Knowing When to Speak Up and When to Be Still: Temperance in Autism Motherhood
Walk With Me Mom: Burnout to Balance® Episode 43

Have you ever left a conversation replaying everything you should have said? Or held your tongue in the moment only to have a full argument in the shower later?

In this episode, Nicki continues the Temperance series by talking about one of the hardest balancing acts in autism motherhood: knowing when to speak up for your child and when to be still.

As moms raising autistic children, we often carry a deep sense of responsibility to advocate especially when our kids communicate differently or can’t fully explain their experiences. But there’s a difference between intentional advocacy and reacting from frustration, fear, or exhaustion.

Drawing from her own experience navigating her non-verbal son’s middle school transition, Nicki shares what she’s learning about slowing down, listening first, and using her voice with wisdom instead of urgency.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Why temperance does not mean staying quiet about your child’s needs
• How to tell the difference between speaking firmly and reacting from overwhelm
• The importance of pausing before responding (especially when emotions are high)
• Practical ways to gather information instead of assuming the worst
• How to stay firm and respectful without watering down your concerns
• Learning to be still without abandoning your role as your child’s advocate

This conversation is for every autism mom who’s ever wondered, “Should I say something… or should I wait?” You’ll be reminded that you can have a strong voice and practice temperance at the same time.

Featured Scripture
James 1:19 – “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

Resources

• One-on-one coaching: www.walkwithmemom.com
• Email: info@nickibradley.com
• Book: Walk With Me Mom: Taming the Overwhelm available on Amazon

Next Episode
We’re continuing the Temperance series by talking about the urge to fix, protect, and step in and how to recognize when to give our children room to grow.

Until then… keep finding joy in the small moments, connection in the unexpected ones, and grace for yourself along the way.

Two are better than one. Community is better than none.
Tomorrow belongs to God. Today is enough.

Hey mama 💙 Thank you for being here. Send a message and let us know how this episode encouraged you in your autism motherhood journey.

Please email any questions, comments, to info@nickibradley.com

Don't forget to Like, Share & Subscribe!

Visit: www.walkwithmemom.com

Walk With Me Mom: Burnout to Balance® Episode 42

Isn’t it something how we can do so much right as moms… and still get stuck replaying the one moment we wish had gone differently?

In this honest episode, Nicki talks about those times when our tone sharpens, our patience runs thin, or we respond in a way we later regret and what may actually be happening beneath the surface.

Drawing from her own season of navigating her non-verbal son’s middle school transition while also supporting her daughter, her mom’s health needs, and everything else life required, she shares why these moments rarely start in the moment itself. Often they’ve been building for a while.

You’ll hear about:

• Why the “little moments” (a sharper tone, a short response) can reveal how much we’re really carrying
• How to look past self-judgment and ask better questions about what’s going on inside
• The difference between saying “I didn’t handle that well” and “I’m a terrible mom”
• Practical ways to create space for yourself before the day pulls you in every direction
• How the “little foxes that spoil the vine” can show up in everyday autism motherhood
• Giving yourself grace without ignoring the patterns that need attention

This episode is for every autism mom who’s ever walked away from a moment thinking, Why did I handle it like that? You’ll be reminded that noticing what’s beneath the overwhelm is not an excuse it’s the beginning of real change.

Featured Scripture
Song of Solomon 2:15 – “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards…”

Resources

• One-on-one coaching: www.walkwithmemom.com
• Email: info@nickibradley.com
• Book: Walk With Me Mom: Taming the Overwhelm available on Amazon

Next Episode
We’re continuing the Temperance series by talking about knowing when to speak and when to be still especially when advocating for our autistic children.

Until then… keep finding joy in the small moments, connection in the unexpected ones, and grace for yourself along the way.

Two are better than one. Community is better than none.
Tomorrow belongs to God. Today is enough.

Hey mama 💙 Thank you for being here. Send a message and let us know how this episode encouraged you in your autism motherhood journey.

Please email any questions, comments, to info@nickibradley.com

Don't forget to Like, Share & Subscribe!

Visit: www.walkwithmemom.com

Walk With Me Mom: Burnout to Balance® – Episode 41

When everybody needs something from you and you’re running on empty, what does self-control really look like? In this episode, Nicki talks about temperance in autism motherhood recognizing your limits, managing overwhelm, and caring for yourself without guilt while raising an autistic child

You’re balancing the needs of your family, advocating for your autistic child, managing the household, and still expected to keep showing up with patience. But what happens when your emotions are stretched thin and life doesn’t slow down?

In this honest conversation, Nicki explores temperance not as perfection or bottling everything up, but as learning restraint, recognizing your limits, and responding with wisdom when autism motherhood feels overwhelming.

Drawing from her experience navigating her non-verbal son’s transition to middle school, she shares what it looks like to carry worry, exhaustion, and responsibility without losing yourself in the process.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Why temperance is more than controlling your reactions
• How major transitions can quietly drain your emotional capacity
• The difference between self-control and suppressing your feelings
• Why you can’t always “self-control” your way out of real exhaustion
• Practical ways to care for yourself while still showing up for your family
• How to invite God into the moments when you’re frustrated, worried, and tired

This episode is a gentle invitation to be honest about what you’re carrying and to remember that acknowledging your limits doesn’t make you less of a good mom.

Featured Scripture
Galatians 5:22–23

Resources

• Coaching: www.walkwithmemom.com
• Email: info@nickibradley.com
• Book: Walk With Me Mom: Taming the Overwhelm (available on Amazon)

Next Episode
We’re getting real about those difficult moments when our emotions get the best of us what may be happening beneath the surface, and how to handle them differently without drowning in guilt.

Until then… keep finding joy in the small moments, connection in the unexpected ones, and grace for yourself along the way.

Hey mama 💙 Thank you for being here. Send a message and let us know how this episode encouraged you in your autism motherhood journey.

Please email any questions, comments, to info@nickibradley.com

Don't forget to Like, Share & Subscribe!

Visit: www.walkwithmemom.com