When Autumn Comes: Seasons of Hope for Medical + Disability Moms

Have you ever wondered if the world would treat your children differently if their disability was lesser or greater, physical or intellectual, or maybe even something as "simple" as whether or not they could smile? Today's mom, Kimberly, has four boys - two of which have disabilities. One has a physical disability and the other has an intellectual disability. This gives her family a very unique perspective on this sometimes rocky journey of parenthood.

Topics we talked about that you do not want to miss:

• Intellectual disability vs. physical disability
• Facing questions about terminating because "something is wrong"
• You will innately love your child no matter what
• Special Education Teacher turned Special Needs Mom
• Communicating with teachers

Links and resources:

• For more information on feed tubes: www.feedingtubeawareness.org
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Join the WAC Society to talk about all things pod related: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Catch up with Suz: @suzgeoghegan on insta
• See what Diane is up to: @diane.kay.erdman on insta

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories from other members of our medical and disabled community.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review! Thank You!

Oh hey, bonus content: We are dishing on our childhood celebrity crushes and comparing them to our husbands!

Links and resources:

• Follow Suz: @suzgeoghegan
• Follow Di: @diane.kay.erdman
• Join the conversation: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review? Thanks!

Today we are talking with a Special Education teacher who has seen so many inclusive changes throughout her 42 years of teaching. Lou talks to us today about how fought for changes for her kids, how she pushed her students to be the best they can be, and how she created a special education student-run coffee shop that has led to kids finding jobs throughout our community!

Topics we talked about that you do not want to miss:

• Hidden talents + sass
• How inclusion changed throughout her career
• Ask questions about their abilities
• Experiences outside of the classroom
• RiverBucks

Links and resources:

• For more information on feed tubes: www.feedingtubeawareness.org
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Join the WAC Society to talk about all things pod related: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Catch up with Suz: @suzgeoghegan on insta
• See what Diane is up to: @diane.kay.erdman on insta

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories from other members of our medical and disabled community.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review! Thank You!

Sarah is stepping in as a guest co-hostess this week to talk with Suz about anticipatory grief. Both of these mamas have two children with life threatening diseases. Both mamas are incredibly open and honest about a form of grief that is rarely discussed.

Topics we talked about that you do not want to miss:

• Balancing fear and hope
• Grief paired with mom-guilt
• Symptoms of Anticipatory Grief: fear, anxiety, rehearsal of death
• Anticipatory grief vs. Grief after loss
• Social Media
• Coping with anticipatory grief

Links and resources:

• For more information on feed tubes: www.feedingtubeawareness.org
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Join the WAC Society to talk about all things pod related: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Catch up with Suz: @suzgeoghegan on insta
• See what Diane is up to: @diane.kay.erdman on insta

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories from other members of our medical and disabled community.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review! Thank You!

It is Feeding Tube Awareness Week! Amy is joining us to share a now-it's-funny tubie story with us!

Links and resources:

• Follow Suz: @suzgeoghegan
• Follow Di: @diane.kay.erdman
• Join the conversation: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review? Thanks!

It is the annual Feeding Tube Awareness Week! A time for people to share a bit about their journey as "Tubie Families" and not only educate those outside of our community, but support those within our community who are still navigating their way with a tube fed child. Danielle, our guest hostess, joins Suz to talk about their experiences with feeding tubes today!

Topics we talked about that you do not want to miss:

• Fears and anxiety about getting a tube
• The first time it was pulled
• Tips and Tricks
• Feeding tube myths and the truths

Links and resources:

• For more information on feed tubes: www.feedingtubeawareness.org
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Join the WAC Society to talk about all things pod related: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Catch up with Suz: @suzgeoghegan on insta
• See what Diane is up to: @diane.kay.erdman on insta

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories from other members of our medical and disabled community.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review! Thank You!

Today's 4AM Bonus Topic: If you could have any job, other than your own, in a make believe world, what would you do and why?

Links and resources:

• Follow Suz: @suzgeoghegan
• Follow Di: @diane.kay.erdman
• Join the conversation: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review? Thanks!

Last week we met Meredith and learned about her family of four children, two of which have disabilities. Today Meredith is talking about her journey as a special needs mom who is also homeschooling her kids.

Topics we talked about that you do not want to miss:

• Making the decision to homeschool
• Support for special education homeschooling
• Charlotte Mason and the feast

Links and resources:

• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Join the WAC Society to talk about all things pod related: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Catch up with Suz: @suzgeoghegan on insta
• See what Diane is up to: @diane.kay.erdman on insta

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories from other members of our medical and disabled community.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review! Thank You!

4AM: Bad Haircuts

Suz asked Diane about all the bad haircuts she has ever given. We dive into the psychology and artistry behind hair cutting and mullets.

Links and resources:

• Follow Suz: @suzgeoghegan
• Follow Di: @diane.kay.erdman
• Join the conversation: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review? Thanks!

Meredith is a mom of four children, including one who has cerebral palsy and another who has down syndrome. Today's episode was as if two new mom friends sat down and had coffee together. We bonded over things like medical trauma and PTSD, chatted about life receiving heavy news over the phone, and marveled in the beauty that this chaotic life still gives us. Topics we talked about that you do not want to miss:

• Receiving a Down Syndrome diagnosis over the phone
• Adjusting as a family with two disabled children
• ICU Trauma + PTSD
• What it's like being a military family far from home

Links and resources:

• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Join the WAC Society to talk about all things pod related: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Catch up with Suz: @suzgeoghegan on insta
• See what Diane is up to: @diane.kay.erdman on insta

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on our upcoming stories from other members of our medical and disabled community.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review! Thank You!