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<div>Think of this podcast as your very own special needs mom support group--except it's helpful and fun! You will leave with the hope that you can have a super happy life even when your life includes parenting a medically complex child or a child with something like autism and ADHD.</div><div>You likely didn't ask to be the parent of a disabled child or to live portions of your life in the hospital NICU or PICU. Your story is unique; it’s hard to find a place where you belong or where you don't feel so isolated and alone. Your child might have a rare disease, be undiagnosed or experience something that almost everybody has heard of like Downs syndrome yet the weird thing is that whether your child has an intellectual disability or physical disability, the experience as a mother is so similar. So regardless of your child’s disability, we can all find a home in this community.</div><div>You find yourself managing everybody else's needs; your child, their siblings, and all the guilt that you have about that. All this has you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and dizzy---not knowing who to turn to or what to do next for help. This podcast is your lifeline, you’ll find encouragement and inspiration as we connect to other moms’ journeys. We’ll get practical and look at what it takes to stop feeling so stuck in your life.</div><div><strong>You know this podcast is for you if you find yourself googling:</strong></div><div>Overwhelmed special needs mom help</div><div>How to do self care as a special needs mom?</div><div>Dealing with anger as a special needs mom</div><div>How to manage special needs mom burnout and stress?</div><div>How do I deal with mom's guilt?</div><div>Help for myself as a special needs mom</div><div>How do I cope with a disabled child?</div><div>How do I manage the grief of my medically complex child?</div><div>How to keep from drowning as a caregiver</div><div>Support group for special needs mom or community for caregivers</div><div>I'm tired of taking care of my special needs child</div><div>Finding balance between my child’s needs and my own mamas needs</div><div>Respite and rest for special needs moms</div>
December is here, and with it, the chaos of the season! In this episode, I dive into the idea of "busting the bustle" and slowing down amidst the holiday madness. Inspired by The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, I share insights on how chronic busyness can undermine the relationships and moments we cherish most.
Together, we explore the concept of "being", how we show up, and how simple shifts in our mindset can transform stressful moments into opportunities for calm and connection. This holiday season, let’s make space for love, presence, and maybe a little magic too. You deserve it.
Resources from the episode:
Give yourself the gift of COZY:
https://cozyearth.com/
Up to 40% off promo code: SNMPODCAST
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the complexities of gratitude, especially during tough seasons. If the thought of gratitude feels like it’s being forced down your throat, don’t worry—you’re not alone, and we’re not here to push.
I share practical ways to shift your perspective and share a heartfelt quote from Francis Weller about holding both sorrow and gratitude, and how this duality can stretch and grow us.
Give yourself the gift of COZY:
https://cozyearth.com/
Up to 40% off promo code: SNMPODCAST
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
In this week’s community huddle, we dive into a heartfelt follow-up on loneliness and grief—topics we’ve explored in recent episodes. Picture this: a cozy space to connect with moms who truly get it. We talk about whispers of grief in everyday moments, how resilience sometimes feels like a mask, and finding strength in vulnerability.
I’m joined by Shantay, Alyssa, and Annika, three incredible moms who open up about their unique parenting journeys, the unexpected emotions they’ve faced, and the power of shared community. We also touch on creating safe spaces, both physically and emotionally, and the profound impact of feeling truly seen and understood.
Whether you’re listening on your way to an appointment or with a warm cup of coffee, this episode invites you to reflect, connect, and feel supported in your journey.
Let’s keep the conversation going! Got thoughts on this episode? I’d love to hear from you. Shoot me a text!
Episode Resources:
Guest Details:
Give yourself the gift of COZY:
https://cozyearth.com/
Up to 40% off promo code: SNMPODCAST
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
Today’s conversation is one that I know many of us can relate to – balancing anxiety and our relationship with digital media. I’m thrilled to have Jennie Ketcham Crooks join us! Jennie is a clinical social worker, anxiety and OCD specialist, and founder of the West Coast Anxiety Clinic. Jennie has also been involved in research at the University of Washington, guest lectured at Harvard University, and appeared on popular television shows including Headline News, The View, and Oprah. She’s here to unpack some powerful insights on navigating anxiety, managing our “shiny rectangle” (a.k.a. our phones), and making space for true connection.
We dive deep into what makes anxiety tick, especially for special needs moms, and how our smartphones can be both a blessing and a trap. Jennie shares practical tips from her 30-day program in her book Look Up, which helps us rethink our digital consumption and build healthier relationships with technology. We also share a few laughs about managing “Brenda,” the little voice in our heads that always seems to have something to say!
Connect with Jennie:
Episode Resources:
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
This episode continues our exploration of the often avoided topic: grief. I share a story about one of my special needs mom clients, “Diana,” who, through our work together, found acceptance and even a path to peace despite facing deep sadness and loss. This is her third conversation with me on the podcast and I am grateful she is back for again.
We often think grief looks like constant sadness or that it follows neat “stages,” but it’s much messier—and that’s okay. Grief doesn’t have to mean losing joy; in fact, it can create more room for it. I explore how embracing grief can actually open us up to feel fully alive. If you’re looking for a supportive space to explore these topics, I’ve built a community just for that.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
I sit down with Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers, a book born from her journey through immense grief, faith, and resilience as a special needs mom. Rachel shares her deeply personal experiences of loss, from her mother’s battle with leukemia to the passing of her special needs daughter, Taylor.
Together, we explore what it means to live with both grief and joy, finding peace and purpose in the hardest moments. Rachel talks about the role of simple prayers—like “God, help me”—in staying grounded and connected to her faith, even when life felt overwhelming. We also dive into the power of community, self-compassion, and letting go of the need to be in control.
If you’re navigating life as a special needs parent, facing grief, or looking to strengthen your faith in difficult times, this conversation will speak to you. Join us to hear Rachel’s wisdom and encouragement for living fully, even in the face of life’s hardest challenges.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
In this episode, I’m diving into the connection between grief and loneliness, picking up where we left off last week. I share a bit about my experience with Levi and how loneliness often shows up for us as special needs moms. The good news? The antidote to loneliness is connection.
I also reference Dr. Vivek Murthy's book Together (an excellent read!) and talk about how loneliness can be as damaging as smoking or obesity. In this episode, I share how we can break the cycle of loneliness by:
Next week, I’ll be doing an interview episode, and I’ll dive deeper into the topic of grief itself.
Resources Mentioned:
If you found this episode helpful, I’d love for you to share it with a friend—maybe it’ll spark a conversation about breaking the cycle of isolation and loneliness.
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
In this episode, I explore the deep connection between loneliness and grief as a special needs mom. Loneliness can feel like stepping into an unfamiliar world, while the rest of your community continues on like nothing has changed. We discuss how relationships shift in these moments and why feeling abandoned is such a common experience.
This is just Part 1, where we unpack loneliness, so stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll share more on the antidote to loneliness and offer actionable insights!
If you found this episode helpful, share it with your community, tag me @thespecialneedsmompodcast, or leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
Resources from this episode:
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
This week, I thought I’d be back with a full episode, but instead, here’s a quick check-in and a preview of what's to come.
I share a bit about our recent school emergency and the challenging space of not knowing what’s next. If you’ve ever had to live in that uncertainty, you’ll relate. I also talk about the importance of giving ourselves permission to let go when needed (shoutout to my editor for pushing me to give myself a break).
On the horizon? I’m working on episodes about loneliness and grief—two emotions that often go hand-in-hand, especially in our community.
Lastly, I’d love to hear from YOU! Use the "Text the Show" feature in the show notes to share what you're going through or suggest topics for future episodes.
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
During a peloton ride recently, my instructor Robin Arzon, said something that has stuck with me. "Find your people, and climb your mountains together." I instantly thought of all of you. As special needs moms, we face tough challenges, but we’re stronger when we support each other. This is what I talk about on today's episode, and also how self-care impacts those around us—and why that’s okay!
Peloton Ride with Robin Arzon (not sponsored)
Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
Join the Community:
Pathway to Peace Coaching Community is currently open for enrollment. Instantly get access to authentic community and weekly coaching! Give yourself the gift of growing alongside moms who deeply understand you and will be with you in your joys and sorrows. --------> Apply Here or Contact Me
Amanda is a wife. A mother. A blogger. A Christian.
A charming, beautiful, bubbly, young woman who lives life to the fullest.
But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know.
She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration, touching and
captivating her local community as well as followers all over the world.
Until one day investigative producer Nancy gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s
blog, setting Nancy on an unimaginable road to uncover Amanda’s secret.
Award winning journalist Charlie Webster explores this unbelievable and bizarre, but
all-too-real tale, of a woman from San Jose, California whose secret ripped a family apart and
left a community in shock.
Scamanda is the true story of a woman whose own words held the key to her secret.
New episodes every Monday.
Follow Scamanda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Amanda’s blog posts are read by actor Kendall Horn.
