Confessions of an Autism Mom

Feeling like you've lost your sense of purpose in the daily grind of motherhood? You're not alone. In this transformative episode of the Full Spectrum Parent Podcast, host Jessica Hurlbut sits down with bestselling author Abbie Halberstat to explore how mothers can rediscover meaning and intentionality in their parenting journey.

Featured Guest: Abbie Halberstat

Abbie is the bestselling author of "M Is for Mama," "Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad," and her latest release "You Bet Your Stretch Marks." As a homeschooling mother of ten children (including two sets of twins), Abbie brings real-world wisdom to over 219,000 followers on her @Misformama Instagram account.

What You'll Discover:

    How to recognize when you've "lost the plot" in motherhood and practical steps to find your way back

    Navigating cultural pressures around motherhood, parenting regret, and societal expectations

    What it means to mother with a "legacy mindset" and how to apply it to everyday chaos

    Practical strategies for finding purpose in mundane moments - from fussy toddlers to endless to-do lists

    Scripture-based hope for the hardest seasons of parenting

Perfect for:

    Special needs parents seeking encouragement and perspective

    Moms feeling overwhelmed by daily parenting challenges

    Christian mothers looking for faith-based parenting wisdom

    Parents struggling with feelings of lost identity in motherhood

    Anyone needing a dose of hope, humor, and practical help in their parenting journey

Keywords:

Christian parenting, motherhood purpose, special needs parenting, parenting encouragement, mom identity, legacy parenting, faith-based parenting, homeschool mom, parenting wisdom, motherhood struggles, Christian mom podcast

Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. 

To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Are you struggling to advocate for your special needs child because you hate confrontation? You're not alone.

In this episode of Full Spectrum Parent, host Jessica Hurlbut tackles one of the biggest challenges facing special needs parents: how to effectively advocate for your child when you're naturally a people pleaser.

What You'll Learn:

    Why people-pleasing hurts your child's advocacy efforts 

    The 4 root causes of people-pleasing behavior 

    Biblical strategies for overcoming people-pleasing tendencies

    How to shift from seeking human approval to God's approval when advocating for your special needs child

Perfect For Parents Who:

    Feel anxious about IEP meetings and school conferences

    Struggle to speak up when their child isn't getting proper support

    Want to be better advocates but fear being seen as "difficult parents"

    Need encouragement to prioritize their child's needs over people-pleasing

    Are looking for faith-based guidance on special needs parenting

Full Spectrum Parent is part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more resources and support for special needs families, visit cpgive.org.

Tags: #SpecialNeedsParenting #ChristianParenting #Peoplepleasing #ChildAdvocacy #IEPMeetings #SpecialEducation #ParentingPodcast #ChristianMom #SpecialNeedsAdvocate #ParentingStruggles

As Christian parents, we desire for our kids to listen and obey the rules we set out for their safety and good, but what do we do when they refuse? 

Whether you have a child on the spectrum, an obstinate toddler, or just a typical strong-willed kidweve all been there. We find ourselves raising our voices, demanding compliance, and feeling defeated when our kids spiral into a full-fledged meltdown. 

Greg and Jess are getting real about the difference between tantrums (where kids are totally in control) and meltdowns (where they're absolutely not). Trust us, understanding this will be a game-changer for your autism parenting journey and your faith-based approach to discipline.

Here's what we're diving into:

    Why your typical parenting tricks aren't working with neurodivergent children (and it's not your fault!)

    The one question that changes how you respond to autism meltdowns and challenging behavior

    3 simple Christian parenting principles that actually work with kids on the autism spectrum

Our go-to strategies:

  1.  Relationship Over Compliance - Sometimes you gotta choose your battles

  2.  Choice Over Demand - Two options, both ones you're cool with

  3.  Love Over Fear - Because scared kids don't learn, they just survive

Whether you're dealing with a toddler who won't cooperate, a child with autism in a meltdown mode, or a typical teen who wants to push every button you havethis one's for Christian parents seeking God's wisdom in power struggles.

Full Spectrum Parent is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Raising a child with autism solo? You're not alone! 

Join us for Episode 95 of the Full Spectrum Parent Podcast as host Jessica Hurlbut chats with Katie Blackburn - writer, teacher, and single mom to six kids, including her 10-year-old with severe autism.

Katie gets real about the everyday challenges of autism parenting without a partner, sharing practical tips for managing therapies, school struggles, and finding moments of joy along the way. She also discusses her childrens book, "The Very Best Baseball Game" which offers both comfort and inspiration.

Whether you're flying solo or just need some autism parenting encouragement, this episode delivers our signature mix of HELP, HUMOR, and HOPE that will leave you feeling seen and supported on your special needs journey.

Full Spectrum Parent is proud to be part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. 

For more practical and spiritual guidance on your parenting journey, visit www.christianparenting.org

To grab the CP Gift Guide visit https://www.christianparenting.org/articles/gifts/

To learn more about Katie Blackburn and her newest book, visit www.katiemblackburn.com

#AutismParenting #SingleParenting #SpecialNeedsSupport #AutismMom #SpecialNeedsParenting

Happiness is circumstantial. But joy comes from Jesusits not based upon our circumstances. 

Yet one of the hardest hurdles to conquer in our parenting is finding joy when life doesnt change. 

Episode 94 is part 2 of our 3-Part Series, Finding God in our Pain. 

Christian Author Will Acuff joins the Full Spectrum Parent to share his journey of parenting a child with autism. 

After hitting a wall of emotional, physical, and spiritual exhaustion, Will shares how the Holy Spirit met him in his pain. Now, he offers hope and direction for others on how to stay rooted in Christ when the storms rage around you. 

Learn more about Wills newest book: No Elevator to Everest at www.noelevatortoeverest.com

Full Spectrum Parent is proud to be part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more practical and spiritual guidance on your parenting journey, visit www.christianparenting.org