Kim Cartelli Liguori describes how there are no “relaxing Sundays” while she resiliently parents her son on the spectrum, Anthony. She describes the constant work of keeping her family moving along, the work she shoulders, and her own endurance with the help and partnership of her family, friends, and community for s1. E7. N7. of the Otherness Podcast titled White Knuckle Parenting. No Downtime in Autism Families.

Todd reflects on how connection to community and family, an intuitive sense of your child on the spectrum, and even painful internal conflicts with Kim, an old friend from Longmeadow, MA.

Clearly Todd has a special relationship with his hometown of Longmeadow, MA. Many discussions he’s had on the podcast end up there. When Kim Cartelli Liguori was mapping her autism quest with her family and son, Anthony, it also brought her back to Longmeadow. Both Todd and Kim’s husband, Jeff, have referred to it as “Pleasantville” due to it’s picturesque suburban feel. For Kim, returning to the home of her youth, meant grounding herself in family and lifelong friends in order to provide support as she hurdles forward in the tumultuous life of autism parenting.

“The humanity of autism does involve some resentment about the work you have to do…and sometimes it takes you to the limits.”

Kim describes how she is constantly working to schedule Anthony’s time in a way that keeps him content as he has tremendous difficulties in self-entertaining. She anxiously put him on Prozac as his mood and discomfort was so pervasive and heartbreaking that she desperately wanted to help him. She also meaningfully describes how she feels guilty that wishing for a life without autism may lead herself and others to believe she does not truly love Anthony for who he is.

Todd understands this unique guilt and has heard similar stories from many parents of kids on the spectrum who feel alone with the guilt. Kim is not alone, nor are any of the other resilient autism parents. Putting your best foot forward is always done on instinct, and sometimes does not allow room for the mixed feelings we all carry.

The Otherness Podcast is exploring and engaging autism through experienced stories with Dr. Todd Peter Levine and is available on most places and sites where you like to listen to podcasts. S1. E7. N7. of the Otherness Podcast is titled White Knuckle Parenting. No Downtime in Autism Families.

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Opening Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Intro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing/Nick Burling (ASCAP)
Administered by Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Closing Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Outro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
Administered by late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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White Knuckle Parenting. No Downtime in Autism Families.