Claim OwnershipThe Special Needs Mom Podcast
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Think of this podcast as your very own special needs mom support group--except it's helpful and fun! You will leave with the hope that you can have a super happy life even when your life includes parenting a medically complex child or a child with something like autism and ADHD.
You likely didn't ask to be the parent of a disabled child or to live portions of your life in the hospital NICU or PICU. Your story is unique; it’s hard to find a place where you belong or where you don't feel so isolated and alone. Your child might have a rare disease, be undiagnosed or experience something that almost everybody has heard of like Downs syndrome yet the weird thing is that whether your child has an intellectual disability or physical disability, the experience as a mother is so similar. So regardless of your child’s disability, we can all find a home in this community.
You find yourself managing everybody else's needs; your child, their siblings, and all the guilt that you have about that. All this has you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and dizzy---not knowing who to turn to or what to do next for help. This podcast is your lifeline, you’ll find encouragement and inspiration as we connect to other moms’ journeys. We’ll get practical and look at what it takes to stop feeling so stuck in your life.
You know this podcast is for you if you find yourself googling:
Overwhelmed special needs mom help
How to do self care as a special needs mom?
Dealing with anger as a special needs mom
How to manage special needs mom burnout and stress?
How do I deal with mom's guilt?
Help for myself as a special needs mom
How do I cope with a disabled child?
How do I manage the grief of my medically complex child?
How to keep from drowning as a caregiver
Support group for special needs mom or community for caregivers
I'm tired of taking care of my special needs child
Finding balance between my child’s needs and my own mamas needs
Respite and rest for special needs moms
202 Episodes
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Send us a Text Message.Here we are, we've reached 200 episodes! What an exciting milestone! Let's celebrate by getting deep and taking questions from you, my beloved community and friends. The questions range from deeply personal to practical and logistical. Even my kids weigh in. Thank you to everyone who messaged or commented with your questions. Much, much appreciated!Resources from this episode:Becoming Brave Together - Anthology with contributing author Kara RyskaOur YouTube channel now ...
Send us a Text Message.Get it? Just a little mom humor with my Lego Movie reference. I couldn't help myself. 🙂 In this short episode I share my thoughts around a concept that keeps coming up, both in my life and the life of my coaching clients. We talk about what's it's like to have an experience with your child and to feel seemingly contrary emotions at the same time. We tend to label then "good" and "hard". I would like to present another perspective.Mentioned in this episode:Becoming ...
Send us a Text Message.This conversation is a necessary and stimulating (pun intended) exchange between Cindy and myself. This podcast was created to serve and focus on you, the special needs mom, and this episode does exactly that. It implores you to connect to yourself and to what you need and to the sensations of your body.Cindy Scharkey is a nurse with over 3 decades of experience in healthcare. She is passionate about breaking the silence surrounding women’s sexuality and empowering pare...
Send us a Text Message.This week's episode is my ode to you, special needs mama. I share from my heart about our role as Mother, in all its complexity and beauty. My hope is that you feel validated, seen and honored.Happy Mother's Day! Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/Website: https://www.kararyska.com/Coaching OpportunitiesPathway to Peace {Group Coaching Program}: Schedule a Consult or Contact Me Jo...
Send us a Text Message.As you may or may not know, this episode is extra close to my heart, as my son has a disability with cancer at its center and Parvathy also has a similar experience. After both her children were diagnosed with multiple rare/ultra rare and nano rare diseases (some of which predispose them to cancer), Parvathy Krishnan dedicated her life to empowering people worldwide to advocate for themselves no matter their location or diagnosis. She is now a Rare Disease Special...
Send us a Text Message.This week's guest, Shelley Frappier, is a friend, single mother and former Pathway to Peace member. We talk all about her experience in Pathway to Peace, how she learned to connect with her feelings and how that one tool changed the trajectory of her life. She decided that she no longer wanted to be "unhappily happy". She knew that she wanted more for her life and for the life of her children so she took deliberate steps toward finding her joy again. Alongside her role ...
Send us a Text Message.Here we are, talking about anxiety again, because fear and worry are a regular part of our lives as special needs moms. I have to say, I feel like a bit of an imposter, because this is an area I still work on all of the time. On this solo episode, I am going to share a tool that I've created for us, to make managing our anxiety a little less like work and more like a game. Imagine turning your anxiety management into a game where each small practice, like self-talk or a...
Send us a Text Message.Are the endless tasks of motherhood, career & relationships leaving you buried under a pile of planners and post-it notes? Megan Sumrell, a life planning expert, CEO & founder of Pink Bee, joins me to talk about productivity and how we need to plan differently in order to live balanced and fulfilled lives. She brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to this conversation from her years teaching others how to optimize their businesses and personal lives. Megan'...
Send us a Text Message.We all have a giant stack of papers that are taunting us. The physical and mental to do's posted everywhere. The phone calls to make and the errands to run. It all piles up and we are left feeling anxious and frenetic. I had a morning this week where it all hit me at once, and I had to get myself back to center before I could be present for my day of coaching calls. I talk about how I do this for myself and for my coaching clients. I take you through a quick quiz and gi...
Send us a Text Message.I am honored to share today's episode with Donna Letier, co-founder and CEO of Gardenuity. Donna is a business woman, mother of two, advocate and caregiver for one of her daughter's and a genuinely kind human. She lives and breathes helping others through the power of nature and aims to make gardening accessible for everyone. We talk in this episode about work/life/caregiving balance, how we show our other children they are not forgotten, and of course about all of...
Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Kara gets vulnerable and shares about how she is reintegrating into her life after her son's unexpected ten day hospital stay. Her hope as you listen is that you will remember that you are not alone in the balancing act of survival mode and living a whole hearted life. We are all walking this winding road together. Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/Website: https...
Send us a Text Message.As a fellow traveler on the path of special needs motherhood, I found a kindred spirit in Effie Parks, a standout voice in the rare disease community who sat down with me for an honest, empowering conversation. Effie and I explore the sensitive topic of language and how it is used in our caregiving and advocacy. We challenge some common narratives we saw perpetuated through social media in 2023 and offer alternatives ways of thinking and relating to ourselves and each o...
Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we wrap up our series dedicated to trauma and how to cope with life's uncertainty. Learn how to harness the power of sensory grounding, strategic breath work, and even the right expression of anger to guide your nervous system back to a state of calm and presence. Each strategy we discuss is a step towards emotional well-being, designed to reinforce your sense of safety when the pressure rises. We share personal stories and practical advice that will le...
Send us a Text Message.As a parent raising a child with special needs, we experience unusual amounts of chronic trauma. Trauma therapist Meghann Crane-Russ, LCSW, PMH-C, is back this week, guiding us through the science and mechanisms behind our primal response to trauma. Strap in as we explore the complex terrain of the human brain, and prepare to gain a deeper understanding of your own responses in the face of fear. We will learn the difference between feelings and thoughts and why we ...
Send us a Text Message.Discover the hidden & evident impacts of trauma, and the pathways to healing with Meghann Crane-Russ. Meghann is a therapist who specializes in supporting parents navigating medical complexity, medical trauma, traumatic loss and grief. Prior to private practice, she was an inpatient medical social worker in pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care and also did some work in PEDS palliative care. We unravel together the complexities of "big T" and "li...
Send us a Text Message.Our brains are seeking to understand the traumatic experiences of our lives in an effort to keep us safe, both now and in the future. I can almost guarantee, if you are a special needs mom, you have experienced trauma. This trauma shakes our identity, creates false narratives about our role in it all, and disconnects us from ourselves and those around us. On this solo episode, we dissect the science based interconnection of trauma, shame and identity; how our body is pr...
Send us a Text Message.When life hands you a narrative you never expected, where do you find the script to follow? This question lingered in my mind as Kelley Coleman, the insightful author of "Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child," joined me to share her journey and the wisdom she's encapsulated in her guide for fellow parents. We peel back the layers of our personal transformations, discussing the complexities of medical care, education, and the emotional landscape t...
Send us a Text Message.Words like 'disability', 'differently abled', and 'identity-first language' might seem interchangeable, but as we peel back the layers, the significance of each term emerges, shaped by personal experiences and societal perceptions.The episode casts a light on the journey of understanding and accepting disability, not just as a concept, but as a profound aspect of human diversity. Sharing the intimate progression of my relationship with my son's disability, I open the fl...
Send us a Text Message.When the weight of perfectionism feels like a lead cloak, it's the raw, honest stories that can lift it off our shoulders. That's exactly what Kristin Faith Evans brings to our table this week, as we navigate the deeply personal terrain of motherhood to children with special needs. Her voice, a blend of vulnerability and strength, breaks through the silence on the mental health crisis among special needs moms, illuminating the tough yet rewarding journey that lies ahead...
Send us a Text Message.Hello and welcome to the podcast. Transitioning back to work after a break can feel like an uphill battle, even when you love what you do. My personal strategy to overcome this, involves a trio of 'C's; method I delve into with heartfelt honesty. Join me as we navigate these waters together, finding strength in community and the shared quest for a year filled with intention and growth. Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:Instagram: https://www....
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