Ep 23: Puberty & Autism Don’t Mix: Navigating Puberty with Our Neurodivergent Kids

You Don’t Want a Hug, Right? The Hilarity and the Hard of Raising Humans with Neurodiversity

And we’re not going to sugar coat it friends: navigating puberty with neurodivergent kids is rough. And it’s not just because we have to explain to our kids the importance of showering and explaining the function of certain parts of their anatomy in great and uncomfortable detail.

Puberty also brings with it some intense emotional and personality changes. The little kids that we knew so well are maturing into adults that we often don’t understand quite as well anymore, and that transition can be tough too.

In this episode, we’re reflecting on what puberty looked like for our kids, the direct and honest ways we navigated conversations with our kids, and the tricky emotional and relationship territory that our kids find themselves in now.

All these changes are necessary and important… but that doesn’t make it easy. We’re here for you, friends, as you travel down this road. Let’s dive in!

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[00:00] Intro

[01:56] Gwen’s very exciting Rylansim and a Grahamism that highlights some personal growth

[06:16] Why puberty and autism don’t mix well (according to both science and personal experience!)

[11:25] The very factual, detailed approach that can help some neurodivergent kids navigate puberty more easily (and why it doesn’t work for all of them)

[17:48] The stark personality changes that Gwen and Kristen’s kids went through during puberty

[21:11] The difficulties in navigating sexuality and sexual behavior in neurodivergent teens

[27:44] Why some neurodivergent teens experience additional fear and uncertainty than their peers when it comes to growing up and maturing in new ways

[35:19] The Last Word

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-23-puberty-autism-don-t-mix-navigating-puberty-with-our-neurodivergent-kids

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