230. The Unspoken Dynamic in Autism Families; Are They Helping Or Carrying Too Much
May 15, 2025In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, Shannon explores a powerful and often overlooked topic in autism families: parentification — when children, especially siblings of autistic kids, take on adult roles far too early.
Are they helping… or quietly carrying too much?
Shannon shares real-life stories, signs to look for, and strategies to ensure your typically-developing child doesn’t lose their childhood in the chaos of caregiving. She opens up about her own intentional journey as a mom, how she protected her daughter Maddie from taking on that “third parent” role, and how the sibling relationship between Maddie and Jordan beautifully unfolded later in life — on their own terms.
You’ll walk away with greater awareness, practical ways to shift emotional weight back to where it belongs, and a gentle reminder: there is no perfect sibling bond — only what’s right for your family.
Whether your children are close or distant, growing together or still finding their way — this conversation is for you.
Tune in for encouragement, strategies, and the reminder that you’re stronger than you think. ๐
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Have you listened to these episodes yet?
โ 74. You Cannot Fix All the Things ALL the Time
โ 133. Beyond Helicopter Parenting, Fostering Independence
You’re not alone in this, Mama. We’ll get through it together—just like we always do. And above all, remember… YOU are doing AMAZING at this MOM thing!
