Unexceptional Moms

From the show: For me (Ellen), dealing with my daughter's diagnosis of Down syndrome was a period of time where I struggled in my Faith. My constant question to God during those first few weeks was, "Why?!" Erin and I discuss the good that has come from our lives. We have more empathy and are more compassionate. We are able to minister to others. We've grown in our faith. We are different people as God has used this journey to refine us. We know God in a  different way. We have become strong advocates helping not just our kids but others too. We've learned more about friendship. We've learned to ask for help. How we have dealt with disappointment and challenges: Keep going through the motions. Holding on to the fact that God's goodness is not dependent on our circumstances. Breath prayers. Inviting people to pray for us. Worship. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8 We do not need refuge when things are going well and life is easy. we take refuge when the storms of life threaten to overtake us, and it is in these times that we can taste and see that the Lord is good.

Welcome to episode 2 of the . Today, Erin and I are talking about what keeps us from taking care of us as special needs parents. As always, if you would rather watch us, you can find the podcast on . Or, you can find us on ! From the show: What keeps us from taking care of us? Guilt: We carry so much guilt about everything! We mention the Facebook Live video on guilt. Time: We are so busy. Child Care: It’s hard to find childcare when your child has a disability. Kara Deidert has a phenomenal resource on Respite called, “The Insiders Guide to Respite.” It is a free resource for parents who need a break and a solution to make it happen! Money: Many of us have limited resources, and sometimes by the time you pay a sitter you don’t have anything left over to go on a date, go to the gym, or invest in you Exhaustion: We are too tired. Lack of self-esteem. Depression: The incidence of depression in parents of kids with disabilities. It is hard to ask for help. Why is it important to take care of ourselves? We are better parents, we have more fun, the hard days don’t affect us as much because we know we are going to get a breather. We need our sanity! We need rest, which in turn helps us have more energy. We need to be there for our families and take care of them. What would happen if by neglecting taking care of myself I no longer can care for my family and my kids? Ways to care for ourselves in different areas. Spiritual: It needs to be easy and it needs to be meaningful. Online devotionals. Jesus Calling. Erin uses an App called Through the Word. Worship music. Finding a place to worship. Physical: It doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym, we are aiming for easy and meaningful. Exercise. Take your dog on a walk. Dance with your kids! Emotional: What gives you life. Things that you love to do, like reading, coloring, photography. Remember the things you loved to do before you had kids. Book recommendations from the show: By Gillian Marchenko by Gillian Marchenko Practical: The Survival Guide Freebie! And of course we have a freebie for you today, “The Special Needs Parent Survival Guide.” With 13 practical ways to help you take care of you. And because we know you are busy, these are simple, easy, and effective to help you find peace in the midst of chaos. Get the Survival Guide!

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Unexceptional Moms Podcast. Today, Erin and I are talking about the podcast and why we named it, “Unexceptional Moms.” We introduce ourselves briefly and since kids are back in school and it’s only the beginning of the school year, we discuss 10 ways  to foster a positive relationship with […] The post appeared first on .