BABIES DOWN, BOTTLES UP

For White Cane Awareness Day and Blindness equality achievement Month, we're talking about something many blind people have a complicated history with: the long white cane. Whether you've carried one proudly, kept it folded in your bag, or avoided using it altogether, chances are you have a story to tell.

This week, Kisha, Terrin, and Josselyn, along with producer Danny, share their personal journeys with cane shame, learning to travel independently, and the experiences that finally changed their relationships with their canes. From Josselyn and Terrin learning to embrace cane travel while pursuing guide dogs, to Kisha discovering a new level of confidence at a blindness training center, the crew reflects on how their attitudes toward mobility have changed over the years.

We also get into the differences between sighted and blind orientation and mobility instructors, learning through structured discovery versus memorizing routes, and whether smart canes and newer technology can truly replace traditional cane skills. And because this is BDBU, you know there are stories! Kisha recalls falling into a ravine and needing a rope rescue, Terrin shares how she accidentally walked into a stranger's apartment, and Danny remembers the time his cane snapped in half in New York City.

Whether you're just beginning to use a white cane, still struggling with cane shame, or have years of independent travel under your belt, this conversation offers plenty of laughs, familiar experiences, and some perspective on what it takes to feel comfortable traveling on your own terms.

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Episode 107 is an in-house episode, which means Danny is bringing the clips and Kisha, Terrin, and Josselyn have plenty to say about them.

The crew gets into a viral custody dispute after a dad sends his girlfriend to drop off his kids while their mom is out of town, then tackles a complicated surrogacy case involving a serious fetal diagnosis, a termination agreement, and a surrogate who refuses to follow through. That conversation opens up a larger discussion about disability, how quickly people place limits on the lives of disabled children, and what prospective parents should be prepared to accept when choosing to have a child.

Things lighten up with kids talking back, profanity, and figuring out where parents draw the line between allowing children to express themselves and teaching them when, where, and how certain language is appropriate. Then the conversation turns serious again when a blind mom shares an uncomfortable Uber ride with her daughter. The crew breaks down rideshare safety, invasive questions about blindness, drivers touching or moving children without permission, where blind parents should sit in the vehicle, and why trusting your gut can matter when something about a situation feels wrong.

They close with a difficult family situation involving a seven-year-old grieving the sudden death of his father, continued contact with his younger sibling and his father's former girlfriend, and the discovery that she has already moved a new boyfriend into the home. How soon is too soon, what does the child's mother deserve to know, and whose needs should be driving these decisions while a child is still processing the loss of a parent?

Somehow, Hennessy conception stories, expensive white canes, TSA drama, tequila lemonade, and the possibility of being haunted by your dead boyfriend also make their way into the conversation. Because apparently Episode 107 had room for all of it.

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Part 2 of our homeschool series is here, and we're getting the long term view.

Leanne and Tyler Merren join Kisha, Terrin, and Josselyn to talk about what it looks like to homeschool for the long haul. They share why they made the switch in the first place, how finding a real homeschool community changed everything for them, and what discipline and structure actually look like when you're both teacher and parent. They also get into the payoff, the independence their kids have built, the life skills that came with it, and the moments that made all of it worth it.

This one's for anyone wondering what homeschooling looks like once the early years are behind you. Hit play.

Learn more about homeschool laws and resources at HSLDA.

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Y'all, we finally got into it: can a blind parent actually homeschool their kids?

Alex Cortez and Kristi Yang join Kisha, Terrin, and Josselyn for the whole conversation. Curriculum picks, how teaching duties get split with a sighted or blind husband, and why "unschooling" looks different in every house. PDFs read through headphones. Play-Doh standing in for handwriting practice. Shaving cream turned into a spelling lesson straight from Terrin's own playbook with Scarlett, plus the story of how a Barnes & Noble trip became an accidental independence lesson.

They get into why each family chose this route in the first place, what the actual laws require depending on your state, and why "socialization" might be the most overused word in this whole conversation. Co-ops, church, and a packed activity schedule cover that just fine.

If you're blind and you've ever wondered whether homeschool is even on the table for your family, this episode is your answer. Hit play.

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Y'all, Kisha is stuck out in Colorado Springs for nationals, so Terrin and Josselyn take the wheel and crowns her a prisoner of the skies. Then our Mom of the Month walks in and takes over.

Meisha of Meisha's Music Element is a small town North Carolina girl and a longtime listener who found us while she was pregnant. She came ready. Why she defends residential blind schools, the saxophone she never could have afforded, and the fire alarm she set off frying chicken for the first time. Marrying her high school sweetheart and finding out the hard way what marriage does to SSI. Losing the rest of her vision in 2020 and the depression that came with it.

Then the twist. After gastric bypass, she went in thinking she had a hernia and walked out 13 weeks pregnant. She gets into saying no to a C-section she did not need, the Uber ride to the hospital, her totally blind husband cutting the cord, and the pediatric appointment where staff talked to her mother in law instead of her. Terrin drops the line worth writing down somewhere: hospital policy is not law.

Baby Mia is one now and into everything. Meisha still records her podcast at midnight with a screen reader on her phone. Not for followers. To prove a point.

Hit play. This one moves.

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We're finally back around the table, and this catch-up was long overdue. We jump into the viral "five things totally worth the money" trend, each putting their own spin on it. Kisha shares the blind mom purchases she swears by, including AirTags and a robot vacuum that help keep life running a little smoother. Josselyn is covering fashion and beauty, explaining why investing in a good foundation and finding the right pair of nude heels can make all the difference. Terrin rounds things out with the homemaking purchases she'd buy again in a heartbeat, from quality cookware to sheets that actually make you want to crawl into bed at the end of the day.

Of course, the conversation doesn't stay there for long. The ladies swap stories about kids spending time with their grandparents over the summer, the excitement and stress of teaching a teenager to drive, and what a perfect night off really looks like when you're a busy mom. Expect plenty of laughs, a few side quests, and the kind of conversations that feel like catching up with friends after everyone's been way too busy.

If you've missed hanging out with the BDBU crew, this is the perfect episode to jump back in. You might even walk away with your next favorite purchase along the way.

Purchase our Blind Parenting Bundle:
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Connect with Babies Down, Bottles Up

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What does it actually take to build something that outlasts you? In Part 2 of our conversation with entrepreneur, husband, father, and blind dad Vission Cooper, the talk moves past the business wins and into the mindset behind them, the marriage, the mistakes, and the reason he calls it all legacy.

Danny sets up each moment of the conversation for listeners, adding context as Vission unpacks what he's learned building multiple businesses, raising his kids, and creating opportunities for other blind entrepreneurs along the way. From his views on the American dream to the role communication played in his marriage, Vission gets honest about what actually paid off.

You'll also hear how he met his wife, Rel, at the school for the blind, how the two of them built a life from a packed one-bedroom apartment with barely any privacy, and how becoming parents changed the way he shows up as a partner. It's a raw look at insecurity, support, and what it means to build something bigger than yourself.

Josselyn and Terrin get in on it too, talking about what it would take to launch a business idea of their own, sparked by the conversation. By the end, the episode makes one thing clear: entrepreneurship isn't just about the money. It's about solving problems and leaving people better off than you found them.

To learn more about Vission, explore his businesses, or connect with him directly, visit visioncooper.com. You can also check out Access Your Place and keep an eye out for what's next, including 420 Wellness and a few other projects in the works.

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Meet Vision Cooper, a blind entrepreneur, artist, husband, father, and the definition of someone who's learned that success means a whole lot more than what's sitting in a bank account.

In this episode, we sit down with Vision to talk about building businesses, raising a family, and the life lessons that completely changed how he measures success. As the owner of 14 businesses, Vision shares how he spent years chasing the next opportunity until a conversation with our own Josselyn made him stop and rethink what really mattered. That shift changed the way he approaches fatherhood, marriage, and the legacy he's building for his children.

We also get into what it's like raising kids as a blind dad, how he and his wife refuse to let society place limits on their family, and why teaching resilience starts at home. Vision opens up about the work ethic that drives him, the importance of showing up for the people you love, and how he's creating opportunities not just for himself, but for others.

Plus, we dive into his wellness company, 420 Wellness, where he's helping people explore alternative approaches to health and wellness while challenging the way many people think about health and wellness.

This conversation is honest, funny, thought-provoking, and full of the kind of perspective that sticks with you long after the episode ends. Whether you're a parent, an entrepreneur, or someone trying to find a healthier balance between work and family, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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100 episodes later, and we're still walking away inspired. ❤️ In this special bonus episode, Kisha, Terrin, and Josselyn look back on one unforgettable convention filled with laughter, connection, and moments that reminded them why this community means so much. From kids experiencing the excitement of being surrounded by other blind people, to dreaming about a future with autonomous travel through the CyberTaxi, to meeting listeners who have become friends, this conversation is all about celebrating the people, technology, and experiences that continue to move the blind community forward. Whether you were there or missed it, come relive the memories with us as we reflect on a weekend we'll never forget.

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Take the systems built by blind parents to make your life easier and help set your family up for success.
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Connect with Babies Down, Bottles Up:

📧 Email: [email protected]
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🎙 Patreon: https://patreon.com/babiesdownbottlesup
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🎵 TikTok: @babies_down_bottles_up
𝕏 X: @bdbupod

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100 episodes. Can you believe it? 🥂 We're celebrating this milestone with a special live episode featuring returning favorite Tremaine and a young listener from Florida.. We look back at how Babies Down, Bottles Up went from an idea to a community that's helping change the narrative around blind parenting, answer your questions about the podcast, share the story behind our name, play Name That Tune, create absolute chaos with BDBU Mad Libs, compare our favorite lip combos, and spend some time reflecting on the journey that's brought us here. We also have an honest conversation about navigating public perception and the intrusive questions blind moms still face today. Thank you for being part of these 100 episodes. Here's to the next 100.

Purchase our Blind Parenting Bundle: Take the systems built by blind parents to make your life easier and set your family up for success.
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