Ep. 127 - Puberty with Autism in the Mix with Betsy

In this episode of Autism for Badass Moms, Rashidahsits down with Betsy Matthews — proud autism mum, university careers consultant, advocate, marathon runner, and host of The Diary of an Autism Mum podcast — to have an honest conversation about navigating puberty witha neurodivergent daughter. Betsy shares how watching her daughter Sienna move through monthly hormonal patterns was eye-opening — and how her own fears sometimes spoke louder than reality. From considering medical intervention todiscovering practical solutions like period underwear, this conversation highlights the power of observation, flexibility, and trust. In this episode, we talk about:00:00 Badass Moms Welcome01:23 Puberty Fears and Questions02:20 Meet Betsy Matthews04:30 Sienna Puberty Started Early05:20 Diagnosis Journey Begins09:44 Hearing Autism and Grief11:55 Communication Tools and ABA13:58 School Placement Turning Point15:31 Obsessions Books and Regulation19:57 Periods Arrive and Solutions24:45 Hormones Mood and Patterns27:45 Managing Meltdowns and Pain30:21 Reading Pain Signals32:32 Behavior vs Real Distress33:23 Support Network and Respite36:28 Trusting Your Childs Instincts38:06 Marathon and Self Care41:08 Balancing Work and Parenting42:40 Launching the Podcast49:02 Puberty Advice and Mindset54:42 Closing Thoughts and Callouts Connect with Betsy:Instagram: www.instagram.com/betsyrmatthewsInstagram: www.instagram.com/diaryofanautismmumpodcast Check out Betsy’s Podcast – The Diary of an Autism Mumavailable on Apple Podcast and Spotify If this episode resonated with you:www.instagram.com/theabmpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcastYouTube: autismforbadassmoms