Mom, Not Teacher: The Hardest Lesson to Learn in Autism Parenting For Jessica Behna Beydoun
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As parents, we want to teach our kids everything—how to navigate the world, how to grow, how to thrive. But when does teaching become too much? When does guiding turn into pushing? And how do we strike the balance between structure and freedom?
Jessy is the perfect example of this. A lifelong educator, she spent years shaping how children learn, only to realize that when it came to raising her autistic son, Nathan, she had to unlearn everything she thought she knew. In this conversation, we talk about the limits of teaching—how too much structure can take the joy out of learning, yet too little can leave a child lost. Jessy shares her journey of stepping back, of shifting from being a teacher to simply being a mom, and how she’s still learning every day.
Key highlights include:
- 🌟 Finding Strength in Acceptance: How embracing Nathan’s uniqueness led to breakthroughs in his development—and Jessy’s personal growth.
- 👩👦 Balancing Roles: The fine line between being a parent and a teacher, and why knowing when to let go can be a game-changer.
- 🏠 Family Life and Real-World Lessons: Jessy’s experiences with her son in Cyprus, where real-life scenarios, from playgrounds to public mishaps, became opportunities for growth and learning.
- ✨ Turning Challenges Into Teaching Moments: Creative ways Jessy teaches Nathan essential life lessons, like zipping backpacks and fixing “disorganized” spaces without overwhelming him—or herself.
- ❤️ The Power of Laughter: Why humor is a parent’s best tool for handling tough situations and finding joy in everyday chaos.
- 🛠️ Letting Go of Perfection: How Jessy transitioned from trying to “do it all” to trusting others and creating a support system that transformed her family’s dynamic.
- ⏳ Patience, Self-Care, and Faith: The importance of pausing, taking breaks, and remembering that growth is a long journey, not a race.
- 🙌 A Message for Parents: “Add the word yet to your vocabulary.” Progress isn’t about where your child is now, but where they can go.
🎧 Tune in for raw, relatable stories and invaluable lessons on navigating autism parenting with love, compassion, and resilience.