Why are so many autistic women missed in childhood? And what happens when a parent's journey to understand their child leads to a life-changing discovery about themselves?
In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we welcome Julie M. Green, author of Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance. Julie shares her powerful story of parenting an autistic child, navigating a late autism diagnosis, and finally making sense of a lifetime of experiences that had never quite fit together.
For many women, autism goes undiagnosed for decades. Traits are often misunderstood, hidden through masking, or mistaken for anxiety, perfectionism, sensitivity, or social difficulties. Julie's journey sheds light on the unique presentation of autism in women and girls, while offering hope for those seeking answers later in life.
In this conversation, we explore:
▪️ Autism in women and why so many girls are missed
▪️ Late autism diagnosis and its emotional impact
▪️ Parenting an autistic child
▪️ Masking and autistic burnout
▪️ Neurodiversity and self-acceptance
▪️ Autism in families and generational autism
▪️ Supporting autistic children and autistic parents
▪️ Identity, belonging, and mental health
▪️ What radical acceptance looks like after diagnosis
Whether you're a parent of an autistic child, an educator, clinician, or someone wondering if you may be autistic yourself, this episode provides valuable insight into autism spectrum disorder, neurodivergence, parenting, and self-discovery.
Julie's story is a powerful reminder that understanding ourselves can happen at any age—and that sometimes the people we love most help us find our way there.
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