Ep. 160 - Behind Closed Doors: Autism, Abuse, and Finding the Courage to Love with Gerri

<p>In this powerful episode, we sit down with Gerri Tennyson—autism advocate, author, interior designer, and domestic abuse survivor—for a raw and deeply personal conversation about survival, motherhood, and reclaiming her life.<br>As a mother of fraternal twins, including her son Dwight, who was diagnosed with autism at age three, Gerri spent 17 years navigating an abusive marriage while advocating for her son&#39;s educational needs.</p><p><br>In this episode, Gerri opens up about the realities of domestic abuse that people often don&#39;t see, the challenges of raising children in an unhealthy environment, and the courage it took to leave and rebuild her life.<br>She also reflects on the financial hardships she faced as a single mother, the impact of domestic violence on her children, and the lessons she learned about independence, self-worth, and finding her voice again.<br>In this episode, we discuss:<br>0:00 -  Meet Gerri<br>0:51 -  Dwight’s Autism Diagnosis<br>5:52 -  Regression in Language Development<br>7:15 -  Sibling Bond<br>9:17 -  Enduring Abuse in Her Marriage<br>12:16 -  Living Through a “House of Horrors”<br>13:54 -  Filing for divorce in 2010<br>14:28 -  Withholding Support for the Children<br>15:04 - The Escape Plan<br>16:44 -  Creating a Strong Support Network<br>22:54 -  Father Stops Showing Up<br>23:23 -  Dwight’s Improvement after Parent Separation<br>24:54 -  Fighting the School System<br>26:15 -  Letter to First Lady Laura Bush<br>28:28 -  Life Rebuilt<br>33:24 -  Dwight Today<br>37:34 -  No Shame, Ask for Help<br>42:47 -  The Reason I Breathe<br>42:59 -  Building Her Business<br>52:06 -  Advice for Autism Moms<br>ABOUT OUR GUEST<br>Gerri Tennyson is a mother of fraternal twins, Dwight and Taylor (now 28). She is the owner of Diamond in the Rough Designs (an interior decorating and staging business), and the author of the memoir; The Reason I Breathe; (published August 2024). She is also working on her second book. Gerri has been a fierce autism advocate for over two decades, helping counsel families navigate resources, and she shares her story to give hope to others.<br>CONNECT WITH GERRI<br>Gerri Tennyson, The Reason I Breathe: My Journey with Autism Against All Odds<br>Purchase on Amazon: <a href="https://a.co/d/0blrrp7l" target="_blank">https://a.co/d/0blrrp7l</a><br>Purchase on Barnes Noble: The Reason I Breathe | Barnes &amp; Noble®<br>Interior Design Business: Diamond in the Rough Designs<br>Instagram: <a href="http://www.ins