You Don’t Want a Hug, Right? The Hilarity and the Hard of Raising Humans with Neurodiversity - Ep 3: Neurodiverse Families and the Many Faces of Isolation

Ep 3: Neurodiverse Families and the Many Faces of Isolation

05/24/23 • 45 min

You Don’t Want a Hug, Right? The Hilarity and the Hard of Raising Humans with Neurodiversity

Isolation and loneliness are realities for parenting raising humans with neurodiversity. We’ve experienced both and know how difficult it can be through the many ages and stages of our kids’ lives.

In today’s episode, we talk all about isolation and loneliness and their impact on neurodiverse families. We go into the data behind it, share stories related to feelings of isolation in many different areas of our lives, and offer strategies for how we’ve coped over the years.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

[01:31] Some Rylan-isms and Graham-isms to start off the show

[05:02] The data on isolation and its impact on neurodiverse families

[08:52] Kristen’s experience of isolation in raising triplets

[16:10] How Gwen’s isolation began during infertility

[19:30] What isolation looked like for us during our children’s early education years

[26:36] How we spent so many years trying to be “typical” families when we’re anything but

[31:14] The isolation we felt from our religious communities

[35:53] The difference between isolation and loneliness and how we’ve learned to cope and find support

[43:27] The Last Word from one of our kids and their thoughts on isolation

Get full show notes and the episode transcript:

https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-3-neurodiverse-families-and-the-many-faces-of-isolation

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/

In this episode, you’ll learn...

[01:31] Some Rylan-isms and Graham-isms to start off the show

[05:02] The data on isolation and its impact on neurodiverse families

[08:52] Kristen’s experience of isolation in raising triplets

[16:10] How Gwen’s isolation began during infertility

[19:30] What isolation looked like for us during our children’s early education years

[26:36] How we spent so many years trying to be “typical” families when we’re anything but

[31:14] The isolation we felt from our religious communities

[35:53] The difference between isolation and loneliness and how we’ve learned to cope and find support

[43:27] The Last Word from one of our kids and their thoughts on isolation

Get full show notes and the episode transcript:

Previous Episode

Minisode: Neurodiversity and the Autism Spectrum: Words You Need to Know

We’re bringing you a mini episode today, and it’s one we had to record to rectify something we just realized: not everyone knows what neurodiversity means, or what autism spectrum disorder actually entails.

In today’s episode, we’re getting back to basics and digging out the DSM-5 to define these terms for anyone who might not be aware. Let’s normalize the experiences our children are having and reflect that with the words we use.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

[01:00] A Graham-ism and Rylan-ism to open the show

[09:24] Why we’re getting back to basics and talking about the terminology used for neurodiversity

[11:31] What autism spectrum disorder is and how that diagnosis can differ greatly among families

[14:21] How the term neurodiversity is used to describe the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in different ways

[16:44] Why the term neurodiversity seems to be used more in our culture even though it’s been around since the ‘90s.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript:

https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/minisode-neurodiversity-and-the-autism-spectrum-words-you-need-to-know

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/

Next Episode

Ep 4: How Our Neurodiverse Kids Navigate Friendship

Making friends can be hard for anyone at any age, but it’s especially hard for neurodiverse children. We’ve had a front row seat to the experiences our kids have had trying to make friends and the lessons they’ve learned (and often have to re-learn) about who to let into their friendship circles.

In today’s episode, we talk about the data behind making friends when you have autism, learning what friendship and loyalty mean, and how we can help to facilitate friendship for our neurodiverse children.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

[06:24] The data on people with autism and friendships

[12:57] How our kids’ friendships began to change when their friends joined sports activities and how our culture is very sports obsessed

[18:24] How we’ve had to define friendship for our kids and be gatekeepers to those who don’t reciprocate friendship

[28:54] How there’s hope for our older kids and making friends after the loneliness of early childhood years

[31:57] How we have a whole different understanding of what friendship looks like for our neurodiverse children and how each child has made progress in their own way

[37:25] The importance of having family members who adore and appreciate our kids

[43:49] The Last Word from our kids and their experiences making friends as a child

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-4-how-our-neurodiverse-kids-navigate-friendship

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/