Courageously Mom-Encouragement for Parents of Children with Special Needs, Autism Moms, ADHD

You're not happy.  You feel angry and bitter.  You hate feeling this way and you may not even know what is bothering you...or maybe you do.  Maybe you're struggling to forgive someone and carrying that hurt.  Maybe you're struggling to forgive yourself?  Forgiveness can be so hard especially when the pain is so deep. BUT Forgiveness is often the answer and first step to being able to move forward, grow and become all that you're supposed to be...and that includes Happy. It's hard to move forward when you keep looking back so it's up to us to make the decision to let go of it all so we can be better for ourselves and for those we love.

A new year is a time of hope and struggle for every person. In this podcast, Tanya will discuss three goals that can help special needs moms to get through the challenging moments. this year and throughout your life. The New Year is a good time to take a look at your life and see what you want to change. Here are 3 important goals for special needs mom: 1. Take care of yourself: find ways to take care of your physical and mental health so that you can be the best mom for your kids.  If you don’t recharge yourself how can you be there for your special needs child and the family 2. Put play time on the schedule: Build in some "family" time to spend with your kids and husband. This could be as short as 10 minutes or as long as 3 hours. It can’ t just  be therapy and assessments.  Add in some things you all love doing together whether it be out to dinner or a movie. 3. Focus on the positive: Think about what's going well in your life and all the strides your child has made. Try not to let what others think your child is capable of doing. You know as their mom and see it day to day.

Getting a diagnosis can be a shock for a parent. The fear of the unknown, the fear of what's going to happen to their little one can make them feel overwhelmed. This is when faith and hope come in to keep us going through this tough time. Sometimes it feels like there are no words for what you're feeling, but there are ways to find comfort in knowing that others have been in this position which offers help in understanding. In today’s episode Tayna discusses her top three fears and how faith has helped her on days that seemed long and hard.   Many parents experience that feeling of the fear being greater than faith and hope. Tanya encourages you to pray, to show up as you are. To ask for continued strength, but also wants to encourage you to see what is already inside of you.

Parents of autistic children want to give their kids the best life possible and this often means letting them go and getting as much independence as they can. They understand that their kid has a different way of thinking and often work with them to help foster their independence. In today’s episode, Tanya discusses the challenges that arise when your child starts advocating for more independence.  Do you let them make mistakes or do you take control and handle it to avoid heartache? It is also important for parents to find the balance between giving too much help and not enough help.

As a parent of a child with special needs, the holidays can be tough. This is because you often need to plan ahead to accommodate your child’s needs and this can come as quite the surprise to your family. Listen to this podcast for some tips on how to survive the holiday season as a special needs parent.  Tanya discusses what she has done to help sooth her child from sensory overload and about being a picky eater. Listen to Tanya’s tips on how to enjoy the holiday season. Have that extra glass of wine or piece of pie!  She provides suggestions on what you can do to make life easier for yourself ahead of time. You'll find that everything will go smoother when it comes time for your holiday celebrations.