The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with Erica Hauser

There’s a quiet fear many parents carry after years of care giving for a child with complex epilepsy or special needs—the fear that somewhere along the way, they lost themselves.In this episode, we’re talking about the identity shift that happens when life changes you in ways you never expected. Not in a dramatic, overnight way—but in the slow, subtle ways that leave you wondering, “Who am I now?”This conversation isn’t about going back to who you were or trying to “find yourself again.” It’s about recognizing that you’re still here—and that becoming someone new doesn’t mean losing who you are. You became someone new because of what you had to survive and that is powerful growth. If you’ve felt changed by this journey…If caregiving has reshaped your priorities, energy, or sense of self…This episode is for you.In This Episode We Explore:Why identity doesn’t disappear—it adaptsThe difference between losing yourself and evolving through survivalHow diagnosis can quietly reshape who you areLiving in the space between who you were and who you’re becomingWhy you don’t need clarity, confidence, or a plan to be “okay”Giving yourself permission to keep becoming without guiltA Reminder that You May Need to Hear Today:You didn’t lose yourself.You changed in response to something hard.And you are allowed to continue growing—at your own pace, in your own way.There is no deadline on becoming.There is no right version of you to arrive at.You are still you—even here.Connect with me:If this episode spoke to your heart, share it with another parent who might need a reminder that they’re not alone.You can connect with Erica on Instagram @parentingepilepsy_specialneeds and be part of a community that understands the ups and downs of the special needs & epilepsy parenting journey. 

What if this year didn’t ask you to do more—but instead asked you to be gentler with yourself?In this episode, I’m sharing my Word of the Year: Grace.For moms parenting children with epilepsy and special needs, life rarely follows a plan. Grace allows us to stay focused on what matters while remaining flexible when the unexpected arrives. By the end of this episode I want you to feel free from setting resolutions and instead find 1 word that has meaning to you and that can help lead you to be the best mom you can be in 2026! Connect with me:If this episode spoke to your heart, share it with another parent who might need a reminder that they’re not alone.You can connect with Erica on Instagram @parentingepilepsy_specialneeds and be part of a community that understands the ups and downs of the special needs & epilepsy parenting journey.

As the year comes to a close, it can feel like there’s pressure to look back and point to wins, milestones, and moments worth celebrating. But what if this year had challenges or unexpected obstacles? In this episode, I’m sharing a gentle reflection on what this year truly revealed—not through big achievements, but through the quiet strength that it took to get through the really difficult moments that 2025 gave us. The kind of strength that shows up in exhaustion, uncertainty, and moments where survival itself was the victory.If you’re a parent navigating epilepsy and special needs and this year felt heavy, messy, or simply hard… this episode is for you.This episode will close out 2025 by reminding you that you don’t need proof to justify how hard this year was.If all you did was survive, that mattered. That counts. That is enough.Take a breath. You made it here and I am so proud of you!

Some days hit harder than others—and often without warning.In today’s episode, I’m opening up and getting real about the overwhelming emotions, anxiety, and heaviness that can creep in, even when you consider yourself a strong person who’s been through a lot. As parents of children with epilepsy and special needs, we carry so much every single day. Sometimes it all shows up at once.I share a recent moment that caught me completely off guard—a phone call from my daughter’s school that changed the tone of an otherwise quiet December day. While my daughter was ultimately okay, the emotions that followed felt heavier than usual. The familiar questions, the sadness, and the unfairness of it all rushed in, reminding me that strength doesn’t mean we don’t feel—it means we learn how to move through it.In this episode, we talk about:Acknowledging unexpected emotions when they show upAllowing yourself to feel without staying stuckWhy it’s okay to have hard days—even when you’ve handled so much beforeThe importance of reaching out to a therapist, friend, or family memberFinding comfort, connection, and resilience through our childrenI also reflect on how my daughter continues to teach me the true meaning of resilience and why giving ourselves grace isn’t weakness—it’s necessary.If you’re in a season where you feel exhausted, emotional, or overwhelmed, this episode is for you. You are not alone in this journey.Connect with me:If this episode spoke to your heart, share it with another parent who might need a reminder that they’re not alone.You can connect with Erica on Instagram @parentingepilepsy_specialneeds and be part of a community that understands the ups and downs of the special needs & epilepsy parenting journey.

In this episode, Erica will discuss her family’s journey and how they arrived at the decision to proceed with their youngest daughter having a major brain surgery to remove the right side of her brain-  known as a hemispherectomy. She also shares the lessons they learned, what they did well and what they wish they had either done sooner or better. She wraps up by explaining how every child is unique, everyone’s journey and outcomes are also unique. Resources: If your child is suffering from epilepsy and medication is not working to stop them, please visit the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgical Alliance. This resource was a life saver for our family and can guide you on how to begin the surgery workup process as well as provide tons of other resources leading up to and post epilepsy surgery. https://epilepsysurgeryalliance.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17SK7QgTdH/?mibextid=wwXIfrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pedsepilepsysurgeryalliance?igsh=N3B2NHdpdjN5ZHNxConnect with me:If this episode spoke to your heart, share it with another parent who might need a reminder that they’re not alone.You can connect with Erica on Instagram @parentingepilepsy_specialneeds and be part of a community that understands the ups and downs of the special needs & epilepsy parenting journey.