Autism Parenting Secrets

In this episode, we discuss the importance of parents remaining curious about why their child is doing what they are doing. And how it’s important to find doctors and therapists who are curious about your child as well.Raising a child with Autism is a journey of figuring out the unknowns. Parents fail to realize that finding the answers that are right for your child starts with you and the people surrounding your child being open to learning and adapting to their unique needs. Instead of becoming consumed with questions such as, "why isn't my child hitting certain milestones?" or succumbing to the pressure and stress triggered by your child's confusing behaviors, focus on figuring out the 'why'. You won't make progress if your entire perspective centers around what your child can't do. You must put on your detective hat and open your mind to the curiosities and complexities that make your child unique. That mindset opens up a window for learning and understanding your child better, putting you into a much better position to figure out what might be helpful.In addition to that, it puts you in your child's shoes. The behaviors you once thought were so strange may suddenly start to make sense, and you provide the opportunity for an even more profound connection with your child.We can't stress enough how significant this mindset shift is! Listen to this week's episode to learn how it completely changed our lives for the better.Key TakeawaysLack of curiosity leads to stress (2:00)How to better understand your child’s perspective (4:37)It’s not going to work unless you’re curious (6:30)Find doctors and other healthcare professionals that are driven to know your child (14:40)Creating the space to becoming more present (16:30)Your curiosity will bring clarity to traits and behaviors that you don’t understand (21:18)Additional ResourcesTo 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, Cass discusses creative ways to help parents get high quality, nourishing food into even stubborn, picky eaters.We know how challenging it can be to feed your picky eaters, but we wanted to take the time and offer some hope that it is completely possible to feed your child with Autism healthy and nutrient-dense food that will help them thrive.The key here is becoming a detective for your child, and that is what we’re discussing today. It’s essential to first discuss the food goals you have for your child. Maybe you’re just trying to get them to eat, and that is completely valid. Or maybe you’re struggling to find foods that don’t further upset your child’s allergies. It’s likely that if you have a child with Autism, the game of playing detective becomes much more difficult. Perhaps, they have issues with texture or having their food touch. We’ll cover how to deal with those scenarios in this episode too. We hope to help get you to a point where you’re feeding nourishing foods that are diverse and complementary to your child’s palette. A diverse diet is so important, and we are continually looking for new ways to incorporate and rotate different foods in our child’s diet.We developed a course called WTF Picky Eaters that will help you navigate the challenge of feeding your child wholesome foods that they enjoy. Because we have so much success with our clients, we are confident that some of this advice will add significant value to your journey. Tune into this episode and check out the links below for the next steps you can take to nourish your child’s body so they can operate at their best!Key TakeawaysOur experience with a picky eater (1:44)The night and day change one of our client’s had when they changed their child’s diet (6:05)How to feed your picky eater (8:47)Why you need the right appliances in your kitchen (11:30)Play detective for your child (13:52)Focus on diversity when it comes to feeding your child (15:26)The course we created around this topic (18:15)Additional ResourcesTo learn more, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.comTo take our new WTF Your Picky Eater Course, visit https://app.mastermind.com/masterminds/6582To download your copy of our WPC Chicken Nuggets Recipe, visit www.warriorparentbootcamp.com/chickennuggetsrecipeBe 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, We talk about how children with Autism are drawn to nature. Nature doesn't judge. Nature accepts everyone as they are and it’s a place to feel safe and loved. It’s so important for parents with their child to get outside more and tap the power of nature.The secret is that we all thrive in nature, especially children. We first discovered this while living in NYC. Whenever we took our son out to local parks, he would just become totally immersed in his environment. He was a completely different kid.  His favorite place was a local community garden where he would stand inside the plants.  He was completely happy and calm.  Nature is so powerful and is fully accepting. This was such an important concept for us to learn because, at the time, we were so focused on "fixing" our son. That mindset came from a place of judgment, and once we let it go, we really began to see a miraculous change in him.Now we spend as much time as possible grounding or earthing, it’s as simple as standing on grass or sand in bare feet.  It acts as a total reset for the mind and body.  It is an immediate stress reliever and truly a reset. This is especially important as we navigate the current times with remote learning and increased screen time. The goal is to spend as much time in nature as you can.  Unplug from our lives and reconnect. Plant a garden or make a daily walk part of your routine.  We can't wait to hear what you'll be doing in the great outdoors! Enjoy!Key TakeawaysToday’s secret (1:12)The reason I jump (4:04)Why nature should be a part of every day (6:40)The more you're in a natural environment, the more natural connection can occur (11:30)How this connection to earth can help picky eaters (14:50)Grounding helps parents too (17:40)Additional ResourcesThe Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida To 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 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