In this powerful episode, host Rashidah sits down with Julia Faith Parker, a single mom from Memphis, Tennessee, who opens up about navigating her son Shamar's autism diagnosis, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and what it truly means to pour from an empty cup. Julia's story is raw, relatable, and full of gems for every autism mom who's ever felt alone in the journey.
In this episode, we discuss:
0:00 — Meet Julia from Memphis, Tennessee
1:04 — Shemar's early development and red flags
1:55 — Born during the pandemic
3:54 — Shamar is diagnosed with autism at age 3 — and Julia breaks down
10:24 — Closing the business
17:26 — Moving back to Memphis
18:22 — Starting school & navigating the ABA waiting lists
25:15 — Julia's biggest regret
41:39 — What about Julia? How she carves out time for herself amid it all
41:51 — The importance of being intentional: scheduling self-care
41:51 — Julia's vision for special needs families in Memphis
41:51 — Advice for the mom who is alone with no support system
46:03 — "Double P": Prayer + Positivity
46:07 — What makes Julia a Badass Autism Mom
Connect with Julia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1juliafaith_
Facebook: Julia Faith Parker
Autism for Badass Moms is the award-winning podcast where no autism mom is left behind. Each week, host Rashidah shares honest conversations with mothers around the world of autism, advocacy, resilience, and the realities of raising neurodivergent children.
Website: https://www.autismforbadassmoms.com
Follow Autism for Badass Moms:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/theabmpodcast
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