Brave Together Parenting: a podcast for parenting disabilities and unique needs.

Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #218. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.

This episode is VERY special because we have on the podcast today, not one, not two, but ALL THREE authors of the instant New York Times Bestseller, Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum, from Diagnosis to Young Adulthood―Moving Stories and Parenting Lessons Learned from Three Mothers of Children with Autism. Carrie Cariello, Kate Swenson and Adrian Wood join me and my other two co-costs Susanna Peace Lovell and Dr. Zoe Shaw, and let me tell you, it’s a party!

In this engaging conversation, a group of mothers share their experiences and insights on parenting children with autism, focusing on the challenges and joys of navigating their children's journeys into adulthood. They discuss the importance of community, the collaborative effort behind their book, and the emotional complexities of letting go as their children grow. The conversation highlights the need for resources and support for parents, especially those facing the transition to adulthood, and emphasizes the beauty and joy that can be found in the journey of raising children with autism. The discussion also touches on the societal perceptions of autism and the need for honest dialogue about the realities of living with autism.

Order your copy of Autism Out Loud here.

Find more about Carrie Cariello here.

Find more about Adrian Wood here.

Find more about Kate Swenson here.

This episode was generously sponsored by Pediatric Minds.

Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.

Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on

Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.

JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.

Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.

Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?

Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.

Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]

If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.

Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!

Disclaimer

Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!

In this episode, #181, we are responding to the question, How do I Access Playfulness When My Life is So Serious?

This is such a great question, and as you will hear, all three of your hosts grapple, themselves, with how to find “the fun” in the midst of chronic hardship. It’s not everyone’s natural gift to make light of the dark stuff or to find humor in the struggle. Juggling all the roles we have to inhabit for our children with unique needs can leave us feeling exhausted and in no mood to “play”.

In this episode, we explore lots of ways we can embrace the kind of fun that comes naturally to us. Igniting that spark of fun in ourselves, for ourselves, in our own way. We also acknowledge that for some people this may feel impossible. So, if that’s you, we see you, hang in there, take it one day at a time and remember that nothing stays the same forever.

Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions. Keep them coming!

Find The Power of Fun here.

Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.

If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.

Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.

Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.

Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough here.

Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.

Find our Becoming Brave Together book

Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.

JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.

Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.

Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?

Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.

Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]

If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.

Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!

Disclaimer

What do we do when a crisis hits? Most moms already know the answer because we’ve been to the ER or seen a pharmacy bill! YIKES!!! In those moments did we FREEZE? FIGHT? Maybe even FAWN? Most importantly, whatever we did, was there a judgment we felt about how we reacted?

On today’s practical episode, Jessica interviews Samantha Morey LMFT about the different “threat responses”. They discuss ways we can prepare ourselves, not only for the threat response, but also to the reaction we have to our own response.

Samantha Morey, LMFT. Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University. She works with the Center for Individual and Family Therapy in Torrance, Ca. Samantha is called to sit with women and couples as they work to address the broken pieces in their lives and climb toward healing and wholehearted living. She's been married for 23 years to her best friend and beloved husband, and together they parent two teen daughters. Samantha enjoys s'mores at the firepit, making pajamas for family and friends, and cuddling under a quilt watching a Hallmark movie, which always has a good predictable ending.

Get in touch with Samantha Morey here.

Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.

JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.

Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.

Donate to keep this podcast going here.

Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?

Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.

Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]

If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here

Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.

JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.

Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.

Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?

Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.

Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]

If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.

Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!

Disclaimer

Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #221. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.

In this heartfelt conversation, Chris and Jessica Patay reflect on their journey as parents of a child with Prader-Willi syndrome. They discuss the challenges and joys of parenting, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned from their son Ryan. Chris shares insights on fatherhood, the shifting expectations of parenting, and the value of maintaining hope and engagement in the face of adversity. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-care and the beauty found in the unique traits of children with special needs.

Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.

Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.

Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.

JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.

Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.

Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?

Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.

Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]

If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.

Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!

Disclaimer

Meet Katie, a certified child life specialist, podcast host and creator of Child Life On Call. She and Jessica discuss how to support parents, kids and medical care teams with the tools they deserve. She combines the expertise of a child life specialist and the heart of a momma to help parents go from overwhelmed to empowered. With over a decade of in-hospital experience, Katie has helped hundreds of families cope with and navigate challenging life events. Enjoy this episode with Jessica and Katie, and learn more about child life specialist work @childlifeoncall
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.

Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.

JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.

Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.

Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?

Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.

Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]

If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.

Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!

Disclaimer