Preparing for the Unexpected: 7 Things for Moms of Autistics to Consider in Preparation for Natural Disasters

Welcome back to another episode of the Thriving Moms of Autistics Podcast! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson. 

Moms are often in a high alert state. Because anything goes with our kids. Even though we are good at anticipating, we never really know what to fully expect. 

Now, weather events occur all over the world. You can’t get away from it. This week, we dealt with a lot of crazy weather across the United States, and it got me thinking.

We can prepare for some natural disasters, such as hurricanes, but things like tornadoes and flooding can happen in an instant.

In this episode, we explore how moms can develop a plan of action ahead of time and use their developed superpowers for shifting with the unexpected to support themselves, their child, and their family and reduce anxiety and manage the chaos in the process.

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Why Is It Important for Moms of Autistics to Prepare for the Unexpected?

It can feel daunting to try to have it all together all the time. We juggle a lot as moms raising autistics. 

For our children, routine is critical. When it goes sideways and it will, chaos can ensue quickly. 

There is a whirlwind of emotions, anxiety, vulnerability, and for moms, a deepened need to protect. 

What Moms of Autistics Need to Do First to Kickstart Change

I think it is important that moms first acknowledge that they are human beings. We often forget that.

Mistakes will be made because we are not superhuman. That doesn’t exist. We do our best.

Repeat after me. “I am doing my best!”

This week, I realized that I missed the mark or dropped the ball. Yes, it happens. And it is easy to do that when we have an overloaded plate as it is. 

With that said, I am showing myself some grace and learning from it! My growth mindset has allowed me to acknowledge and move forward while cutting ties and quickly squashing those negative thought loops and jumping into positive action instead. 

When I was a young teenager, we had an unusual weather event in January. I was home alone at the time and the tornado sirens malfunctioned. It was an unseasonably warm day. The sky turned a shade yellow and there was an eerie feeling in the air. 

You never forget that sound and how the house shakes. We lived on the outskirts of town and were spared that day. But within a couple of miles down the road, the town town and my friends weren’t. It was catastrophic. 

That spring it happened again, but I was at work this time. My mom called and instructed me and my co-worker to get in the hallway. My co-worker could see the tornado in the distance and dragged me down the hallway to see it…. Kicking and screaming, by the way. 

Needless to say, my past trauma and anxiety kicks in during these inevitable storms. 

Our kids are super sponges and don’t miss a beat. So, I have to work even harder to keep that anxiety in check. 

This week, we had to take shelter and there was a tornado. Thankfully, it wasn’t catastrophic like before. 

I asked myself why I do not have a plan in place with the family? Well, we’ve had a lot to contend with over the last several years. It’s called autism. But, this is something we will have in place moving forward. 

How Do Moms of Autistics Prepare for Unexpected Events That Can Result in Chaos and Anxiety?

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