Jersey Shore star Jenni “JWoww” Farley recently shared an emotional and vulnerable story about her son, Greyson Valor Mathews, 9, and her early challenges coping with his autism diagnosis at age 2.
Speaking on Kylie Kelce’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast, Farley described one particularly overwhelming moment at an airport when her son had one of his first public meltdowns. “I was able to lock myself in a bathroom with him and get him figured out and lock him in his stroller,” she said.
She admitted that in her desperation to calm Greyson, she resorted to what she described as “hog-tying” him just to soothe him enough to get on the plane. “I remember all the looks; he just got diagnosed. I was like, I don’t wanna talk about his diagnosis,” Farley recalled.
Greyson, who was non-verbal at the time, had just been diagnosed with autism, and Farley had little understanding of how sensory overload could affect him. “He tried to run through TSA,” she said. “When I tried to stop him, he ripped my glasses off and broke them, and he headbutted me.”
The moment only got harder when strangers began filming. “It was a very emotional and very real moment that I had with him,” she said. “Nobody explained to me sensory issues and sensory processing. I had no idea… that he didn’t like lines, and he didn’t like waiting, and he hated delays.”
Farley said she felt completely overwhelmed. “I just remember crying. I finally get through TSA, and I’m bawling, and I have scratches, and my son’s crying, and I can’t get him in his car seat… I just wanna get on the plane or hide.”
After this traumatic experience, Farley began to better understand her son’s needs and sought help. Greyson started Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, receiving 40 hours a week in addition to speech and occupational therapy.
Now a strong advocate for autism awareness, Farley actively supports causes like KultureCity, a nonprofit that helps make public venues more sensory-inclusive, including NFL stadiums.
Her story sheds light on the early challenges many parents face when navigating an autism diagnosis—and the importance of awareness, patience, and support.
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