Overcome the Overwhelm for Special Needs Moms

When the world feels like it’s on fire, and your personal life isn’t far behind, it can feel wrong to let yourself be… happy.Like, how dare you enjoy your iced coffee or laugh at your kid’s ridiculous dance moves when there are real, hard things going on around you?In this episode, we’re talking about that sneaky guilt that creeps in when you try to feel good in the middle of the chaos—and why it’s actually essential that you do.Your brain is hardwired to keep you focused on the bad stuff. It thinks it’s helping. (Thanks, brain!) But if we don’t intentionally look for the good, we miss out on the stuff that actually makes life worth living. Joy. Connection. Love. Nature walks with your feral kids. All of it.We’ll dig into:Why letting yourself be happy doesn’t mean you’re ignoring realityHow joy can be your secret weapon for surviving the hard stuffOne question that can help you find your way back to right nowA super simple practice to start letting more of the good stuff inYou’ll walk away with permission to feel good today, not “after things calm down.” Because life doesn’t stand still while we wait for it to get easier, and you deserve to feel a little joy right in the middle of the mess.Come say hi on Instagram [@lauren_nia_lowery] and let me know: Where are you letting yourself be happy lately?

When it comes to advocating for our children, the constant fight can end up exhausting us as special needs parents. In this episode, I share 3 secrets to making advocacy easier and more effective.

Ever feel like no matter how much rest you get, you're still running on fumes?In this episode, I'm sharing the secret behind what's happening when our rest and self-care just isn't doing the trick (or lasting very long at all).We talk about the kinds of "leaks" that drain special needs moms the most (hint: it’s not just about being busy), how to spot them, and what you can do to start plugging those holes, so your rest and recuperation actually HELPS!

If you're looking back at the past 12 months thinking, “This year has been out of control!” then you are not alone, my friend. In this episode, I’m sharing a simple (but insanely powerful) exercise that helps you see exactly where you do have control in life, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment. I’m walking you through a perspective shift that’ll help you:Stop feeling like life is just happening to youUnderstand where you are in control but don’t realize itReclaim your power in the middle of the chaos, instead of waiting for everything to calm down firstSet yourself up for the rest of the year to feel more grounded, clear, and capable, even if nothing around you changesLINK TO BOOK A CONSULT CALL:  https://calendly.com/laurennialowery/30min

Most of us had dreams for our kids before they were even born.We pictured their first steps. School days. Sleepovers. Maybe even a wedding one day.We imagined the kind of life they’d have, and the kind of mom we’d get to be.And when the diagnosis came, and the delays didn’t go away…When the future got blurry instead of bright and predictable….It hurts.Like, gut-punch, can’t-catch-your-breath, “this isn’t fair” kind of pain.In this episode, I’m sharing 3 things that will help ease that pain and allow you to move closer to accepting what is, and letting go of what might have been.

Do you ever feel like the good moments fly by while the hard ones drag on?This episode is all about slowing down to make the most out of the good moments in life through a practice called Savoring. This is a powerful (and surprisingly simple) tool from positive psychology that helps you slow down and fully experience the joy that’s already in your life.Studies have shown that the practice of savoring can boost your mood, increase positive emotions, and decrease anxiety and depression.🎧 Tune in to learn how savoring rewires your brain for more joy, peace, and presence, no matter how messy your life gets.

Do you ever feel guilty for resting, saying no, or taking time for yourself? Ever avoid conflicts because you want to just “keep the peace”? Or maybe you’ve found yourself making sure everyone around you is happy and comfortable, even when it means you are not.If so, you might be dealing with Good Mom Syndrome… and you’re not alone.In this episode, we dive into the subtle (but powerful) ways society teaches moms that their worth is tied to how well they care for everyone else. I’m sharing why so many high-achieving, loving, devoted moms secretly feel burnt out, resentful, and never “good enough”… no matter how hard they try.If you find yourself exhausted from:Always putting your kids, partner, or work before yourselfStruggling to set boundaries or say noFeeling guilty when you take a breakThe pressure to be seen as a good mom….Then this episode is for you.

BOOK YOUR CONSULT CALL: https://calendly.com/laurennialowery/30min***********How many times have you completely spiraled over something like forgetting pajama day at school, giving meds a little late, or a comment that stranger made about your child… only to realize a week later that it did not matter. At all. As special needs moms, we face hard and heavy shit every single day. And our brains are wired to seek out all the potential “threats” like illnesses, symptoms, etc. And when we are wired to see all the potentially bad things in life, it ends up draining us mentally, emotionally, and physically. In this episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite simple and easy hacks to help you stop wasting your precious energy on things that end up not mattering in the grand scheme of things, so you have energy for the things that actually DO matter to you. Here’s what we’ll get into:Why our brains love to make small stuff feel like a big dealHow to tell when something really is serious (and when it’s just brain drama)A mindset shift that helps me calm down before I lose my mind over the dishwasher, the IEP meeting, or meltdowns

We let other people's opinions dictate what clothes we wear, the cars we drive, and ultimately how we see ourselves. Most of us have been running our lives like someone’s watching and judging 24/7. But what if you dropped the performance and just decided to like yourself? Like, on purpose?In this episode, we're talking about how our self-image (how we see ourselves) is often sneakily shaped by how we think others see us, and if you’re not paying attention, it can run your whole dang life.In this episode, we’re talking about:Why your brain cares so much about what others think (blame evolution and a whole lotta social conditioning)The tiny question that can reveal your actual preferences (hello, self-awareness!)How tying your worth to gold stars and Pinterest-perfection keeps you stuckWhy self-image isn’t about changing your body, your house, or your life, but changing what you say to yourselfWhat self-acceptance really looks like (hint: it’s not bath bombs and affirmations in the mirror)Because confidence isn’t born from external validation. It’s built on knowing who you are, liking your damn self, and choosing what feels right for you.

Some thoughts feel so true, they might as well be facts, thoughts like “Other families have it easier" or "This isn't fair."But even the truest thoughts can quietly drain your energy, spiral your emotions, and make hard days feel even heavier.In this episode, I show you how to recognize the sneaky difference between a thought that’s true and one that’s actually helpful.Because sometimes, the truest thought in the world keeps us stuck, small, pissed off, or drowning in the river of misery.

For special needs moms and medical moms managing pending test results, referrals, or diagnosis delays- this episode is for you...Do you ever feel like you're stuck waiting for something, like that test results, a referral, an appointment, some kind of answer, before you can exhale or move forward?In this episode, we’re talking about what I call “waiting mode”- that stuck, suspended state so many special needs moms live in. I’ll share how this pause button we unconsciously hit can quietly create the exact life we fear: one that feels heavy, hard, and isolating.And most importantly, I’ll give you tools to reclaim your life even in the midst of the unknown. You don’t have to wait to feel peace, connection, or joy.This is for you if you’ve ever felt like life is always on hold until the next medical thing is figured out.Book a free consult call with me: https://calendly.com/laurennialowery/30min

We ask ourselves questions all day long. Questions like...Why can't I get my shit together?Why am I like this?Why is this happening to me?But these dead-end questions usually just end up going no where, or at least no where good. In this episode, I'm sharing the top 5 questions that I use in my own self-coaching that have transformed who I am and how I show up in the world. These questions have made me a better mother, helped me reach my goals and blow my own mind with what I can do, and helped me have a lot more joy.

When was the last time you felt truly happy- not just okay, not just surviving, but alive and at peace?In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple but powerful exercise, called The Happiness Audit, to help you figure out what’s draining your energy, what actually brings you joy, and how to create small, doable shifts to feel better right now.You don’t need a whole new life to feel happier.You just need to look at the patterns you’ve been tolerating on autopilot and make one new choice at a time.

Let’s get real for a sec.What do you do when your brain is hyperfocused on your child’s appearance- and not in the “she’s so cute I could cry” kind of way?In this episode, I respond to a mom who’s caught in an anxiety spiral about her daughter’s facial features after surgery. Despite reassurance from doctors and her partner, her brain keeps ruminating over every detail and whispering unhelpful things like:👉 What if people treat her differently?👉 What if she’s not pretty?👉 What kind of mom even thinks this way?!Oof. If you’ve ever had a thought that made you feel like a “bad mom” (welcome to the club, by the way), this episode is for you.We unpack:Why judging your thoughts only makes them louder (and what to do instead)The difference between being shallow and being humanHow to stop trying to bubble-wrap your child from the hard parts of lifeWhat to teach and model instead so she knows how to support herself through it all

One of the most powerful things I’ve learned (and coach clients on all the time) is this:✨You get to decide what’s worth your energy.-Not based on what makes other people more comfortable.-Not based on how “good moms” are supposed to act.-Not even based on what you used to care about.You’re allowed to care deeply about what actually matters to you…and let the rest go.In this episode, I’m sharing 3 things I’ve let go of caring about as a special needs mom, WHY, and the mindset shifts that helped me along the way. 

Book Your Consult Call: https://lowerylifecoaching.com/consultcall/Your child’s needs are 24/7. The appointments never end. The “career” you once had might feel like a distant memory. And now you’re wondering how the heck you'll ever feel good about your finances. If you've ever said to yourself, “I’ll never make enough because I can’t work full-time,” this episode is your permission slip to question everything you’ve been taught about money, worth, and work.We’re talking about:Why money is actually neutral, and how your thoughts about it are doing the heavy liftingThe belief that’s quietly draining your income and your confidenceHow an abundance mindset isn’t just fluffy woo- it’s practical and logicalYou don’t need full-time hours . You don't need to work harder, or work longer. You just need a different way of thinking about money. And this episode is here to give you that perspective shift, and it might just be the one that changes everything.

Our brains aren’t always the most reliable narrators. Especially when you’re knee-deep in IEP paperwork, appointments, and trying to keep a household running with whatever scraps of energy you have left.And still, it loves to whisper things like:“You’re not doing enough.”“You should have handled that better.”“Other moms would be doing this differently.”But here's the truth: Those thoughts are NOT facts.In this episode, I’m walking you through 5 real, grounded, very-not-inspirational-poster signs that you’re actually a dang good mom. Not in a fluffy, “believe in yourself!” kind of way. In a “here’s actual evidence from your life that you’re killing it in ways your brain keeps overlooking” kind of way.If you’ve been feeling like you’re constantly dropping balls or wondering if you’re getting any of this right, this one’s for you.

Let’s be honest, when your child has a disability, it can feel like everything is riding on whether or not they hit that next milestone. Walking. Talking. Eating without aspirating. You name it.But what if I told you that focusing on the outcome might actually be making it harder to get there?In this episode, we unpack how obsessing over progress can quietly push you into survival mode, mess with your confidence, and leave you running on fumes.Trust me, this mindset shift might be the exact thing you didn’t know you needed, but will never want to live without again.

Book a Consult Call: https://lowerylifecoaching.com/consultcall/If you've ever caught yourself daydreaming about escaping, just getting in the car and driving away, even for a moment—you're not alone. In this episode, I’m getting real about the emotional weight many of us carry as moms of kids with disabilities.I’m talking about the messy, unspoken truth: the guilt, the shame, the pressure to be everything to everyone, and the deep exhaustion that makes you want to tap out. I’ll walk you through why your nervous system feels like it’s under attack even when nothing’s technically wrong, and why that feeling of “I can’t do this anymore” makes total sense.I’ll also break down why therapy might have helped you process the past—but coaching can give you the tools to move forward. This is your invitation to get out of survival mode and into something better, not perfect, not Instagram-worthy—just real.You’ll hear how acknowledging your feelings (instead of judging them) can lighten the load. And how small steps toward meeting your own needs aren’t selfish… they’re necessary.

Let’s be honest, when you’re raising a medically complex kid, the word “joy” can sometimes feel out of reach. But in this episode, we are here to change that.I sat down with the brilliant co-founders of Lemon Cake, Amber Pierson and Chelsea Kuhn, to talk about their community built by and for moms navigating the absolute rollercoaster of medically complex motherhood. In this episode, we talk about it all. We talk about rude comments from strangers, missing milestones, and learning how to see this life in a whole new light.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Follow them on Instagram → @makinglemoncakeLink to grab their new e-book Finding Joy in the Journey: https://www.makinglemoncake.com/shop/p/finding-joy-in-the-journey-book-instant-downloadOh, and because Lemon Cake loves you as much as I do, they’ve dropped a special treat for our listeners: Get 20% off their new e-book, “Finding Joy in the Journey,” with code OVERCOMETHEOVERWHELM at checkout.🎧 LISTEN IN IF YOU’RE READY TO:Feel way less alone in your hardLearn what “joy” can look like in the messy middleStop waiting for life to get easier before you let yourself enjoy itLaugh, cry, and feel seen (probably all at once)Because when life gives you lemons, make lemon cake.