Autism Fatherhood: When My Son Brought Me to My Knees | Tommy of Spectrum in Camouflage

What does autism teach a father about strength? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Tommy of Spectrum in Camouflage for an honest conversation about autism fatherhood, faith, mental health, and how raising a nonspeaking autistic son completely transformed his understanding of success, purpose, and what truly matters. When Tommy’s son Wyatt began losing language around age two and a half, everything he thought he knew about fatherhood changed. As a construction business owner, husband, and father, he spent years believing strength meant fixing problems. Autism forced him to discover a different kind of strength: presence, surrender, and learning to live one inchstone at a time. Together, Sarah and Tommy explore autism parenting, profound autism, fatherhood, caregiver mental health, marriage, faith, and the quiet transformation that often happens inside parents long before anyone else notices it. This conversation explores: * autism fatherhood* nonspeaking autism* profound autism* caregiver mental health* autism parenting and marriage* faith during difficult seasons* living in the present moment* autism advocacy* parenting beyond societal expectations* finding joy in inchstones instead of milestones Tommy also shares his experience navigating anxiety, depression, and the realization that while he could not fix autism, he could become a different father because of it. His story offers encouragement for autism dads, caregivers, and families searching for hope grounded in reality rather than false promises. ⸻ In This Episode 00:00 – Introducing Tommy and Spectrum in Camouflage02:00 – Becoming a father after years of waiting04:00 – Wyatt’s autism regression and losing language06:00 – Anxiety, mental health, and feeling powerless08:00 – The mountain where everything changed10:00 – Why autism brought Tommy to his knees12:00 – Faith, surrender, and finding purpose through autism15:00 – Success versus significance in fatherhood17:00 – The hidden expectations parents carry19:00 – Why inchstones matter more than milestones21:00 – Learning to see growth differently23:00 – Autism, communication, and presence beyond words25:00 – Living where your boots are: staying present today28:00 – Parenting typical and autistic children differently31:00 – Mental health, nervous system regulation, and resilience33:00 – Speaking openly so other autism dads feel less alone Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, autism advocacy, profound autism experiences, neurodivergent parenting, and honest conversations that help families feel seen, understood, and less alone. Chapters (00:00:00) - Inch Jones: June 1, Autism Dad(00:00:44) - What Fatherhood Really Means For Me(00:05:28) - Autism and Motherhood: Reorientation(00:09:58) - Complaints about the World(00:15:44) - The Search for Love in Modern Parenting(00:20:58) - Autism and the Disability Wars(00:21:25) - No One's Thinking About Me(00:27:57) - The Importance of Parenthood(00:28:50) - Mental Health