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 Welcome
01:23 Puberty Fears and Questions
02:20 Meet Betsy Matthews
04:30 Sienna Puberty Started Early
05:20 Diagnosis Journey Begins
09:44 Hearing Autism and Grief
11:55 Communication Tools and ABA
13:58 School Placement Turning Point
15:31 Obsessions Books and Regulation
19:57 Periods Arrive and Solutions
24:45 Hormones Mood and Patterns
27:45 Managing Meltdowns and Pain
30:21 Reading Pain Signals
32:32 Behavior vs Real Distress
33:23 Support Network and Respite
36:28 Trusting Your Childs Instincts
38:06 Marathon and Self Care
41:08 Balancing Work and Parenting
42:40 Launching the Podcast
49:02 Puberty Advice and Mindset
54:42 Closing Thoughts and Callouts
Connect with Betsy:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/betsyrmatthews
Instagram: 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/theabmpodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast
YouTube: autismforbadassmoms