Building a Diverse Support Network That Empowers Moms of Autistics

Thriving Moms of Autistics

Hi Moms! It’s not uncommon for relationships to change once we become parents. We might have less in common with our childless friends or our friends with neurotypical children do not have the same challenges and tend to stay away. We isolate ourselves as a result.

In this episode, I explore how different individuals can come together with a similar cause and create support and balance in the process.

Find the full transcript for this episode at http://thrivingmomsofautistics.com/48

Please share the podcast with other moms to help them grow in their autism journey. You can also do this by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I appreciate you!

Benefits of Having Support as an Autism Mom

It is common to feel lonely as a mom of an autistic. It is hard to find others who understand autism. As a result, moms deal with a lot of judgement and misunderstanding.

I talk about the importance of gaining a supportive community often. It has made such a difference in my life. Could you continue taking it all on yourself? Of course… for a while anyway! But you don’t have to.

It matters who you surround yourself with because it impacts your well-being.

Research shows that dispositional optimism is related to increased psychological and physical well-being. My own research supports optimism as a predictor of well-being as well and digs deeper to find that a combination of optimism and locus control impacts well-being.

Optimistic individuals tend to be better problem solvers, which influences relationship satisfaction. One study showed that moms of autistics with children having more severe symptoms, who sought out emotional support, coping, and planning strategies had higher well-being. It’s not surprising that parents with increased social support report less relational distress.

One study explored parental relationships and found that one’s positive strengths predicted higher levels of satisfaction in their relationships and individual well-being.

As a result, it is likely that engaging in daily positive intervention and seeking emotional support from others will help improve well-being for moms of autistics. When a mom is in a good place, it helps her child considerably and impacts their situation overall.

One’s strengths are not only important to their own well-being but can contribute to their relationships.

Attributes of Moms of Autistics That Can Improve Their Well-Being

Can your support group succeed if the members are all different? Yes! All human beings have different strengths. That is what contributes to the group dynamic. You balance one another out.

This is another reason why your group matters. We tend to think that our similarities are the glue that keeps us together, but it is so much more than that.

For example, your strength might be creativity. You can offer the group creative ways to bring their families together.

Someone in your supportive community might have the strength of hope, which you are not as strong in. If you tend to be more pessimistic and must work harder at seeing the brightside, this individual can be a blessing for you and encourage you.

Ultimately, your diverse group can bring an assortment of strengths that will complement one another. My supportive community includes a variety of individuals from different backgrounds and different personalities.

Our children bring us together. They all have special needs that are not necessarily the same, but that’s okay. Our collective differences work together to foster a supportive environment during the challenging times we face as moms.

So, ask yourself, who am I surrounded by?

Do they contribute to healthier well-being?

Do I need more people in my supportive community that can help me and