aVERY BRIGHT LIFE

Our goal as parents is to give our kids the skills they'll need to live as independently as possible. In this episode we share four fabulous tools that help do just that. We chat about:

These tools make up part of our ever growing Life Skills Toolkit. We think each of them is a winner winner chicken dinner! Mmmmm chicken... (this random reference will make sense when you listed to the chicken restaurant story. I'm still laughing. And licking my greasy fingers). 

Be sure to visit the Mydoh website to learn more and to start a FREE trial. If you end up joining, you can use the code AveryBrightLife10 (code expires Dec. 31, 2022) to get $10 added to your account to get you started. 

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us on Instagram or send us an email. Or, show off your techie prowess and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: mental health, take a break, self care, burned out, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

The title doesn't explain what this episode is about at all. I'm terrible at titles. This episode is about how freaking hard it is to let our disabled teens shop or run errands independently. I give examples of WHY it's problematic (and dangerous at times) and what we're doing to make it work. 

Here's the Insta Reel where I follow Avery and her friends to the store so she can shop independently, but safely.

Episode 9: Abuse In The Disability Community

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us on Instagram or send us an email. Or, show off your techie prowess and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: mental health, take a break, self care, burned out, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

Five friends join in on this episode to share some of the remarks made about them in the past that have been impossible to shake. We should never be commenting on people's bodies, appearances, mannerisms, differences or anything really. 

This is also the episode where I talk about how to effectively and respectfully address our kids' questions about differences when we're out in public. And I also may burst into some Quiet Riot. 

As mentioned in this episode: @ableismistrash

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us old-timey style by commenting on our podcast page. Or show us your techie and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: mental health, take a break, self care, burned out, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

Disability mamas and parents in general have a lot going on and we don't have a lot of extra mental space to work with. This episode is about the 10 ways I've found to help clear out some of the clutter and free up some much needed head space.

* Adult Language

Gift Hiding Hack

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us old-timey style by commenting on our podcast page. Or show us your techie and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: mental health, take a break, self care, burned out, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

Sometimes parents of kids with disabilities, or all parents I'm assuming, struggle with when it's appropriate to step in and went to step back. I personally really struggle with this. These are my thoughts about when stepping in is helpful for our kids and peers who might need some insight into how to interact positively with people with disabilities. And when we should step back and let our kids figure it out.

Links Mentioned In This Episode:

Sometimes I Speak For My Disabled Child And Here's Why

How To Authentically Introduce Your Atypical Child To Typical Peers

Put A Disabilities Script In Your Parenting Toolbox

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us old-timey style by commenting on our podcast page. Or show us your techie and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: mental health, take a break, self care, burned out, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

Reflections on some self-care attempts—exposing which went well and which crashed and burned. This episode is longer than most, but I had a lot to talk about. Not all of it is flattering, but nobody wants sunshine all the time. Some days it rains. Which helps the flowers grow, er, whatever. You know what I mean. LOL! 

Links mentioned in this episode:

Self-Care for Caregivers How-To 

The Insomnia Project Podcast 

How to send all unwanted cell calls straight to voicemail

The End Of My Booze Cruise

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us old-timey style by commenting on our podcast page. Or show us your techie and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: mental health, take a break, self care, burned out, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

We're back from summer hiatus and we have loads to tell you! This episode begins with updates... what happened this summer (and there was a lot) and ends with our FIVE whys. WHY do we do this podcast. Like for real, what's the point? Plus, that biiiiiiiiiig announcement. The suspense, right? :) 

As mentioned in this episode, here are the creators to check out:

Episode 97 of The Rare Life Podcast (the one where Madeline chats with Melissa) 

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us old-timey style by commenting on our podcast page. Or show us your techie and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: mental health, take a break, self care, burned out, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

We're taking a SUMMER BREAK! We'll be back with brand new episodes in the fall. This final episode before taking a much needed pool side popsicle break is about why we ALL need a break and how feeling burned out and bitey is something so many of us are feeling right about now. 

See you back here September 1st! 

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us old-timey style by commenting on our podcast page. Or show us your techie and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

****

Keywords for searchy-ness: mental health, take a break, self care, burned out, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

Is it rude to discuss somebody's disability? Maybe in some cases. But not when the discussion is intended to educate your kids about what a particular disability might involve. When people, kids especially, are rude or judgmental, it’s usually coming from a place of fear. I’ve found a great remedy for fear is to simply provide a little understanding and context. By knowing what’s up, the fear disappears and connections are more easy to make. 

This episode is about how and why you might want to prep your kids before hanging out with a person with a disability. 

Bonus: Avery's cousins and aunt join us for this episode!

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us old-timey style by commenting on our podcast page. Or show us your techie and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster

I wanted to call this episode "Genes, Genes, What Do They Means?" But I'm keeping it serious. Well, serious-ish. This is a quick and dirty explanation of what DNA is, what genes do, and how chromosomes work—with a bit about how rare chromosome disorders can occur and specifically, what Avery's rare chromosome deletion and duplication syndrome looks like. 

Full Disclosure. I am not a scientist. Or as I said in the episode... "science tits." LOL! 

All about Genetic Testing

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This podcast was recorded in Garageband and edited by Lisa Thornbury.

Read more and find the transcript for this episode at averybrightlife.com.

And, come chat with us on social! No seriously, c'mon over! It's fun there.

Instagram: @LisaThornbury

Facebook: aVERY Bright life

Twitter: @LisaThornbury

Questions or Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Have a comment, question, episode suggestion or just want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you! Message us old-timey style by commenting on our podcast page. Or show us your techie and leave an AUDIO message via the Anchor messaging button! We might even use your voice message in an upcoming episode!

Thanks for listening. 💜

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Keywords for searchy-ness: genetic testing, genetics, rare chromosome disorder day, disability, disabled kids, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, parenting, special needs, epilepsy, seizures, hypotonia, chromosome disorder, speech delay, end ableism, disability family, parenting podcast, mother daughter podcast, kid podcaster,