Why Autism Moms Never Stop Listening for Footsteps with Libby Hudson

Parent the Child, Not the Diagnosis | Nora Canzoneri on Autism, Acceptance, and Letting Go

An autism diagnosis changes everything—but it should never become the only thing you see. In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with longtime friend and autism mom Nora Canzoneri for an honest conversation about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, and learning to parent the child before the diagnosis. ⸻ Full Episode Description When Nora Canzoneri’s son Cam received his autism diagnosis in 2018, she walked out of a developmental pediatrician’s office with a diagnosis, a list of books, and instructions to find ABA therapy. Like so many parents beginning an autism diagnosis journey, she was left with more questions than answers. Years later, Nora reflects on what she wishes she had known from the beginning: while autism is an important part of her son’s life, it is not the whole story. Together, Sarah and Nora explore neurodivergent parenting, caregiver experiences, the pressure to act quickly after an autism diagnosis, and the cultural expectations that quietly shape how parents measure progress. They discuss the urgency many families feel to “do everything right,” the grief of letting go of imagined timelines, and the freedom that comes from recognizing inchstones instead of milestones. The conversation also explores family travel, adapting expectations, sensory regulation, anxiety, and raising an autistic child who continues to surprise everyone—including his mother—with his humor, memory, resilience, and personality. This episode explores: * autism advocacy through everyday parenting * caregiver stories and shared experiences * autism diagnosis journeys * parenting autistic children beyond the diagnosis * autism family dynamics * caregiver emotional support * autism parenting advice * understanding neurodiversity through acceptance rather than comparison * finding peace in the unexpected Whether you’re newly navigating an autism diagnosis or years into your family’s journey, this conversation is a reminder that your child is far more than a checklist of behaviors or developmental milestones. They are becoming who they are—and you are becoming the parent they need. ⸻ In This Episode 00:00 – Remembering diagnosis day and the emotions that followed 04:00 – Walking out with an autism diagnosis and more questions than answers 07:00 – The urgency parents feel after diagnosis 10:00 – Letting go of developmental timelines 13:30 – Expectations, acceptance, and finding inchstones 16:30 – Why autism parenting changes as children grow older 19:00 – Traveling with an autistic child and embracing adventure 23:00 – Understanding behavior through connection instead of fear 26:00 – Parenting the child—not the diagnosis 30:00 – Advice for parents beginning their autism diagnosis journey ⸻ Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast [http://www.inchstonespodcast.com], where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, champions autism advocacy, and explores neurodivergent parenting through honest conversations with parents, clinicians, researchers, and advocates helping families feel seen, supported, and understood.

Caregiver Stories: Choosing Love Through the Unexpected Journey of Motherhood with Valerie Probstfeld

Every mother begins with expectations. Few of us imagine how deeply motherhood will transform our identity. In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with author and nurse practitioner Valerie Probstfeld, creator of To Mom Is to Love, for a heartfelt conversation about caregiver stories, neurodivergent parenting, grief, identity, and learning to choose love when life unfolds differently than expected. Valerie shares the experience of becoming a mother in the NICU, where losing control forced her to rethink what motherhood truly means. Together, she and Sarah explore how unexpected diagnoses, profound autism, medical trauma, and unmet expectations reshape caregivers—and why healing often begins by releasing the illusion of control. From autism parenting advice and caregiver emotional support to the role of nature, community, and nervous system regulation, this conversation reminds every parent that growth is rarely linear. Whether you’re raising a child with autism, navigating a difficult diagnosis, or simply learning to trust yourself again, this episode offers encouragement to recognize the sacredness hidden inside ordinary moments. In this episode: 02:10 — Becoming “Mom” and the unexpected identity shift of motherhood 06:10 — Why unmet expectations can feel more painful than reality itself 10:20 — Medical trauma, grief, and feeling unseen as a caregiver 13:10 — Releasing the illusion of control through motherhood 15:00 — Nature, resilience, and why growth is never linear 18:00 — Water, nervous system regulation, and profound autism 21:15 — Why caregivers need community more than ever 24:00 — Choosing love over fear in everyday parenting 27:00 — Finding meaning through the smallest inchstones of motherhood Resources Learn more here about Valerie Probstfeld and her book To Mom Is to Love. [https://www.tomomistolove.com/] Subscribe to the Inchstones Podcast for more conversations about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, neurodivergent parenting, and practical encouragement for families raising autistic children. Read Sarah’s caregiver essays on the Inchstones Substack. [https://inchstones.substack.com/]

Beyond the Autism Diagnosis: Seeing the Child Before the Label | Dr. John Gaitanis

What if autism isn’t one condition to treat, but many different biological stories waiting to be understood? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with pediatric neurologist Dr. John Gaitanis to explore why autism care should begin with understanding the individual child—not simply the diagnosis. Together they discuss autism advocacy, root cause medicine, caregiver experiences, neurodevelopment, inflammation, motor planning, and why families often recognize important patterns long before medicine does. Dr. Gaitanis challenges the idea that autism is a single biological condition, explaining why many children share a diagnosis while presenting with remarkably different medical histories, developmental pathways, and support needs. He shares why physicians should focus on understanding each child’s unique biology, why systemic inflammation and developmental regression deserve closer attention, and how artificial intelligence may help uncover patterns that families have recognized for years. The conversation also explores the emotional side of neurodivergent parenting. Sarah and Dr. G discuss maternal pattern recognition, caregiver stress, nervous system regulation, sleep deprivation, and why supporting parents is inseparable from supporting autistic children. Whether you’re navigating a recent autism diagnosis, raising a child with profound autism, searching for autism therapy options, or simply looking for thoughtful autism advocacy grounded in curiosity rather than certainty, this episode offers a hopeful framework for asking better questions. In this episode: 03:10 — Why “autism” may describe many different biological conditions 07:30 — Maternal pattern recognition and why caregivers often notice problems first 10:05 — Systems thinking versus siloed medicine in autism care 14:00 — Why two autistic children can have completely different biological profiles 18:15 — Artificial intelligence and the future of autism diagnosis and personalized medicine 21:05 — Whole-body dyspraxia, motor planning, and autism communication 27:20 — How physicians can move beyond diagnostic labels to see the whole child 35:45 — Caregiver burnout, chronic stress, and protecting parent health 41:05 — Why trusting maternal intuition matters throughout the autism diagnosis journey Resources Learn more about Dr. John Gaitanis and Meadow BioSciences. [http://www.meadowbiosciences.com] Subscribe to the Inchstones Podcast for more conversations about autism advocacy, caregiver stories, neurodivergent parenting, profound autism care, and practical support for families raising autistic children. Read more caregiver essays on the Inchstones Substack [http://www.inchstones.substack.com].

Autism Fatherhood: When My Son Brought Me to My Knees | Tommy of Spectrum in Camouflage

What does autism teach a father about strength? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Tommy of Spectrum in Camouflage for an honest conversation about autism fatherhood, faith, mental health, and how raising a nonspeaking autistic son completely transformed his understanding of success, purpose, and what truly matters. When Tommy’s son Wyatt began losing language around age two and a half, everything he thought he knew about fatherhood changed. As a construction business owner, husband, and father, he spent years believing strength meant fixing problems. Autism forced him to discover a different kind of strength: presence, surrender, and learning to live one inchstone at a time. Together, Sarah and Tommy explore autism parenting, profound autism, fatherhood, caregiver mental health, marriage, faith, and the quiet transformation that often happens inside parents long before anyone else notices it. This conversation explores: * autism fatherhood * nonspeaking autism * profound autism * caregiver mental health * autism parenting and marriage * faith during difficult seasons * living in the present moment * autism advocacy * parenting beyond societal expectations * finding joy in inchstones instead of milestones Tommy also shares his experience navigating anxiety, depression, and the realization that while he could not fix autism, he could become a different father because of it. His story offers encouragement for autism dads, caregivers, and families searching for hope grounded in reality rather than false promises. ⸻ In This Episode 00:00 – Introducing Tommy and Spectrum in Camouflage 02:00 – Becoming a father after years of waiting 04:00 – Wyatt’s autism regression and losing language 06:00 – Anxiety, mental health, and feeling powerless 08:00 – The mountain where everything changed 10:00 – Why autism brought Tommy to his knees 12:00 – Faith, surrender, and finding purpose through autism 15:00 – Success versus significance in fatherhood 17:00 – The hidden expectations parents carry 19:00 – Why inchstones matter more than milestones 21:00 – Learning to see growth differently 23:00 – Autism, communication, and presence beyond words 25:00 – Living where your boots are: staying present today 28:00 – Parenting typical and autistic children differently 31:00 – Mental health, nervous system regulation, and resilience 33:00 – Speaking openly so other autism dads feel less alone Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, autism advocacy, profound autism experiences, neurodivergent parenting, and honest conversations that help families feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Why Autism Moms Never Stop Listening for Footsteps with Libby Hudson

What happens when years of caregiving, hypervigilance, grief, and responsibility finally catch up with a mother? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Libby Hudson for an unfiltered conversation about profound autism, marriage, caregiver burnout, grief, and what it takes to survive when your family’s needs seem bigger than your capacity to carry them. Libby and her husband Tyler Hudson have become respected voices in the profound autism community, but behind advocacy and awareness lies a deeply personal story. As their son Lyric entered adolescence, a devastating family loss triggered profound behavioral changes, escalating aggression, and years of living in a near-constant state of vigilance and fear. Libby shares what it felt like to lose her father, watch her son struggle to process grief he could not communicate, and navigate the impossible reality of loving a child while simultaneously fearing what dysregulation might bring next. Together, Sarah and Libby discuss: * profound autism and adolescence * caregiver burnout and nervous system exhaustion * grief and autism * marriage under chronic stress * maternal hypervigilance * supporting autistic adults * emotional collapse and resilience * the importance of asking for help * finding purpose after survival mode The conversation also explores something rarely discussed openly in autism spaces: the cost caregiving can have on a mother’s body, identity, relationships, and health. Libby shares how years of accumulated stress ultimately contributed to a stroke and the difficult changes her family had to make to survive. This episode is for autism moms, caregivers, and families navigating profound autism, aggression, caregiver burnout, marriage stress, grief, and the emotional realities that often remain hidden behind advocacy. In This Episode 00:00 – Living with constant hypervigilance and caregiving stress 02:00 – Reading nonverbal communication through behavior and body language 04:00 – The death of Lyric’s grandfather and profound grief 05:30 – When autism, adolescence, and loss collide 07:00 – Aggression, dysregulation, and fear inside the home 08:30 – The emotional toll of surviving crisis mode 10:00 – Why caregiving changed Libby’s health forever 11:30 – A stroke, burnout, and the body keeping score 13:00 – Marriage under pressure and redefining family roles 15:00 – Learning to ask for what you need 17:00 – Why flexibility matters in autism families 19:00 – Autism, relationships, and nervous system regulation 21:00 – The hidden emotional labor of autism motherhood 23:00 – Why support systems matter more than services alone 25:00 – Receiving an autism diagnosis 18 years ago 27:00 – Grief, acceptance, and adapting to reality 29:00 – The lessons profound autism has taught about life and love 31:00 – What makes Libby most proud as Lyric’s mother Listen to more episodes of the Inchstones Podcast, where Sarah Kernion shares caregiver stories, profound autism experiences, autism advocacy, and honest conversations about neurodivergent parenting.