When Motherhood Looks Different: Jennifer Celeste Briggs on Autism, Guilt, and Grace

What do you do when the life you dreamed of looks nothing like the one you’re living?

Jenny always knew she wanted to be a mom. But when her first child, Sarah, was born with special needs, the parenting story she had imagined began to unravel. For years, she carried invisible bricks of guilt, believing she had to fix what wasn’t broken. Everything shifted the day she gave herself permission to just love her daughter exactly as she was.

• Letting go of the guilt and shame that clouded early motherhood
• Finding hope and community in the Son-Rise Program
• Discovering that love, not perfection, was the connection her daughter needed

In this conversation, Jenny shares what happens when we stop chasing a picture-perfect life and start honoring what is. It’s about love, resilience, and learning to see the spark that’s always been there.

Jennifer Celeste Briggs is a writer, mother, and advocate for emotionally connected parenting. She has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore College and lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism, which led Jenny to create and lead a home-based Son-Rise Program called Sarah-Rise. After training at the Autism Treatment Center of America, she coordinated hundreds of hours of therapeutic play with the help of volunteers. Her blog, Watching Sarah Rise, has become a source of comfort and inspiration to others navigating life’s unexpected paths. Jenny’s mission is to help parents feel seen and to spread the word about the power of presence, joy, and connection.

Connect with Jenny

Website: www.watchingsarahrise.com

Facebook: facebook.com/jenniferbriggsauthor

Instagram: @jennifercelestebriggsauthor

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The Life Shift Podcast shares real, honest conversations about the pivotal moments that transform lives. Host Matt Gilhooly invites guests to explore the life-changing events, unexpected challenges, and personal awakenings that have shaped who they are today. 

Through candid storytelling, listeners discover powerful journeys of identity, resilience, grief, healing, and growth. If you’re drawn to personal growth stories, inspired by how people rebuild after loss, or fascinated by the quiet moments that spark profound change, The Life Shift offers heartfelt insight and inspiration. New episodes every Tuesday.

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