When the Holidays Hurt

This episode is dedicated to everyones favorite topic: food. Whether you have a child who is a picky eater and only consumes chicken nuggets or you have an overeater with no off switchthis episode covers it all. 

We also talk about the gut-brain connection and our experience with special diets in regard to autism. 

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

For many, the holidays are filled with anticipation and awe. But for some of us, the holidays hurt. 

Whether you just received a diagnosis, you lost a loved one, or youre walking through a wilderness seasonsometimes the Christmas season has a way of magnifying our pain. 

In Episode 89, I share 3 unconventional Christmas traditions that have kept me grounded when my world felt like it was falling apart. 

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

Teenage years are  a challenging time for any  parent, but when you throw autism into the mix, its a whole different ball game. 

In Episode 88, Jessica reveals her fears and concerns around puberty while raising her daughter who struggles with severe autism. She then offers special needs parents  7 tips to mentally and practically prepare their child on the spectrum for the big P word. 

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

Fifteen years into our autism journey, my husband and I finally took the plunge and started our daughter Mara on medication. Pursuing medication for your child is not a decision parents should take lightly, but sometimes its a necessary step. 

In Episode 87, we share our personal pros and cons after starting our daughter on Risperidone. If you have a child on the spectrum and you have gone back and forth in your mind on this topic, you dont want to miss this episode. 

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

The term PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance and its a proposed disorder on the spectrum that involves an extreme resistance to everyday demands.

I had never heard the term before until my friend Karen Dorsey mentioned some struggles with her grandson. As she shared her story, my eyes were opened and I began to understand my youngest daughters behaviors in a way I never considered before. 

If you have a child that continually resists demand and you may have chalked it up as defiance, you dont want to miss this episode. 

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