Ep. 108 – She Was Born a Girl – Then Came Autism with Palwinder

In this episode, we meet Palwinder, who shares her powerful journey as a young mother navigating the intersections of cultural expectations and raising a daughter on the autism spectrum. She opens up about the deeply ingrained biases in Indian culture against having daughters, and the added complexity of dealing with her daughter's autism diagnosis. Despite facing societal and familial pressures, Palwinder emphasizes the importance of education, early intervention, and self-care. With support from her husband and her own determination, she defied cultural norms, pursued her passion for special education, and became a fierce advocate for her daughter. Her story is a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of not giving up, offering inspiration to mothers everywhere who face similar challenges.

What we discuss:

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:27 Cultural Expectations and Gender Bias

01:29 Early Motherhood Challenges

04:09 Struggles with Education and Family Expectations

13:05 Diagnosis and Emotional Turmoil

25:09 Finding Hope and Purpose

29:51 Struggles with Child's Eating Habits

30:49 Seeking Emotional Support

32:09 Challenges with Family Expectations

34:22 Finding Support and Inspiration

36:37 Pursuing a Career in Special Education

37:46 Building Connections with Students

43:00 Self-Care and Mental Health

49:46 Advocating for Your Child

52:58 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

If you found Palwinder'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 Palwinder:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/journeyforautism

Tik Tok: @prettykaur5

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