Ep. 108 - She Was Born a Girl-Then Came Autism with Palwinder

In this episode, we meet Paul Winder, who shares her powerful journey as a young mother navigating the intersections of cultural expectations and raising a daughter on the autism spectrum. She opens up about the deeply ingrained biases in Indian culture against having daughters, and the added complexity of dealing with her daughter's autism diagnosis. Despite facing societal and familial pressures, Paul Winder emphasizes the importance of education, early intervention, and self-care. With support from her husband and her own determination, she defied cultural norms, pursued her passion for special education, and became a fierce advocate for her daughter. Her story is a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of not giving up, offering inspiration to mothers everywhere who face similar challenges. What we discuss: 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:27 Cultural Expectations and Gender Bias 01:29 Early Motherhood Challenges 04:09 Struggles with Education and Family Expectations 13:05 Diagnosis and Emotional Turmoil 25:09 Finding Hope and Purpose 29:51 Struggles with Child's Eating Habits 30:49 Seeking Emotional Support 32:09 Challenges with Family Expectations 34:22 Finding Support and Inspiration 36:37 Pursuing a Career in Special Education 37:46 Building Connections with Students 43:00 Self-Care and Mental Health 49:46 Advocating for Your Child 52:58 Final Thoughts and Encouragement If you found Palwinder's episode informative and inspiring, please don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with another fellow badass mom or someone who you feel would benefit! Connect with Palwinder: Instagram: www.instagram.com/journeyforautism Tik Tok: @prettykaur5 Make sure to subscribe so that you never miss an episode. FOLLOW US: Instagram: www.instagram.com/theabmpodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast YouTube: www.youtube.com/theabmpodcast Tik Tok: @autismforbadassmoms