When They Don’t Understand Autism - What Do You Say?

• Article: Progress Over Perfection
• Poem: “A World Not Built For You”
• New Podcast Episode: Scripts for the Store
• Resource: Dear Family - Scripts & Templates
• Latest Episode of The Be Mighty Mom Podcast on YouTube
• Item of the Week

There’s a quote I come back to again and again as an autism mom:

Prioritize progress over perfection. Growth happens in the imperfect moments.

And let me tell you -this isn’t just a cute saying on a coffee mug. It’s a survival mantra.

Because in the world of autism parenting (and rare disease parenting, for that matter), perfection isn’t just unattainable—it’s irrelevant. The reality is far messier, more beautiful, and so much more meaningful than any picture-perfect parenting guide ever prepared us for.

The Pressure to “Get It Right”

From the moment you hear the words “your child is autistic,” the world starts throwing advice, therapies, timelines, and expectations at you like confetti laced with judgment.

You start wondering:

• Am I doing enough?
• Am I choosing the right therapies?
• Am I using the right words?
• Am I advocating hard enough—but not too hard?
• Am I falling behind?

We chase milestones like mile markers on a road we didn’t choose, hoping that if we just work a little harder, we’ll arrive at the “right” destination. But the truth is: there is no one path, and perfection is not the point.

The Real Growth Happens in the Mess

In my house, growth has looked like:

• A meltdown that lasted ten minutes instead of an hour.
• My child trying a new food and spitting it out—but trying.
• Finding a way to communicate a need, even if it wasn’t with words.
• A quiet “I love you” on a day I didn’t think we were connecting at all.

None of these moments are Pinterest-worthy. They won’t make a therapist’s data chart light up. But to us? They are everything. They are the progress.

We grow in the in-between. In the chaos, in the attempts, in the real.

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​You’re Allowed to Be Imperfect Too

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And here’s the kicker: your child isn’t the only one growing.

You are, too.

Every time you pause before reacting.

Every time you advocate fiercely when your voice shakes; every time you apologize, repair, and try again; every time you let go of what others think and trust what you know about your child. That’s progress. That’s enough.

You don’t have to be a perfect parent. You just have to be present. Honest. Willing to keep showing up.

So Let’s Redefine Success

Success isn’t found in checking all the boxes. It’s found in noticing the small wins. In celebrating the inchstones. In honoring the humanity in your parenting, and your child’s experience.

So today, if everything felt messy and nothing looked like what you imagined—know this:

You’re still doing it, still enough, still growing. And so is your child.

Progress over perfection. Always.

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POEM: “A World Not Built for You”

By Ash Dion

I see it in the way the doors are too heavy,

the lights hum too loud, the crowds move too fast,

as if the world never thought to make space for you.

The playground whispers, but the voices don’t reach.

The rules bend for some, but not for you.

They call it fairness. I call it ableism.

I watch your hands dance, your laughter rise like a song the world refuses to learn.

They tell you to quiet, to fold, to fit but you were never meant for their shrinking spaces.

So I stand beside you, prying open the doors,

softening the edges, making the world listen.

Because you are not the problem.

This world just wasn’t built for you.

But together, we will rebuild it.

NEW PODCAST EPISODE

Scripts for the Store: Quick... Jul 1 · The Be Mighty Mom Podcas... 9:24   ​

You’re just trying to survive a grocery run - maybe juggling bananas, a meltdown, and a granola bar bribe - when someone drops that line:

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“He doesn’t look autistic.”

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Cue the internal scream.

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​In this episode of The Be Mighty Mom Podcast, we’re talking about the real-life moments that test your patience, push your buttons, and sometimes break your heart — and how to meet them with grace, power, and yes, a little bit of sass.

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With a mix of advocacy, humor, and real talk - backed by data and lived experience - you’ll walk away from this episode with practical responses you can actually remember in the moment. Whether the comment comes from a stranger, a teacher, or your well-meaning aunt, you’ll feel more prepared, more grounded, and a whole lot less alone.

RESOURCE

You shouldn’t have to choose between your child’s safety and your family’s comfort. But when loved ones don’t understand autism - or worse, deny it - the emotional toll can be overwhelming.

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Dear Family is your go-to guide for navigating those hard conversations with clarity, compassion, and courage.

Inside, you’ll find:

✨ Scripts for common scenarios like:

• When someone questions the diagnosis
• When they override your parenting
• When they make hurtful, dismissive comments

💌 Fill-in-the-blank email templates for when talking face-to-face feels too hard

🧱 Boundary-setting phrases that protect your peace (and your child’s)

🪞 Affirmations to ground you before, during, and after tough conversations

📚 Gentle education to help family understand autism through a neurodiversity-affirming lens

Whether you’re sending this to a skeptical grandparent or using it to script your own words, Dear Family helps you say what matters most — without guilt, shame, or emotional exhaustion.

Because your child’s dignity should never be up for debate.

And neither should yours.

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​Get yours here: Dear Family​

The Be Mighty Mom Podcast on YouTube

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ITEM OF THE WEEK

Written by three incredible autism moms, Autism Out Loud is the book I wish every family, teacher, and therapist would read. It’s honest, emotional, and deeply relatable — filled with real stories that show what it’s actually like to raise an autistic child.

You’ll laugh, cry, and feel seen — maybe for the first time.

Whether you’re new to this journey or years in, this is the kind of book that reminds you: you’re not alone, and you’re doing better than you think.

​Get your copy here: Autism Outloud​

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