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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. Stick around! I am bringing back some really well received episodes that I know you'll enjoy!

This is a rebroadcast of Episode 131 that aired February 2023.

Do you find yourself blowing up at your kids? Losing your cool with your spouse? You are not alone. In this episode, I give you some ways to dig into this and get more curious about why you're acting this way.

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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. Stick around! I am bringing back some really well received episodes that I know you'll enjoy!

This is a rebroadcast of Episode 164 that aired in September of 2023. 

In this episode of the Special Needs Mom Podcast, we delve into distinguishing between ‘hard things’ and ‘suffering.’ It’s a journey of resilience, a shift from suffering to self-compassion, from being mired in guilt, judgment, shame, and resistance to steering clear of them. We’re called to face difficult and often unpleasant emotions, but suffering doesn’t have to be our default response.

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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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It's the launch of our summer sabbath series! Kara discusses how summer will look different on the pod over the summer months and invites you to join her in her season of rest. The episode ends with some "extra credit" for you to get you through change of pace that having our kiddos out of school creates.

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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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Fellow brain cancer mama and podcast host, Wendy Taylor, sat down with me this week to talk about the call that changed everything, what it's like to prepare our teenage boys for adulthood and how the educational system can work to more seamlessly support our special needs kids in learning and life. 

Wendy is a certified Educational Therapist, Orton-Gillingham practitioner, Educational Diagnostician, and IEP Coach.  Her podcast is dedicated to empowering parents and professionals in the special education process while her business, Learning Essentials, is designed to meet each student's unique needs. Wendy is your partner in bridging learning gaps and accessing vital special education services.

I am honored to have shared this conversation with Wendy and to connect on our shared journey of raising sons who have battled brain cancer.



Connect with Wendy:
Instagram - www.instagram.com/learningessentials/
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-taylor-7106b6a6/
Facebook - www.facebook.com/TutoringLE
Website - www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com
Podcast - Special Ed Strategist® Podcast

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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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This episode is an oldie, but a goodie. We explore how hard it is to remove our identity from the actions and behaviors of our children, how it isn't a reflection of our parenting and how we can give away our power to the opinions of others. I invite you to look within yourself and ask some uncomfortable questions to find a place of acceptance and relief. 

**In an effort to honor my personal needs and the needs of my family, I am re-airing an episode I recorded a few years ago. You know, sometimes life just demands more of us and I want to honor that and not over burden myself.**

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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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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 Ryska
Our YouTube channel now has video (but not this week)
Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller
Ashley Barlow  website |  podcast |  instagram
You Need a Budget Phone App

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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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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 Brave Together
Video Now on YouTube
Text the show

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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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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 parents to be their child’s sexual health educator. Through her podcast, Permission for Pleasure, as well as her workshops, newsletter and consultations, she desires to provide the holistic sex education that every woman needs to experience more pleasure.


Resources from this episode
Esther Perel
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron


Connect with our guest, Cindy Scharkey
Website www.cindyscharkey.com
Instagram @cindyscharkey
Facebook @scharkeycindy
Podcast Permission for Pleasure www.cindyscharkey.com/podcast

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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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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!

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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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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 Specialist and healthcare professional with a Masters in Clinical Nutrition. She is also an expert in Patient Advocacy and Patient caregiver education. I am honored to speak with her about her experience with her children and the intersection of cancer and rare disease.

Connect with our guest, Parvathy Krishnan
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parvathy_r_krishna/
linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvathy-raman-krishnan

 

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/