The Special Needs Mom Podcast Podcast Por Kara Ryska arte de portada

The Special Needs Mom Podcast

The Special Needs Mom Podcast

De: Kara Ryska
Escúchala gratis

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.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.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.You know this podcast is for you if you find yourself googling:Overwhelmed special needs mom helpHow to do self care as a special needs mom?Dealing with anger as a special needs momHow to manage special needs mom burnout and stress?How do I deal with mom's guilt?Help for myself as a special needs momHow do I cope with a disabled child?How do I manage the grief of my medically complex child?How to keep from drowning as a caregiverSupport group for special needs mom or community for caregiversI'm tired of taking care of my special needs childFinding balance between my child’s needs and my own mamas needsRespite and rest for special needs moms© 2025 The Special Needs Mom Podcast Crianza y Familias Desarrollo Personal Higiene y Vida Saludable Psicología Psicología y Salud Mental Relaciones Éxito Personal
Episodios
  • The Crushing Weight of Responsibility

    The Crushing Weight of Responsibility
    Aug 20 2025

    Send us a text

    This replay from the archives is just as relevant now as it was in 2022. If you’ve ever felt the crushing weight of being the one who holds everything together for your child with disabilities, you’re not alone.

    In this episode, I share listener reflections on what feels heaviest—like being the only one who knows every detail, the fear of forgetting meds, or never fully relaxing. I also offer a powerful visual: dragging a massive crate filled with your daily responsibilities, inch by inch.

    It’s an invitation to pause, acknowledge your experience, and maybe—just maybe—set down the weight for a moment.








    Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

    Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
    Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
    Más Menos
    21 m
  • Fire Hazards & Other Summer Highlights

    Fire Hazards & Other Summer Highlights
    Aug 13 2025

    Send us a text

    This one’s light, real, and a little bit ridiculous in the best way.

    I showed up ready to share a few stories from the trenches—some funny, some a little gross (parenting, right?), and all with the hope that you’d feel just a little less alone in this wild life of ours.

    We talked about:

    • 🧯 Levi’s new hobby with matches (and yes, I’m taking suggestions).
    • 🍋 My sad little lemon tree and how it became a metaphor for this burnt-out end-of-summer feeling.
    • ⏰ The specialist appointment that didn’t happen—and the spectacular mental gymnastics I did to make sure it wasn’t “my fault.”
    • 💆‍♀️ Why I’m fantasizing about massages, cafes, and beach days (and putting out a casual call for local beach buddies).
    • 🌀 The importance of marking transitions with a little intention, especially when we’re crawling out of survival mode.

    Whether you're closing out summer, still deep in the marathon, or somewhere in between—I hope you leave this one with a little more curiosity and compassion for yourself.







    Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

    Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
    Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
    Más Menos
    22 m
  • Sleep Masks, Seizures & Shifting Seasons with Brooke Turbyfill

    Sleep Masks, Seizures & Shifting Seasons with Brooke Turbyfill
    Aug 6 2025

    Send us a text

    This week, I’m joined by my friend and fellow writer, Brooke Turbyfill. We met as co-authors of The Courage to Raise, a book written by moms navigating the special needs parenting journey—and somewhere between that and a road trip in an electric blue rental car, we became fast friends.

    Brooke shares what it was like entering the special needs world later in parenting, with both of her teens receiving epilepsy diagnoses. We talk about the challenges of finding community, honoring our kids’ privacy while needing support ourselves, and why it’s okay to change what we need in different seasons.


    Also in this episode:

    • A hilarious hotel sleep setup reveal
    • A serendipitous lunch detour that landed us at Clemson LIFE
    • How structured writing helped us both process and connect

    If you’ve ever felt late to the “club” or unsure where you belong, this one’s for you.


    📚 Episode Resources:

    • The Courage to Raise
    • Clemson LIFE Program
    • Mend Coffee & Goods
    • Turbo Words Editing
    • On Stories Substack








    Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

    Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
    Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
    Más Menos
    44 m
Todas las estrellas
Más relevante  
Kara has given me the keys to be a better mom in this complex and often discouraging world of special needs. She shares from the heart and also with deep wisdom!

Kara’s real life experience with continued Mindset towards wisdom and self growth! Best online resource out there!

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
I loved listening to your first episode! I loved it so much that I listened twice and took many notes to help remind myself daily that I am MORE than just a mama of 2 special needs children. I would absolutely love to chat more with you one on one. The thing that stuck with me most from your first episode was

”Separate the concept of what you are responsible for...

I am responsible for teaching her, and I won't ever stop!

Just like the warrior mom that I am, I am going to find everything that is helpful for her and I'm going to love her fiercely and teach her..

But, I am not responsible for her learning.

It's letting go of the control. We cannot control them, nor would we really want to, right?

For me, it allows me to show up as fully and authentically as who I am, and to love them without attachments to them having to do something a certain way, or to meet my standard.

It allows me to continue to believe in her. Even though she has still not yet learned certain things, I believe it's possible for her, and so I get to show up relating to her as her highest and best and I also don't have to get mad when she doesn't act like I want her to. I have to realize she just hasn't learned that yet.

Thank you so much!

Gloria Hartle

Phenomenal!!!

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.