The Special Needs Mom Podcast

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As 2024 wraps up, I’m reflecting on my son’s incredible progress and the motto that’s guided me: “Together is the only way.” In this quick episode, I share the story behind it and why it means so much.

Looking for more connection in 2025? Check out:

1. Pathway to Peace Coaching Community – A paid, supportive space for real connection.
2. Community Huddles – Free, fun calls to meet and grow with others.

Details are at kararyska.com. Together really is the only way—let’s make 2025 amazing!

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. --------> Learn More HERE

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039: Hi listeners. This week I have Part 3 of my habit series based on the book, Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Today, I want to focus on two things when it comes to making habits- making is easy and making it satisfying.

Making it easy: I love this quote from the book, “walk slowly, but never backward”. Baby steps are still steps!

Let me introduce the Law of Least Effort. Creating an environment that requires the least amount of work. Make it really easy to make the choices we want to make.

Another fun tool is the 2 minute rule: when making a new habit, spend two minutes in your new habit first. Maybe this means putting on your running shoes every day and n out actually doing any more than that. You’re still reinforcing a small habit in your brain to start checking boxes and it removes the resistance to starting a scary, new habit.

Making it satisfying increases the likilehood the habit will be repeated!

Progress is satisfying, it’s in human nature. Once you’ve started gathering or checking off so many boxes in a row, it’s hard to stop. Tiny can become mighty.

Accountability can also be a satisfying reward. Grab a friend or your spouse.

The bottom line is, we all have different circumstances as special needs mom. Each of us can progress in the same way, through a commitment to tiny, sustainable, unrelenting improvements. We can create new and healthy habits for ourselves!

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. --------> Learn More HERE

Send us a text

029: This week was such a packed conversation with Joya Van Der Laan. Two of her three children have special needs including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Intermittent Explosive Disoder (IED). We quickly got into a deep conversation centered around guilt/grief, faith, and alternative medicine.
Joya initially describes her feelings of guilt and grief that have riddled her motherhood journey. She goes on to say, its okay to feel how you feel, especially when we aren’t expecting the struggles that are thrown our way. Having a special needs child has really deepened the valleys and heightened the peaks we experience in life.

We talk about loving a child unconditionally, a child who is not how you expected. How loving a that can be difficult to love it so hard!
Joya describes herself as a Granola, natural mom. She says she’s always trying to find more natural ways to come to the roots of her children’s struggles. This is her mission as a functional medicine specialist, to help others beyond her own children. She focuses on integrative and alternative therapies, many you can start at home to come to more conclusions about your children’s struggles,

Joya and her husband now release videos to help overwhelmed parents, a series called Your Autism Game Plan.
There is so much more from Joya and so many insights. I hope you enjoyed this episode as much and we did.

Connect with Joya:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourautismgameplan/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeK_KYCsTPhMzxfezM6tTBw (You Autism Game Plan)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/YourAutismGamePlanInc
Website - www.YourAutismGamePlan.com
Full Show Notes

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. --------> Learn More HERE

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Learn about the Special Education Conference with Ashley Barlow
Sign up for the Pathway to Peace Process Consultation
Hello listeners, it’s Episode 20! This week I’m here talking about failure resistance. At first you make think, DUH, of course I am resisting failure.

That’s not exactly the full idea I’m discussing this week. Failure resistance is working or showing up in a way that avoids failure --as the primary driver. It is making any other goal or objective come in second place by default. I’m defining failure as not achieving the expected or desired outcome.

Often, this is our way of avoiding failure in the form of unpleasant feelings. I’ve come to realize that feelings cannot actually injure me, and I’ve discussed in past episodes how important it is to feel your wide range of emotions. You’d never want to limit yourself. In real life, this looks like making small goals, procrastinating, being hard on yourself or others when expectations aren’t met or not even considering failure as an option.

I challenge you to pause and take a deeper look at yourself and your emotions. Give a name to the feelings, explore why there are some feelings you’re avoiding and finally make steps and move forward. Go forth without the fear of failure!
Full Show Notes

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. --------> Learn More HERE

Send us a text

Have you ever felt the weight of anxiety, isolation, or confusion while navigating through your child's healthcare journey? Today's episode takes a raw and insightful look into these challenges as we sit down with Katie Taylor, a seasoned child life specialist with over 13 years of experience under her belt. Together, we delve into the heart of what it truly means to be a parent in the healthcare landscape, tearing down the barriers that often leave us feeling alone and unprepared.
We tackle the not-so-simple art of processing emotions in parenting. With Katie's guidance, we explore the strength in vulnerability, the power in authenticity, and the importance of emotional regulation. We discuss how parents can use their past experiences to positively influence their present situations, offering solace and direction to those of us who find ourselves lost in the adversities of medical experiences. We also underscore the role of health professionals in our journey, shedding light on how they can be our strongest allies in advocating for the best possible care for our loved ones.
But, that's not all! Katie also walks us through her revolutionary creation: Child Life on Call - an app designed to provide families with the resources they need during a medical experience. We also address the vital importance of self-care, or as Katie puts it, 'replenishing our emotional tank', and the transformative power of gratitude. Wrapping up our conversation with a genuine expression of appreciation, we leave the door wide open for future insightful conversations. By the end of this episode, you'll be feeling more enlightened, inspired and ready to confidently approach your family's healthcare journey. Tune in and let's navigate this often uncharted territory together!
Full Show Notes
Connect with Katie:
Website: https://childlifeoncall.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/childlifeoncall/

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. --------> Learn More HERE