout those years and frankly missed precious time to just be present with our child. (Turns out healing and progress never ends!)We had succumbed to the pressure of the 'shoulds'. It's the pressure of what I should be doing right now as a parent to help my child and the should of what my child should be doing right now that shows he's moving forward. Comparing your child to standard targets is a huge source of the 'shoulds'. These targets aren't meaningless, but they need to be processed as data for you to understand. Targets are definitive markers for the progress your child is or isn't making. Maybe your 'shoulds' are also coming from your social influences. We all know that friends and family can be vocal about their own parenting beliefs. Or maybe, your 'should' stems from the way you were raised. After all, your childhood is the most comprehensive data you have regarding child-rearing. We're not saying all the advice you're being given is wrong but we do believe in any situation where you feel like you should do something, ask yourself, do you understand the why? Why should I do this? or Why do I want to do this?You should know why you're making the choices you make. Shifting from "because I should" to choosing moves you from living in a victim mentality into a powerful stance of free will and agency over what happens.  The bottom line here is to make a habit of noticing when the shoulds are operating. Those moments decide to choose actively, and you'll notice you've alleviated the weight you've probably been feeling.Key TakeawaysToday’s secret is that you shouldn’t do anything (1:08)There’s no window and you can make progress after age five (4:12)Why living the ‘should’ life felt frenzied and overwhelming (7:04)A source of where the shoulds may be coming from (10:40)Approach your decisions from a place of choosing (15:19)Reflection is the precursor to being the CEO of your child (17:10)Additional ResourcesTo learn more, visit us at https://warriorparentcoaching.comBe sure to follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/warriorparentcoaching/Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉  https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

Welcome back to another episode of Autism Parenting Secrets. In this episode, we’re discussing a secret weapon you need in your healing toolkit. Food! The truth is, food matters so much more than you think. Tune in as we examine the gut and brain connection and how it can relate to your child with Autism.Early on Len and I thought we were eating healthy.  But after our son was diagnosed with autism, what we thought was healthy, really wasn’t.  We had heard a lot of buzzes about a variety of diets, but when you would ask your doctor about them, they usually would just dismiss them.  The more we learned, the clearer the picture became. There’s a clear and direct connection between the brain and gut health.  And most kids with Autism have GI issues.  After our son was diagnosed with autism, and we went to see a GI doctor about his GI issues...the doctor told us that’s what happens...kids with autism have GI issues.  They called it a “co-morbid” condition.  Our son, Ry, was dealing with lots of stomach pain. He would attempt to relieve his gut pain by posturing his belly into furniture. Once we started changing his diet and healing his gut issues, the behaviors went away. The findings reveal that bringing gut health back into balance helps improve brain function. We found this to be true with our own experiences. We switched to an anti-inflammatory diet and saw a tremendous change. Now, the goal was never to put our son “on a diet”. Our goal has always been to nourish his body (and ours too) with nutrient-rich and non-toxic foods. Foods free from harmful dyes, chemicals, and preservatives. From the research we’ve done and the recommendations from our doctors, the goal is to choose to nourish with each bite.  This is such a big topic and one we’ll continue to cover in future episodes. We just wanted to open the conversation by having you consider food as a part of your arsenal. Remember, a healthy diet will look different for every child. And the truth is, it will take a lot of trial and error. Don’t get discouraged and stay committed to finding a meal plan that works for your family. It’s not about perfection but progress. And we’re determined to help you find that balance. Tune in!Key TakeawaysFood is essential in helping your child with Autism(1:30)Gut health and Autism are related (4:16)Eating the right foods helped us transform (6:10)A healthy diet is going to look different for everyone (8:27)Finding our sons food triggers (12:20)Prepare for resistance (14:40)You have to become a food detective (18:08)Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉  https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

Becoming the parent you truly want to be begins with taking care of YOU. In this episode, we discuss the importance of parents caring for themselves. Many parents of a child with autism focus on only their child and ignore their own self-care. Often, they’ve been carrying around detrimental mindsets and beliefs that work against the progress they are trying to make. Don’t let that be you. Self-care is not selfish. Actually, the opposite is true. The better you care for your own wellbeing the better you’ll be able to show up for your child. Early on in our journey, we believed self-care was optional. We developed a sort of Hero complex and thought any time not focused on our son was a waste. This led to burnout and stress for not only us but our son Ry as well. When we realized that our efforts were doing more harm than help we knew we needed to make a change. And we got creative with it!Sometimes self-care looks like a thirty-minute phone conversation with a friend or even sneaking in a quick shower before bed. The point is, it is so important that you carve out intentional time for yourself. This allows you the time to recharge and refresh so you can handle whatever comes your way.We firmly believe in being calm WARRIORS opposed to worriers and taking time for ourselves helps us do just that. Tune into this week’s episodes for some tips and encouragement so that you too can show up as the best version of you for yourself and your family. Key TakeawaysPrioritizing your self-care isn’t selfish (2:00)There is a difference between responding and reacting (4:30)Self-care starts with your mindset (9:20)You have to schedule your time  (12:02)Get creative with your self-care (15:00)Calm warrior vs worrier (20:39)Really take the time to examine your beliefs (23:00)

Welcome back to another episode of Autism Parenting Secrets. Today's episode is about one simple truth. The greatest gift you can give your child is stronger, more capable, and more resilient you. The secret is that you must transform first.We didn’t know this secret early on in our own journey. After our son’s diagnosis, we were immediately fixated on how we were going to “fix” him. At the time, we were not looking internally at all. Our life was a flurry of doctor’s visits and meetings with specialists. We assumed that our proactiveness would jumpstart us on a path to healing but the truth was...it didn’t.Instead, we realized that we were really just limiting his opportunity to be a happy, healthy, and connected child. We were operating with blind spots and unrealistic expectations that were hurting our child more than helping him.Our goal in this episode is to shed light on some preconceived notions you might be holding onto. Perhaps, there are some ideas you’re carrying around that aren’t serving your family.  Because the sooner you focus on your own transformation the better. You give yourself the gift of a stronger and more capable version of yourself. In turn, your child wins big, because they'll have a more confident, relaxed, connected, and more present parent navigating this journey alongside them!Key TakeawaysThe greatest gift you can give your child (1:03)Our reality was limiting his ability (3:50)When the real progress actually started (6:16)Commit to this (9:50)This is about you and your transformation (12:12)It’s all about choosing one thing today (16:11)

Today's episode is about revealing that even if your child has a diagnosis that doesn't define them, judging them just doesn't help. The secret is your child not broken. We go deep on the concept that judging your child as 'broken' doesn't help you support them. Parents can accept their children as they are and move with determination to support them as best they can.We've broken down the path of helping your child into five actionable steps. They are comprised of beliefs and messaging that you must adopt if you are committed to becoming a Warrior Parent. The truth is you cannot help someone until you accept them as they are. Thinking about step number one, understand that judging your child is broken weakens your ability to help. Step number two is to know that your child can sense your level of acceptance. And we're very fortunate that our son remembers everything, even from the time that he had no words. You absolutely have to be playing on the same team as your child. Three, Other people's judgment of your child doesn't define your child. Everyone has an opinion. That does not mean you should listen to them all. Don't allow outside influences to overstep their boundaries. You know them best.  Four, trust that every child does have opportunities to grow. Growth might not look the way you imagined, and that's okay! Embrace the steps forward your child is making. All progress is good progress.And finally, the last step is really, and truly your child needs support that's right for them. There is no one size fits all. Once you realize that, you'll increase your connection by dropping that judgment. Please tune in to this week's episode as we dive into these important and necessary steps.You got this!Key TakeawaysA diagnosis is just one piece of data (2:49)Broken is a judgment (5:00)Autism is a part of your child (6:30)The shift from fixing to supporting and loving (10:00)Your child needs support(14:05)How to connect with your child (17:09)Find the moments of positivity (20:37)The power of YET (23:30)Only compare your child to themselves (26:03)

In this episode, we’re talking about the external objections to being a Warrior Parent. When we make missteps on the path to becoming a warrior parent, it’s often because we’ve allowed someone to derail us. Today, we’re giving you the actions to take to avoid that!Did you know that you are completely unstoppable? It’s true! The reality is, no one can get in your way unless you allow them to. We often get caught up in the “shoulds” of life. When you have a child with Autism, you quickly learn that there is no such thing as “shoulds”. This is especially so if you are looking for the unique growth available to your child.So what do you do instead? It would help if you reframed the narrative. Change the story you are telling yourself. This is true for every area of life. When it comes to your friends, family, and support system, you have to erase any beliefs you have about what other people should be doing. Release those expectations.Becoming unstoppable starts and ends with you. Dropping the expectations and judgments you’ve been carrying around is a process. It may take tearing down the expectations you’ve been holding on to since you were young or completely relearning the things you thought you knew.Please be patient. This isn’t work that can be completed overnight, but remember that you are more than capable of taking back your power. We hope that this episode acts as a motivator and guideline for your success. We are all about creating a healing bubble for your family, and today we’re telling you how to do just that!Key TakeawaysOur big secret today (1:30)You have the power to be unstoppable (5:00)Why you should drop expectations (8:00)What judgments do to a situation (10:40)Taking back power and questioning authority (9:16)Imperfection is a superpower (12:30)Why you need to be all in (20:37)Takeaways for this episode (21:38)---Learn more about becoming a Warrior Parent at: https://bit.ly/warriorparentBe sure to follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/wpc-ig

In this episode, we teach you how to confidently step in your new role as a warrior parent. Being a warrior parent is not something you need a degree for. All you need is to trust yourself and believe that you are what is best for your child.Knowing when to trust your own instinct over advice from a professional is challenging. You are battling with what you feel and what you are told. I am going to share one of the first moments I gave into what I felt. It was something as simple as sitting on the floor with Ry and playing the way he wanted to.It was that moment that my husband and I saw the light in Ry’s eyes and felt a real connection with him. We saw potential in trusting our intuitions. Not because professionals are wrong, but simply because we know what is best for our son. We are going to talk about our switch to the Son-Rise Program and what we learned from taking the leap to becoming warrior parents.Take the leap with us. Len and I developed five steps to taking the leap. We are going to talk about what it means to acknowledge reality, trust yourself, make the bold decisions and take inventory. Taking these steps helped Len turn his anxiety into energy and helped both of us feel empowered to be the warrior parents we were capable of all along.It’s in you too. Listen and let us help you discover your inner superhero. Key TakeawaysYou already have what it takes to be a warrior parent (1:15)Embracing what you feel is best, Cass connects to Ry in a special way (3:07)Making the switch to the Sunrise Program (5:37)Realization that what we needed was to let him lead (6:37)Take the leap to become a warrior parent (5 steps) (7:27)How to deal with judgement (14:36)Be prepared to let go (16:20)Our energy serge (17:17)Testimonial from another mom (20:14)Three actions you can take today (21:33) Additional ResoucesSon-Rise Program ---Learn more about becoming a Warrior Parent at: https://bit.ly/warriorparentBe sure to follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/wpc-ig

Let’s talk about what it means to be a warrior parent and how that transformation means BIG WINS for your child with autism. You may be wondering, what exactly is a warrior parent?So, let’s clear that up now. It’s a parent that is always…being the best that they can betaking courageous actionand navigating the day to day with skill, proficiency, and easeThey refuse to stay stuck and are determined to overcome any obstacle that is in the way of the life they want for their child.A warrior parent knows that progress is possible. We’ve even narrowed it down to a list of 10 habits that every warrior should have in their arsenal. Habits such as being the CEO of their child and providing their child with the most healing environment possible. These fantastic parents are continually doing hard and inconvenient things. But they don’t expect perfection from themselves; instead, they strive for excellence. Warrior parents understand that self-care is vital to the wellness of their family and make it a priority. And above all else-- they NEVER give up! Setbacks are seen as learning opportunities and a chance to learn, grow, and become stronger. Stay tuned because, in this episode, we’re discussing what you need to do to become a warrior parent so you can show up for yourself and for your child! Key TakeawaysWhat we mean when we say warrior parent (1:34)10 habits that a warrior parent has and uses (2:49)The importance of trusting ourselves as our child’s expert (4:52)Why the little bold steps forward are so transformative (6:25)Taking back power and questioning authority (9:16)A support network is absolutely essential (11:34)What actions to take to operate as a warrior parent (12:44)Take a step to take control (15:48)---Learn more about becoming a Warrior Parent at: https://bit.ly/warriorparentBe sure to follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/wpc-ig 

Welcome to the very first episode of Autism Parenting Secrets. If you are listening, you are already taking the first steps to be a warrior for your child, and we thank you for being here. Each week, we’re going to share our personal experiences and experiences coaching other autism parents, to be a resource when it feels like no one else understands. This episode is all about you getting to know us and our story. We are the lucky parents of Ry, who was diagnosed with Autism at 18 months old. Those days were a complete whirlwind of emotion for us. Ry went from his first year of developing in the 90th percentile to a sudden shift in health and behavior problems. After an anaphylactic episode due to peanuts, we completely lost the son we once knew. He went from learning a few words to becoming completely non-verbal and began dealing with pretty severe health issues that kept us in and out of the hospital. We were at a complete loss but were more determined than ever to get our son back. That determination led us down a path of years of research, doctor’s visits, progress, setbacks, and, most importantly, connection. We’ve connected with other parents, mentors, coaches, and finally, our precious son, Ry. Along the way, we’ve learned how important it is to show up as your best self. Not just to help your child with Autism but for you! Our goal for this podcast is to empower you with the confidence to stand up for your child’s needs and step into your role as a warrior parent.We can’t wait for you to join us!Key TakeawaysFinding out we were pregnant (1:10)Birth of our son, Ry (2:12)Ry’s first year of development (2:51)The diagnosis (5:15) Diet and lifestyle changes we chose to make as a family (9:25)How we dealt with judgement from others (11:45)As parents, we knew we had to be the CEO for our child (13:00)Knew we had to become warrior parents (15:13)The moment our son wanted to connect and progression exploded (18:40)Our transformation as his parents (20:24)Being happy detectives (21:47)On a mission to help other parents (26:08)--Learn more about becoming a warrior parent at: https://warriorparentcoaching.com/--Photo for the podcast cover artwork taken by Paco Bravo and you can find him at https://www.instagram.com/pacobravophotography/