Tibetan Influencer Tenzin Pemo Shares Her Journey Raising an Autistic Child in Debut Book
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 22 July: Tenzin Pemo, an Instagram and YouTube content creator known as Zoe Family, launched her first book today titled “Where He Leads, I Follow” — a memoir about raising her autistic son, Tenzin Dhamchoe — at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives here.
Based on her lived experience, the book follows Pemo’s journey through motherhood, including becoming a mother at 23, the challenges of raising a child with different needs, and the changes within her family following the birth of her second child.
Speaking about the motivation behind the book, Pemo said she hoped it would help other parents navigate journeys similar to her own and develop greater understanding and acceptance of autism.
She said writing the book required her to revisit painful experiences from her past. However, she chose to do so because she believed sharing her experience could help other parents facing similar journeys.
Pemo clarified that the book does not attempt to document every aspect of autism or provide a detailed account of the condition. She said she plans to explore autism and its specific aspects more extensively in a second edition of the book.
Questions from the audience during the launch reflected the limited understanding of autism and the lack of a wider support ecosystem for autistic individuals and their families within the Tibetan community.
The discussion also highlighted differences in awareness among parents, with some noting that parents of autistic children often actively seek information and learn about the condition, while others may remain less aware or engaged.
Responding to the discussion, Pemo said the lack of awareness should not necessarily be attributed to individual fault, as people cannot be expected to know about something they have never been exposed to. She said greater awareness begins with people speaking openly about autism and helping others understand the condition.
Pemo also emphasised the responsibility of parents to make every effort to understand and support their children, while calling for greater awareness and understanding within the wider community.
Through “Where He Leads, I Follow,” Pemo shares a personal account of motherhood shaped by uncertainty, difficult choices, and the process of learning to understand her child on his own terms.
