Telling My Parents, "I'm Autistic": Masking, Sensory Needs & Validation

Hey friends—today I’m getting personal. I share what it was like to tell my dad and mom about my autism diagnosis at 50, how internalized ableism whispered “you’re not autistic enough,” and why believing kids is one of the most powerful ways to lower anxiety. We talk masking that looked like “success,” sensory differences that shaped my days, the “my regular” story (Hi, Dairy Queen), and the moment validation turned fear into relief. If you’re a parent, therapist, educator—or navigating your own neurodivergent identity—this one’s for you. What you’ll learn How internalized ableism shows up as “you seem so normal” and why it harms kids and adults The difference between looking fine and being okay: masking vs. mental health Sensory realities (sound, clothing, routines) that get mislabeled Why believing kids is a clinical + parenting superpower for reducing anxiety Simple ways families and professionals can respond with support ⭐️ Get your FREE GET TO KNOW MY CHILD SNAPSHOT Set your child up for success by providing essential information at a glance! This one-page snapshot takes less than 5 minutes to complete and helps anyone supporting your child, including camp counselors, coaches, teachers, therapists, sitters, and more. Parents click here ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education-  ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC. Therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled. Parents, click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals  Subscribe, Support & Share 📱 Follow: @theautismadhdpodcast on Instagram and Facebook 📺 Come on over to YouTube and check out Autism ADHD TV with Holly  Please leave a review! Your 5-star reviews help other families and professionals find The Autism ADHD Podcast. About Holly Blanc Moses Holly Blanc Moses is a neurodivergent psychologist, speaker, consultant, continuing education provider and host of The Autism ADHD Podcast, Autism ADHD TV and parent masterclasses.

Ever asked an autistic and/or adhd child to do something “simple” and they had a meltdown or shutdown? Does it seem like they'll do anything to avoid? In this episode, I'm breaking down the reasons behind the avoidance and I'll introduce you to The Doable Approach. It's my practical, neurodiversity-affirming approach that helps kids feel safe, understood, and capable. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why avoidance isn’t refusal ✅ The “invisible stacked blocks” that lead to meltdowns and shutdowns ✅ Practical ways to make tasks and time feel doable ✅ How to support mental health and increase confidence 🌟 This shift decreases anxiety, increases self-awareness and emotional regulation, and makes the impossible possible. Please take a listen and share:)  ⭐️ Get your FREE GET TO KNOW MY CHILD SNAPSHOT Set your child up for success by providing essential information at a glance! This one-page snapshot takes less than 5 minutes to complete and helps anyone supporting your child, including camp counselors, coaches, teachers, therapists, sitters, and more. Parents click here ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education-  ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC. Therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled. Parents, click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals  Subscribe, Support & Share 📱 Follow: @theautismadhdpodcast on Instagram and Facebook 📺 Come on over to YouTube and check out Autism ADHD TV with Holly  Please leave a review! Your 5-star reviews help other families and professionals find The Autism ADHD Podcast. About Holly Blanc Moses Holly Blanc Moses is a neurodivergent psychologist, speaker, consultant, continuing education provider and host of The Autism ADHD Podcast, Autism ADHD TV and parent masterclasses.

Ever wonder why it takes three hours to do 20 minutes of homework? Or why they freeze up when you ask them to get dressed? Join me, Holly Blanc Moses, and special guest, Leila Beikmohomadi, as we take a deep dive into processing speed differences in ADHD and autistic children and teens. We also share our lived experience with processing speed differences!  What Parents, Therapists & Educators Will Learn: What processing speed actually is (hint: it's not about intelligence) How slower processing speed shows up at home and school Why anxiety makes processing speed even slower The mental health impact on kids who feel constantly behind Practical accommodations and strategies that actually work Why "hurry up" never helps and what to do instead ⭐️ Get your FREE GET TO KNOW MY CHILD SNAPSHOT Set your child up for success by providing essential information at a glance! This one-page snapshot takes less than 5 minutes to complete and helps anyone supporting your child, including camp counselors, coaches, teachers, therapists, sitters, and more. Parents click here ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education-  ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC. Therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled. Parents, click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals  Subscribe & Support 📱 Follow: @theautismadhdpodcast on Instagram and Facebook Please leave a review! Your 5-star reviews help other families and professionals find The Autism ADHD Podcast. About Holly Blanc Moses Holly Blanc Moses is a neurodivergent psychologist, speaker, consultant, continuing education provider and host of The Autism ADHD Podcast, Autism ADHD TV and parent masterclasses.  About Leila Beikmohomadi Leila Beikmohomadi is a neurodivergent psychologist who provides mental health therapy and evaluations at Crossvine Counseling.

Does your child, student or client constantly forgetting what you just said? Struggling to follow directions, stay organized, or complete schoolwork? You’re not alone — and it’s not a behavior problem. It may be lower working memory. In this episode of The Autism ADHD Podcast, I breaks down what working memory really is, why it’s often misunderstood, and how it impacts everything from transitions to conversations to homework.  Most importantly — you'll walk away with compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming strategies that actually help at home, in the classroom, and beyond. You’ll Learn: What working memory is and why it’s so important How working memory fits into executive functioning Everyday examples of low working memory (and why they’re so frustrating) Why stress makes working memory even harder Components of the Working Memory How to support kids with low working memory at home and school Practical strategies that reduce overwhelm ⭐️ Get your FREE GET TO KNOW MY CHILD SNAPSHOT Set your child up for success by providing essential information at a glance! This one-page snapshot takes less than 5 minutes to complete and helps anyone supporting your child, including camp counselors, coaches, teachers, therapists, sitters, and more. Parents click here ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education-  ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC. Therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled. Parents, click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals  Subscribe & Support 📺 Watch on: YouTube 📱 Follow: @theautismadhdpodcast on Instagram and Facebook Please leave a review! Your 5-star reviews help other families and professionals find The Autism ADHD Podcast. About Holly Blanc Moses Holly Blanc Moses is a neurodivergent psychologist, speaker, consultant, continuing education provider and host of The Autism ADHD Podcast, Autism ADHD TV and parent masterclasses. 

When your neurodivergent child, client or student faces social rejection, how do you protect their self-worth while still helping them grow? Join Dr. Daniel Wendler and me, Holly Blanc Moses, for game-changing mindset shifts that support mental health. This isn't about lowering expectations or avoiding social situations. It's about teaching kids to measure success by how authentically they show up, not by other people's responses. We discuss why this approach actually leads to better social connections AND stronger mental health. Whether your child, client, or student is struggling with friendship challenges, social anxiety, or that crushing feeling of "nobody likes me," this episode offers practical strategies you can use immediately! ⭐️ Get your FREE GET TO KNOW MY CHILD SNAPSHOT Set your child up for success by providing essential information at a glance! This one-page snapshot takes less than 5 minutes to complete and helps anyone supporting your child, including camp counselors, coaches, teachers, therapists, sitters, and more. Parents click here ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education-  ⭐️ Get your FREE BEHAVIOR DETECTIVE GUIDE  To support neurodivergent children and teens, we need to understand their unique needs and honor their experiences. The Behavior Detective Guide breaks down information to help identify barriers and patterns, leading to neurodiversity affirming approaches.  Parents click here Therapists click here Educators click here  ⭐️ Get your FREE SOCIAL SUCCESS GUIDE  Social interaction can be confusing and anxiety-provoking for neurodivergent children and teens. The Social Success Guide provides practical strategies to support social confidence and authenticity.  Parents click here Therapists click here Educators click here ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC. Therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled. Parents, click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals  Subscribe & Support 📺 Watch on: YouTube 📱 Follow: @theautismadhdpodcast on Instagram and Facebook Please leave a review! Your 5-star reviews help other families and professionals find The Autism ADHD Podcast. About Holly Blanc Moses Holly Blanc Moses is a neurodivergent psychologist, speaker, consultant, continuing education provider and host of The Autism ADHD Podcast, Autism ADHD TV and parent masterclasses.  About Dr. Daniel Wendler Dr. Daniel Wendler is an autistic clinical psychologist, two-time TEDx speaker, and bestselling author. He's the co-author of "Neurodiversity and the Myth of Normal" and has spoken on neurodiversity to leading organizations including Google, Accenture, and Harvard. His expertise has been featured by the American Psychological Association, Bloomberg Magazine, and the New York Sun. Website: danielwendler.com

At 50 years old, I still feel physically sick when I hear these two words. My throat closes up, my chest tightens, and I'm instantly transported back to being that confused, overwhelmed neurodivergent kid who could never seem to get things right. Those words? "Should be." In this vulnerable and eye-opening episode, I share how "should be" thinking is accidentally creating mental health crises in our ADHD and autistic children - and what to do instead. Whether you are a parent, therapist or educator, you're going to gain valuable insights on how to better support neurodivergent kids:) Sincerely, Holly Blanc Moses - The Mom/Neurodivergent Therapist ⭐️ Get your FREE GET TO KNOW MY CHILD SNAPSHOT Set your child up for success by providing essential information at a glance! This one-page snapshot takes less than 5 minutes to complete and helps anyone supporting your child, including camp counselors, coaches, teachers, therapists, sitters, and more. • Parents click here ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education-  ⭐️ Get your FREE BEHAVIOR DETECTIVE GUIDE  To support neurodivergent children and teens, we need to understand their unique needs and honor their experiences. The Behavior Detective Guide breaks down information to help identify barriers and patterns, leading to neurodiversity affirming approaches.  • Parents click here  • Therapists click here  • Educators click here  ⭐️ Get your FREE SOCIAL SUCCESS GUIDE  Social interaction can be confusing and anxiety-provoking for neurodivergent children and teens. The Social Success Guide provides practical strategies to support social confidence and authenticity.  • Parents click here  • Therapists click here • Educators click here ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC. Therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled. Parents click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  ➡️ Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents  ➡️ Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals  ❤️ Thanks for sharing this episode and supporting The Autism ADHD Podcast!

Welcome to The Autism ADHD Podcast. I'm glad you joined me today because my guest, Reid Miles, host of "Inside the Asperger's Studio," and I are talking about why it's so hard to move outside our comfort zone. We are also discussing how to move outside the zone with more comfort and confidence. Some of the topics we are covering are:  Why forcing neurodivergent kids out of their comfort zone backfires The real reason behind the "I don't want to" responses How to use "starter sentences" to understand your child's fears The anchor person strategy for building confidence Small, doable steps that actually work Planning strategies for overwhelming environments Why shared interests make all the difference After you take a listen, please share this episode! We appreciate you helping to spread the word about neurodiversity-affirming approaches:) Sincerely, Holly Blanc Moses - The Mom/Neurodivergent Therapist ⭐️ Get your FREE GET TO KNOW MY CHILD SNAPSHOT Set your child up for success by providing essential information at a glance! This one-page snapshot takes less than 5 minutes to complete and helps anyone supporting your child, including camp counselors, coaches, teachers, therapists, sitters, and more. • Parents click here ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education-  ⭐️ Get your FREE BEHAVIOR DETECTIVE GUIDE  To support neurodivergent children and teens, we need to understand their unique needs and honor their experiences. The Behavior Detective Guide breaks down information to help identify barriers and patterns, leading to neurodiversity affirming approaches.  • Parents click here  • Therapists click here  • Educators click here  ⭐️ Get your FREE SOCIAL SUCCESS GUIDE  Social interaction can be confusing and anxiety-provoking for neurodivergent children and teens. The Social Success Guide provides practical strategies to support social confidence and authenticity.  • Parents click here  • Therapists click here • Educators click here ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC. Therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled. Parents click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  ➡️ Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents  ➡️ Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals  ❤️ Thanks for sharing this episode and supporting The Autism ADHD Podcast! ➡️ Make sure to check out "Inside the Aspergers Studio" podcast hosted by Reid Miles! Mentions - Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Edward Hallowell and Adrienne Wilkinson  

I'm honored to interview Jan Stewart, author of "Hold on Tight." In today's episode, she shares her powerful journey raising two neurodivergent children and provides five essential tips that every parent of ADHD and autistic kids needs to hear. Jan's wisdom comes from decades of advocacy, partnership-building, and learning to trust her instincts while navigating systems that often misunderstand our children. After you take a listen, please share:) Sincerely, Holly Blanc Moses - The Mom/Neurodivergent Therapist ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education-  ⭐️ Get your FREE BEHAVIOR DETECTIVE GUIDE  To support neurodivergent children and teens, we need to understand their unique needs and honor their experiences. The Behavior Detective Guide breaks down information to help identify barriers and patterns, leading to neurodiversity affirming approaches.  • Parents click here  • Therapists click here  • Educators click here  ⭐️ Get your FREE SOCIAL SUCCESS GUIDE  Social interaction can be confusing and anxiety-provoking for neurodivergent children and teens. The Social Success Guide provides practical strategies to support social confidence and authenticity.  • Parents click here  • Therapists click here • Educators click here ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC. Therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled. Parents click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  ➡️ Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents  ➡️ Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals  ❤️ Thanks for sharing this episode and supporting The Autism ADHD Podcast! 🙋🏻‍♀️ LEARN MORE ABOUT JAN STEWART AND HER BOOK

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Kate Moryoussef, host of the award-winning ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, to discuss the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent mothers. Both diagnosed in their 40s, Kate and I share authentic insights about self-acceptance, burnout prevention, and how to be the calm anchor for our families. Key Topics Discussed The grief and relief that comes with a late ADHD diagnosis Why self-compassion must come before self-acceptance Recognizing the subtle signs of approaching burnout How ADHD presents differently across life stages and hormonal changes The importance of being the calm anchor in dysregulated family moments Practical burnout prevention strategies for ADHD women Breaking free from societal expectations and "shoulds" The ripple effect of self-care on family dynamics Sincerely,  ❤️ Holly Blanc Moses, The Mom/Neurodivergent Therapist  ⭐️ Click here for free resources, trainings, and continuing education- ⭐️ Get your FREE BEHAVIOR DETECTIVE GUIDE  To support neurodivergent children and teens, we need to understand their unique needs and honor their experiences. The Behavior Detective Guide breaks down information to help identify barriers and patterns, leading to neurodiversity affirming approaches.  • Parents click here  • Therapists click here  • Educators click here  ⭐️ Get your FREE SOCIAL SUCCESS GUIDE  Social interaction can be confusing and anxiety-provoking for neurodivergent children and teens. The Social Success Guide provides practical strategies to support social confidence and authenticity.  • Parents click here - https://www.hollyblancmoses.com/pl/276666  • Therapists click here - https://www.hollyblancmoses.com/pl/271718  • Educators click here - https://www.hollyblancmoses.com/pl/271424  ⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION  Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC.  Neurodiversity therapists click here ⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A  Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled.  Parents click here for your masterclasses  ❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)  ➡️ Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents https://www.facebook.com/groups/WiredDifferentlyGroup  ➡️ Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals https://www.facebook.com/groups/professionalsforwdchildren  ❤️ Thanks for sharing this episode and supporting The Autism ADHD Podcast! 🙋🏻‍♀️ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST, Kate Moryouseff Order her book today!   

In this powerful episode of The Autism ADHD Podcast, I sits down with social worker, educator, and author Stephanie Malia Krauss to explore how our society's obsession with productivity can be dangerous for the mental and physical health of neurodivergent children. The good news is that Stephanie and I walk you through practical strategies that make a BIG impact! Don't miss it! Sincerely, Holly Blanc Moses - The Mom/Neurodivergent Therapist CLICK HERE for Holly's Free Behavior & Social Interaction Guides and MORE! Learn more about Holly's private practice in North Carolina Learn more about Holly's continuing education trainings for mental health therapists ⭐️Join the Facebook Groups ➡️ Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents ➡️ Professionals, join the Facebook Group for Therapists and Educators 🌟 Learn more about Stephanie and her books:)