Ep. 115 - Understanding Him, Accepting Me with Julie

In this episode Julie M. Green discusses her experiences as a mother and a writer. Julie shares her journey of discovering that both she and her son are autistic, discussing the challenges and the learning curve involved with raising an autistic child in a time when information and resources were limited. She touches on her diagnosis process, the isolation she felt, and the eventual realization that understanding her own autism helped her better parent her son. Julie also discusses her book 'Motherless,' which provides a raw portrayal of her life, parenting, and navigating a world not always accommodating neurodivergent individuals. The conversation highlights the importance of empathy, advocacy, and the nuanced understanding of autism, touching on themes of personal growth, family dynamics, and the ongoing struggle for acceptance and understanding. In this episode, we talk about:00:00  Welcome and Coffee Talk00:50  Journey to Diagnosis01:12  Mother and Son's Early Challenges02:03  Navigating Autism in the Early Years03:17  Personal Reflections and Realizations05:23  The Impact of Diagnosis08:59  Parenting and Advocacy20:52  Community and Support23:26  Family Dynamics and Acceptance26:31  Advice for Moms Seeking Diagnosis27:31  Dealing with Ignorance and Expectations28:36  The Journey of Writing a Memoir30:07  Parenting and Isolation in the Autism Community32:07  Balancing Personal and Public Life32:49  Teenage Reactions and Identity35:27  The Cathartic Process of Writing36:39  Hopes for the Book's Impact44:30 Navigating Publicity as an Introverted Author45:59 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsIf you found Julie'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 Julie: Instagram: www.instagram.com/Website: https://juliemgreen.caThe Autistic Mom | Julie M Green | SubstackJulie is the author of Motherness, A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance which was recently named one of Audible's #BestOfTheYear for 2025.Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Globe and Mail, Huffpost, Parents, Chatelaine, CBC, Today's Parent, and more.Julie has appeared on various shows and podcasts, including CTV, BBC Radio, Sirius XM, Global News, CBC Radio, HuffPost Live, and more. Make sure to subscribe so that you never miss an episode.FOLLOW US:Instagram: www.instagram.com/theabmpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcastTikTok: autismforbadassmomsYouTube: autismforbadassmoms