In this episode of Thrive Underwater, Shani and Autumn discuss the challenges facing parents of autistic children during summer break. Even though summer is such a fun time for everyone, the truth is our mental health can take a back seat. Shani and Autumn have a conversation about Caregiver Burnout. Though there are many areas where burnout can creep in, these are the 5 discussed in this episode: Lack of Resources Lack of Autonomy Creativity Brain Burnout Travel Mental Load BUT, as always, they don’t leave you without some handy tools! Here are the tools discussed: Setting your intention f ..read more

On this episode, Shani and Autumn interview Steve Calvert, the dad of an autistic son. The dad to Autumn’s autistic son. Steve talks about his traumatic childhood, spiritual abuse, and how these events shaped the way he guides his son.  He also talks about marriage and his own journey to understanding and accepting himself. In addition, Steve gives our Thrive Underwater family his go-to tools for defeating negative self-talk and depression. WEBSITE: www.thriveunderwater.com RESOURCES: Steve’s 5 Life Saving Questions Article – https://medium.com/@autumnmottcalvert/5-life-changing-questions ..read more

Imposter Syndrome happens to the best of us. What if others find out we are not perfect parents?  Though imposter syndrome is not a diagnosable mental health issue, if gone unchecked, it can become a bigger issue. SO…how do we catch imposter syndrome before it gets too out of hand? Be aware of the following: Inability to realistically assess your skills Taking the credit or blame for your child’s behavior Berating your performance/Self-doubt Overachieving Setting Challenging or unreachable goals and feeling disappointed when you fail. As always, we give a list of tools to help kick impo ..read more

New Year’s Resolutions suck. At first, your dreams are so inspiring and exciting, but quickly, reality slaps you in the face. In this episode, we talk all about strategies to keep those resolutions AND your shit together! Before we can tackle the “how-to,” we must dial in on why we quit in the first place.   There are 5 reasons (or excuses) we use for throwing in the towel. Our expectations are too high Confidence (or Competence) Interruptions Mental Load Motivation We don’t leave you hanging! We offer some great tools for overcoming these hurdles! Skit for this Episode: The Inside STD ..read more

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)   https://www.thehotline.org/  Relationships are hard in the best of circumstances. For parents of autistic children, it can be especially difficult. We know, and that is why we are talking ALL about it. We break down 6 areas where relationships can derail: Attachment Styles Money Sex/Alone Time Parenting Styles Running a Household Friendships Skit for this Episode: OUT OF THE BLUE- Real Romance Resources: ATTACHED – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9547888-attached           &n ..read more

STRONG CONTENT WARNING! Listen. There is way too much going on in our lives to give a F*** about everything. We know. That’s why in this episode, we are exploring what we, as parents of autistic children, regularly throw into our F*** it Buckets. It is essential for our mental health we prioritize! We only have so much energy in a day, and our mental health depends on us taking action! We also discuss how the Spoon theory and our F*** IT Bucket are a match made in heaven! Skit for this Episode: The Society Sisters Resources: Spoon Theory – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory Cussing Med ..read more

In this episode of Thrive Underwater, Shani and Autumn discuss how the holidays can upend our children and how this can be a hefty mental load for us. They discuss the holiday “PAIN”: Preparation, Adventure, Ignorance, and Nest Unrest. They also discuss tools that can help support our mental health during the holiday pain. Changing expectations is a great place to start! Maybe enlist an advocate at the family gathering or party? Understanding that rituals are a powerful part of being human can help us navigate these waters. Creating rituals that fit our family can be liberating and fun for eve ..read more

In this episode of Thrive Underwater, Shani and Autumn discuss the challenges parents of autistic children face with work/ life balance…or just life balance in general. And, this podcast isn’t just for those with full-time jobs! Stay-at-home parenting and trying to balance life presents its own set of challenges! Learning to listen and to identify your needs is the first step in the process of balancing life! Mindfulness is a great tool for this! Plus, it is time to fire the inner drill sargeant! For more information about Mindfulness, here are some handy tools for the TOOLBOX! Insight Timer M ..read more

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