Today we chat with Joni Brown about her family’s journey with not only autism but also PCDH19, a rare epilepsy disorder. Today Allie is 20 years old, and Joni discusses their diagnosis story. We dive into the heartache of the life-changing diagnosis, Joni’s tenacity in finding answers, and the triumphs they have made as a family. We also discuss Joni’s book, Don’t Sing Happy Birthday, which has quickly become one of our favorites! We shed some tears, but there is also laughter. Come and join us in the convo!

Find Joni on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dontsinghappybirthday/

Find “Don’t Sing Happy Birthday”: https://a.co/d/1i3HHZ6

Welcome to our three-part series on asking for and receiving help from others. Brittney and Jean are having this week's conversation, diving deep into some of the challenges of parenthood and why we DON’T ask for help. What stops us from letting others in? Is it a purely external, logistical issue or are we getting in our own way at times? We break it down into four main areas of resistance when asking for help as moms:

1. Fear of missing out
2. Struggle for control
3. The weight of responsibility
4. Judgment from others and ourselves

Today we welcome authors Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe and Shahla Alai-Rosales to the podcast to discuss navigating therapies and feeling confident as a parent. Long-time friends and colleagues, they have worked together to bring important insights and knowledge to families all over the world.

We are the keystone to our child’s growth and development. We are the guides on their expansion of life, in whatever form and path we end up traveling. Lots of great takeaways and tidbits for you to think about, we know we did! And don’t forget to grab a copy of their co-authored book. It’s a wonderful guide and resource for a parent in any stage of autism caregiving.

Book: Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams

Leave a review for the book too!

Book Resource Page

Peggy’s website

Article Link