How burnout is affecting mothers of autistic children

Why aren’t we talking about how our kids’ burnout is burning us (neurodivergent Mums) out too? 🤔

Parenting is hard enough. Then we add navigating endless appointments, fighting for resources and accommodations, being the rock when everything feels unstable and being available 24/7. It’s no wonder so many mums are running on empty.

When your child is burning out, it impacts your whole life. You don’t just watch them struggle—you feel their struggle: the guilt, the overwhelm, and the constant question: “Am I doing enough?”

And let’s be real—who carries the load? Mums.

We’re the ones managing the advocacy, juggling appointments and school meetings, shouldering the mental load, even at 12 AM, tossing and turning at bed time with endless anxious thoughts, sacrificing personal hopes to give our all to our kids.

Did you know? In Australia, women spend 64.4% of their total work time on unpaid care work, compared to 36.1% for men. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s your reality.
This statistic includes the entire population, I think it would be far higher for Mums within ND families.

You’re not failing. You’re not alone. If you feel burnt out, overwhelmed, or like you can’t do it all, it’s not because you’re weak. It’s because the systems we interact with aren’t designed for us; they exist in a patriarchal, capitalist and neuronormative paradigm. 

Does this resonate with you? It’s important to talk about - because no one should feel like they’re in this alone 💜

Want to chat with someone who gets it? Book a 15 minute discovery call to find out more about mentoring sessions.

Statistic Source: Unpaid Care Work and the Labour Market, Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Australian Government 2016