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In this episode, I’m sharing a rough day I had when something totally unexpected threw me off. I won’t go into details (to respect my son’s privacy), but I was left feeling embarrassed and powerless. Ever been there?

This led me to the idea of self-care in advance—basically, planning ahead for those stressful moments we know are coming, like IEP meetings or doctor’s appointments. I talk about how prepping for these events can make a huge difference, even if it’s as simple as planning an easy dinner or giving yourself a break. 

Listen and learn how planning your self-care before chaos hits is a game changer! 

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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In this episode, I sit down with Andie Torres, a fellow special needs mom, author, and "maker of pretty things" for this podcast. Andie shares her journey as a special needs mom, how she is learning to let go of the need to control everything, and the importance of having compassion for those inside and outside of the disability community. She shares a story of how advocating for her son’s health, despite pushback, ultimately saved his life. We also talk about what she has learned in her unique co-parenting dynamic and how they have learned to share their fears and build trust with each other. 

This episode offers valuable insights with a mix of honesty, humor and warmth for everyone. Tune in and join the conversation!

Connect with our Guest, Andie Torres
Instagram: @we.are.takingcare
Website: www.wearetakingcare.com
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@taking_care


Resources from the episode:

Book: Becoming Brave Together: Heroic, extraordinary caregiving stories from mothers hidden in plain sight

We Are Brave Together Organization

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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Why do we find ourselves on the fringe? Why do we find ourselves alone even though we so deeply want to belong? In this episode we look at why we feel isolated inside the diagnoses communities of our kids. I share my personal experience with my family at Oncology & Kids Camp (OAK) this last weekend and why this was our only our first year here, even though Levi's first tumor was 13 years ago. Opting into a community can bring connection, support, and a sense of belonging, even when your experience feels so different than others. 

Connect with Oncology & Kids Camp (OAK):
https://oncologyandkids.org/

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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In this candid episode, I sit around a virtual table and catch up with a group of incredible moms from our community. They share their personal stories, discuss the challenges they faced this summer, and offer each other (and you) support and encouragement. This episode is all about being known, seen, and supported in the journey of raising children with special needs.

Fun Fact:Three of our four guests (Lora, Rachel & Andie) are all contributing authors to the anthology I am also an author in, Becoming Brave Together.


Connect With Our Community Huddle Guests:

Lora DeMello @colormesmiling18
Elisa Hill @elisalhill
Rachel Alves @alvesmomkickingcask
Andie Torres @we.are.takingcare


Connect With We Are Brave Together:

• Join the Community: Connect with the "We Are Brave Together" group on Facebook, where moms can find a safe supportive space to share their experiences without judgment.
• Participate in the 5K: Sign up for the annual 5K event, whether locally or virtually, to support the cause and help reach the goal of 300 participants.
• Read the Anthology: Explore the "We Are Brave Together" anthology, a collection of stories that offer hope and solidarity to moms in the special needs community.
• Dive into Self Care:  Does self care ever seem either superficial or way too much work? That's why this free resource was created. It's a list of 72 "bite size" ideas for you to make your self care practical, meaningful and attainable 
• Binge the work of WABT 

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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In this episode we delve into the transition from the chaos of summer to the stability of fall. I candidly share my own struggles during the summer, particularly around unmet needs for my disabled son, Levi, and offer hope and practical advice for making this seasonal shift smoother for special needs families like mine.

I introduce the concept of “closing the last chapter” before moving forward and emphasize the importance of intentional reflection on the summer season. By assessing what worked, what didn’t, and what can be done differently, I encourage you to create a plan for a more stable and fulfilling fall.

Ready to make the shift from summer to stable? Join me, Kara, in the Pathway to Peace coaching community and be part of a supportive community that understands the unique challenges of special needs parenting. We are shifting to an even more connected and community based feel, think a coffee date with friends. Introductory pricing is available for a limited time for early birds!  Reach out to Kara for more details.

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text

In this episode, we are exploring the transformative tool of AI, specifically ChatGPT, and how it can be a game changer for caregivers and special needs moms. From streamlining tasks, to assisting with paperwork and medical bills, to enhancing email communication, discover how this tech can be your new best friend. 

We hope this episode inspires you to explore the capabilities of AI and how it can simplify your life! 

Join The Email List to stay connected to what's happening within the community and on the pod!

Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite streaming platform.

Share Your Stories: We’d love to hear how you've used AI in your life! Share your experiences on social media and tag @thespecialneedsmompodcast!

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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In honor of our Summer Sabbath Challenge, we are taking time to invest in rest. To give us more space and time we are rebroadcasting previous episodes for June & July. This is the last episode in the series and it is a companion episode to Reclaiming Your Life: The Journey from Helpless to Empowered, last week's episode.

This is a rebroadcast of Episode 105 that aired September of 2022.

 In today's episode, I talk about ways we can rewrite the narrative and take responsibility for our emotions, even in this difficult circumstances we face as special needs moms.

First, we need to distinguish between facts and our interpretations. I share a few examples of facts in our life and some negative interpretations that our brains often jump to. The key in taking back control is to realize that while we can't control the situations (facts) in our lives, we can control how we relate to these things that are happening.

I hope this episode gives you a different outlook on how to be in these tough times. As always, feel free to message me if you want to dig into this topic more on a one-on-on basis.

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text

In honor of our Summer Sabbath Challenge, we are taking time to invest in rest. To give us more space and time we are rebroadcasting previous episodes for June & July. Stick around! I am bringing back some really well received episodes that I know you'll enjoy!

This is a rebroadcast of Episode 103 that aired September of 2022. 

In this week episode, I'm diving into a topic that came to me from a client's suggestion. It's the idea of the opposing ways we can find ourselves; being at cause/ having choice & being at effect/feeling like the victim. Today, I'm specifically talking about the many ways we can find ourselves in the victim role because of our choices and circumstances.

For now, be sure to take my personal examples and notes and to reflect on your own life as a special needs mom.

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text

In honor of our Summer Sabbath Challenge, we are taking time to invest in rest. To give us more space and time we are rebroadcasting previous episodes for June & July. Stick around! I am bringing back some really well received episodes that I know you'll enjoy!

This is a rebroadcast of Episode 24 that aired February 2021.

This week, l'm talking about a topic that I feel very passionate about, self love. Often people (especially in the Christian faith) look down on self love because it's considered conceited and we're putting God below ourselves. I'm taking this idea of self love to be more practical in ways like regulating our emotions and maintaining a good relationship with your body.

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text

In honor of our Summer Sabbath Challenge, we are taking time to invest in rest. To give us more space and time we are rebroadcasting previous episodes for June & July. Stick around! I am bringing back some really well received episodes that I know you'll enjoy!

This is a rebroadcast of Episode 78 that aired March 2022.

This weeks episode is shedding some light on toxic positivity. I think we all have experienced this in one way or another although we may not realize it. It looks like someone saying, "Everything will be okay" or "You need to focus on the positive!"

While I will never underestimate the power of hope and positive thinking, it becomes toxic when others (or even you are using positivity to cover up negative emotions or events in our lives. We have to have a balance and be able to feel the wide range of emotions to make it through these events.

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/