130 | navigating fatherhood and autism with Rob Gorski

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇

In this episode, Dr. Tay welcomes Rob Gorski, known as The Autism Dad on social media, to discuss his experience as a father raising three autistic children. They explore the unique challenges and opportunities of fatherhood in the autism community, the grief process associated with diagnoses, and the importance of leaning into emotions. Rob shares his journey of starting a blog, the evolving support needs of his children, and the importance of self-care and mental health for parents. They also discuss the societal expectations for dads and the need for more inclusive and supportive conversations around fatherhood and autism.

00:00 Introduction and Today's Special Guest

00:58 Dr. Tay's Background and Podcast Mission

02:01 Rob Gorski's Family and Autism Journey

03:22 Challenges and Insights on Autism Diagnoses

08:48 Support Needs and Progress of Rob's Children

12:42 Navigating Parenting and Personal Challenges

13:39 The Role of Dads in Autism Parenting

18:05 Emotional Struggles and Mental Health

28:38 Understanding the Impact of Parental Emotions

29:34 Embracing Imperfection in Parenting

31:10 Navigating Social Media and External Judgments

32:54 The Importance of Repair and Recovery

34:50 Challenging Parenting Norms and Expectations

39:03 Advocating for Your Child's Needs

44:06 The Power of Vulnerability and Self-Care

48:33 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

RESOURCES

⚡️ connect with Rob on Instagram @theautismdad and on his website

⚡️ listen to our recent episode on Rob's podcast about autism in girls

⚡️ want to learn more about Dr. Tay's Whole Family Approach and current services offered? visit drtaylorday.com

⚡️ join the Evolve Facebook community to participate in the episode Q+As >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautism

⚡️ learn from me and submit your questions [could be featured on a future episode] >>

Instagram @the.dr.tay

TikTok @the.dr.tay

LinkedIn @the-dr-tay

*please note: in this episode, many terminologies and phrases are used to describe autism. Dr. Tay honors what each child and family prefers, and intentionally chooses to use affirming and identity-first language after listening to autistic adults and their preferences. various guests on the podcast are likely to use the language they have been exposed to the most.