Cold Hard Truths: Mom Friendships

Join hosts Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen for an honest conversation about the friendship challenges that come with raising autistic children. They share personal experiences of losing friends who couldn't handle their reality, navigating judgmental autism mom groups, and dealing with people who just don't get it. From toxic positivity to hierarchy within special needs communities, they explore why so many friendships fall away during this journey.

But it's not all loss—Julianna and Kelley's own thriving friendship proves that deep connections are possible even when your kids are at completely different points on the spectrum. They discuss the surprising silver lining of having a smaller circle: The friends who remain are truly the ones who matter. Whether you're struggling with friendship dynamics in the special needs world or simply trying to figure out what you need from your relationships, this conversation offers validation, practical wisdom, and hope.

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Timestamps
00:00 - Welcome & Intro to Friendship Topic
00:56 - How Their Friendship Survived
02:02 - Hierarchy in Autism Mom Groups
03:26 - Don't Compare, Don't Compete Rule
04:58 - Friends with Neurotypical Kids
05:58 - Different Parenting Standards
07:07 - Toxic Positivity Examples
07:40 - The Door-Knocking Situation
09:33 - Why We Lose Friends
10:30 - When Friends Can't Show Up
11:28 - Losing Friends in Special Day Class
13:29 - Silver Lining of Smaller Circles
14:21 - Keep Going & Find Your People
14:29 - Closing & Resources