Seeking positive SN parenting role models in popular culture

[Anonymous]

I’m a Gen X mom of a trans autistic tween. I’ve been doing tons of work on myself to be the parent he needs. I read the books and follow all the Instagram accounts etc. we’ve done therapy and parent coaching, etc. we’ve come a long way. My own parents had their failings and, of course, came from a boomer mindset that is much more authoritarian.

I’d love to read fiction or watch shows or movies that depict parents doing this right - so I can coach myself in my mind, like “what would so and so do at this moment?” All my former parental role models from pop culture aren’t parenting trans SN kids. The best I can summon in my mind when I need it is Olivia Colman’s warm performance as the mom in “Heartstopper.”

What can we watch to see this in action? I also think my husband would be more amenable to watching a fictionalized tv show about parenting SN kids than he has been to date about reading the Ross Green books, etc. DH is doing the work in his own way. I’d just love to develop a shared vocabulary through watching some good role models on TV.

[Anonymous]

Parenthood
Atypical

Or maybe just watch some interviews with Tim and Gwen Walz

[Anonymous]

Check out Tina Brown’s recent piece in the NYT about her son.

[Anonymous]

I was also going to suggest Atypical.

[Anonymous]

A third vote for Atypical! And Tina Brown's NYT piece is terrific, too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of these!

[Anonymous]

Atypical is great but the actual dad actor is an awful person IRL. Also the show is sad.

[Anonymous]

Sex Education

Korean Drama - It’s Ok Not to be ok, has a great autistic character but no trans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sex Education

Korean Drama - It’s Ok Not to be ok, has a great autistic character but no trans

Which parent was good on Sex Education? Many of them were mores messed up than the kids!

[Anonymous]

Agree with Atypical.

We've also watched "Love on the Spectrum" and it's nice to see those portrayals as well. Some of the cast we don't relate to, but others we relate to better. And seeing the parents talk about their kids looking for love is nice, and reminds us that we still have a ways to go but that things do get better.

[Anonymous]

Not trans focused but Raising a Rare Girl by Heather Lanier changed my life! She is a treasure.

[Anonymous]

Mo has a character with autism in it. It’s a comedy about Palestinians in Houston. The character I feel is very realistic but the family is very warm.

I sure hope it gets renewed.

[Anonymous]

I love the show but when I rewatched it recently I do not agree that the parents did a good job as SN parents (I assume you are talking about Max's parents). They treat his autism as something wrong with him and go into crusader mode. I think it was decent for its time (2010-ish?) but does not hold up now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with Atypical.

We've also watched "Love on the Spectrum" and it's nice to see those portrayals as well. Some of the cast we don't relate to, but others we relate to better. And seeing the parents talk about their kids looking for love is nice, and reminds us that we still have a ways to go but that things do get better.

Love on the Spectrum gave me so much hope. The parents on that show are just amazing. The love and pride they have for their children is so evident and intense.

[Anonymous]

This is not directly responsive, since the autistic characters in the show are no longer children, but rather, young adults, but I found As We See It (on Amazon Prime) to be a realistic but very positive portrayal of autistic people and their families. Also the main characters are played by autistic actors!

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/21/arts/television/as-we-see-it-amazon-autism.html