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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 as mother, she is also part of the executive team of The Cute Syndrome Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to serving children, like her son Nico, with a diagnosis of SCN8A and their families. We talk about the value of diagnosis specific communities and the honor I have of working with a SCN8A specific Pathway to Peace cohort.

Resources from this Episode:
Mitchell Thorpe Foundation

Connect with our Guest, Shelley Frappier:
previous episode: Episode 743: Stories Like Yours Recorded On-Site at Global Genes Conference
The Cute Syndrome Foundation

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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, 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 an easy stroll, earns you points towards a more settled mind. I'll guide you through 10 of the 24 strategies that can help maintain and restore your personal "health meter". From the simplicity of staying hydrated to the invigorating shock of cold therapy, we cover the spectrum of techniques that can anchor you in the present moment and regulate your physiology. I encourage you to integrate these practices into your daily life, using the bingo card as a fun and tangible way to track your progress and celebrate your wins.

Resources from this episode:
Download Your Anxiety Bingo Card Here!
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Episode 189: Bringing Balance Back to the Language of Disability with Effie Parks

Trauma Series with Meghann Crane-Russ
Episode 187: Understanding Trauma As A Gateway to Healing
Episode 188: Trauma In The Body, In The Mind, & In Our Lives
Episode 189: Trauma Recovery Resources for the Special Needs Mom
Connect with Meghann Crane-Russ

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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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's insights resonate deeply, as a special needs mom herself, offering strategies to navigate the overwhelming demands of our lives without the guilt.

This conversation with Megan is an honest reflection on the complexities of modern life, where the digital world begs for our attention. Where crossing things off our list often leaves us feeling anxious and like we are never getting it all done. Here, you'll find practical tools that promise more presence and less pressure, so you can savor the moments that matter most and even find fun for yourself. Megan ends with a poignant reminder that you are more than 'just a mom'—you're a woman of multifaceted identity, deserving of self-care, recognition & support. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Redeeming Heartache
Book by Dr. Dan Allender and Cathy Loerzel

Asking for Help:
Episode 122: A Little Discomfort for a Whole Lot of Help (Asking for Support)

Connect with our Guest, Megan Sumrell:
Website:  www.megansumrell.com
Podcast: www.megansumrell.com/podcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/megansumrell
Instagram: www.instagram.com/megansumrell/
Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/msumrell/
Youtube:  www.youtube.com/c/WorkLifeHarmonyPodcast

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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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 give you practical steps to shift your state and outlook moving ahead. I believe that peace is possible for you. I know you can leave the heaviness behind. I've seen it happen for others and I know it is possible for you too. 

References from this episode:

Trauma series with Meghann Crane - Russ
Episodes 186: Understanding Trauma as a Gateway to Healing
Episode 187: Trauma in the Body, in the Mind, and in our Lives
Episode 188: Trauma Recovery Resources for the Special Needs Mom

Trauma resources from Meghann Crane - Russ

Dr. David  Bilstrom
Episode 149: Healing from the Inside Can Be Simple with Dr. Bilstrom

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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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 the beautiful important and necessary need to care for ourselves and how gardening can help us do just that. Donna also shares her top three tips for being the CEO of your home and/or business. 

Thank you, Donna, for sharing your wisdom, and to all the listeners, may you find the seeds of hope as you grow something good in your life.


Connect with Donna:

Website: www.gardenuity.com
B2B Website: www.gardenuityforbusiness.com
LinkedIn: /Gardenuity
Instagram: @gardenuity
Facebook: /Gardenuity
TikTok: @gardenuity

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, 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. 

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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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 other. 

Effie also shares her exciting new initiative, Once Upon a Gene Therapy. Her mission is to empower fellow caregivers, through walking, to remember who they are and find strength through movement & community. 

Connect with Effie Parks:

Effie Parks doesn't mind being called "strong": Article

Once Upon A Gene Podcast: Spotify

Once Upon A Gene Podcast: Apple

Once Upon A Gene Therapy: Walking Club FB Group

Once Upon A Gene Instagram

Once Upon A Gene Website

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 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 leave you equipped to handle life's storms with self-compassion and confidence. We conclude by emphasizing community as a fundamental need and another pathway to healing your trauma.

>>>Click here to download the resources mentioned in this episode<<<

Connect with our Guest, Meghann Crane-Russ:
Noticing Growth, website
Instagram

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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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 explode into fight or flight or withdraw into freeze or collapse. Learning how our 'downstairs' and 'upstairs' brains interact when faced with said trauma will help us to understand ourselves more deeply, while giving us the hope that we can live a more present and connected life. 

This episode is packed full of science, with plenty of everyday examples to us understand. For us visual learners, Meghann has provided resources to use while listening to help pull all of the concepts together. 

>>>Click here to Download the Resources mentioned in the episode!<<<


Connect with our Guest, Meghann Crane-Russ:
Noticing Growth, website
Instagram

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

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 "little t" trauma and the grief that countless families face. Meghann's profound understanding of the brain and body's response to trauma not only sheds light on the subject but also plants seeds of hope for anyone navigating the road to recovery. Together we explore a message of resilience, affirming that through compassion, understanding and insight, healing from trauma is not just a possibility but a journey well within our reach.

>>>Click here to download trauma resources<<<

Resources from this episode:

Bessel van de Kolk M.D.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Paul Conti
Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic: How Trauma Works and How We Can Heal From It

Connect with our Guest, Meghann Crane-Russ:
Noticing Growth, website
Instagram

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/