Ep. 108 - She Was Born a Girl - Then Came Autism with Palwinder

In this episode, we meet Palwinder, who shares her powerful journey as a young mother navigating the intersections of cultural expectations and raising a daughter on the autism spectrum. She opens up about the deeply ingrained biases in Indian culture against having daughters, and the added complexity of dealing with her daughter's autism diagnosis. Despite facing societal and familial pressures, Palwinder emphasizes the importance of education, early intervention, and self-care. With support from her husband and her own determination, she defied cultural norms, pursued her passion for special education, and became a fierce advocate for her daughter. Her story is a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of not giving up, offering inspiration to mothers everywhere who face similar challenges.What we discuss:00:00 Introduction and Greetings00:27 Cultural Expectations and Gender Bias01:29 Early Motherhood Challenges04:09 Struggles with Education and Family Expectations13:05 Diagnosis and Emotional Turmoil25:09 Finding Hope and Purpose29:51 Struggles with Child's Eating Habits30:49 Seeking Emotional Support32:09 Challenges with Family Expectations34:22 Finding Support and Inspiration36:37 Pursuing a Career in Special Education37:46 Building Connections with Students43:00 Self-Care and Mental Health49:46 Advocating for Your Child52:58 Final Thoughts and EncouragementIf you found Palwinder's episode informative and inspiring, please don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with another fellow badass mom or someone who you feel would benefit!Connect with Palwinder: Instagram: www.instagram.com/journeyforautismTik Tok: @prettykaur5Make sure to subscribe so that you never miss an episode. FOLLOW US:Instagram: www.instagram.com/theabmpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcastYouTube: www.youtube.com/theabmpodcastTik Tok: @autismforbadassmoms