311: Fostering Self-Discovery for Your Autistic Kid, with Sol Smith, MS, MFA, EDS

Beautifully Complex

What if your child’s “overexplaining” isn’t defiance, but a deep need to be understood?
In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Sol Smith — autistic adult, author, life coach, educator, and dad of four neurodivergent kids — to talk about the inner world of autistic individuals. From masking and sensory differences to building friendships and finding identity through passion, Sol walks us through what self-discovery really looks like for autistic kids… and how we can better support it as parents.
We also dive into the hard stuff: the social exhaustion of masking, the difference between “traits” and diagnostic persistence, and why trusting your child’s path — even if it looks different — is the most loving move you can make.
Sol’s insights are real, relatable, and refreshingly hopeful. If you’ve ever wondered how to support your child in being their true self while also preparing them for “the real world,” this episode is your new roadmap.
🎧 Don’t miss it — press play and get ready to see your child through a brand-new lens.
You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.
Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/311
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.