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Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

Cammie McGovern: Mythbusting Parenting

Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

Kate Bowler

Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality, Health & Fitness

4.85.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 March 2022

⏱️ 39 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We often have very romantic expectations about parenthood. Parenthood is about a mythical child who will be perfect in a way we haven’t quite put our finger on, and the journey to love them will teach us something reasonably easy about ourselves. But what if we are not the parents we thought we’d be? Or our kids are not the kids we thought we’d have. Writer Cammie McGovern’s oldest son, Ethan, was diagnosed with autism as a small child. Soon though, he was not just a toddler learning how to play or a child needing adjustments in the classroom. He is an adult who wants to participate in the world, and Cammie is still determined to learn what it means to be an advocate for him and others living with disabilities as they enter adulthood.  In this conversation, Kate and Cammie discuss: The myths parents of children with autism might face How to build inclusive communities (and how both parties might benefit from them) How the role of every parent is to discover their kid for the mystery and wonder they are Why parenting shouldn’t always be about becoming heroes or martyrs and how we might need communities and systems that better support our needs This heartwarming conversation covers everything from love to policy and everything in between, as Cammie describes her son and his future. *** Find Kate on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter. Be sure to subscribe to our weekly email for bits of wisdom, prayers, free downloads, and more. No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) is now available wherever books are sold. Order your copy, today. Introducing, GOOD ENOUGH: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection. Available wherever books are sold. Join us for Lent. Receive a free lenten reflection guide, here. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0

We often have very romantic expectations about parenthood.

0:08.6

We will be the kind of parent who never bribes their kid because of course they will be tiny

0:13.3

little angels and always listen the first time.

0:16.8

And we will do everything exactly opposite of how our parents raised us because we know

0:21.6

better now.

0:23.2

Until of course you realize you have just become your mother.

0:27.2

And our kids will follow the path we have carefully laid out for them.

0:31.1

Ivy League for any kid because of all that baby eyes dyna gave them.

0:35.6

Or maybe they are a professional athlete.

0:37.6

Because did you see the way he winds up to kick a sister?

0:40.9

Just joking.

0:41.9

Joking, totally.

0:44.4

So often parenthood is about a mythical child who will be perfect in a way we haven't

0:50.1

quite put our finger on.

0:52.2

And the journey to love them will teach us something reasonably easy about ourselves.

0:58.8

But what if we are not the parents we thought we'd be?

1:03.0

Or our kids are not the kids we thought we'd have?

1:08.2

I'm Kate Boehler and this is Everything Happens.

1:13.5

Writer Cammy McGovern's oldest son Ethan was diagnosed with autism as a small child.

1:19.6

She was determined to prove doctor's expectations wrong.

1:24.1

She set out to build systems and change policies that allowed him education and meaningful friends.

1:31.5

Soon enough though, he was not just a toddler learning how to play or a child needing adjustments

...

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