Send us a textThis 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 HEREConnect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
--------
22:09
--------
22:09
Sleep Masks, Seizures & Shifting Seasons with Brooke Turbyfill
Send us a textThis 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 revealA serendipitous lunch detour that landed us at Clemson LIFEHow structured writing helped us both process and connectIf 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 SubstackGet The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HEREConnect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
--------
44:14
--------
44:14
Carriers of Hope: A Conversation with Founders of Labeled and Loved Julie Hornok and Dr. Regina Crone
Send us a textThis episode lit me up. I had the gift of sitting down with Julie Hornok and Dr. Regina Crone—co-founders of Labeled and Loved. Together, they’ve created something powerful for moms like us navigating disability and special needs: connection, purpose, and spaces where you don’t have to explain yourself.Julie brings over 20 years of experience in the special needs world—as a mom, speaker, behavioral program facilitator, and author of United in Autism. You might’ve seen her featured on Focus on the Family, Today Parents, or even iHeartRadio. Her work-hard-play-hard energy is contagious.Regina, a Ph.D. and board-certified behavior analyst, was inspired by her brother’s diagnosis. She owns Therapy & Beyond, and has spent decades presenting, writing, and supporting families across the country. Oh—and she lives on a farm in Texas with her crew, which includes chickens and cows. Her motto? “Go with the flow and eat chocolate.” Legendary.We talked about what it looks like to grieve expectations and still find deep joy. About the hard moments that no one prepares you for—and the small but bold steps that can shift everything. And we dove into the retreat they created just for moms like us (recently featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, by the way).If you’re feeling stretched thin, isolated, or like you’ve lost pieces of yourself along the way, this one will speak directly to your heart.Resources Mentioned:Labeled and Loved Retreat: October 10–12 in Dallas, TXSisterhood Circles: In-person & virtual support groupsUnited in Autism by Julie HornokTherapy and Beyond (Dr. Crone’s clinic)Labeled and Loved featured on The Kelly Clarkson ShowGet The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HEREConnect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
--------
56:20
--------
56:20
Let Go of Fair, Move Toward Care with Kim Botto
Send us a textThis week’s guest is Kim Botto, a longtime children’s and student ministry leader, TBRI® Practitioner, and all-around passionate advocate for kids who don’t always fit the mold. She’s spent decades creating spaces where every child—regardless of background, behavior, or ability—can belong, contribute, and grow.Kim and I talked about what happens when places like school or church aren’t safe or supportive—especially for kids with trauma, disabilities, or neurodivergence. She shared the idea of “connection before correction,” and reminded me that we don’t need a diagnosis to lead with compassion.We also got real about what it takes to build a culture of belonging—and how sometimes it starts with something as small (and powerful) as a strip of red tape.Kim is the author of Boundless Hope for Every Child and hosts The Every Child Belongs podcast. She lives in the greater Cincinnati area with her husband, close to their five kids and eleven grandkids.Resources Mentioned:Website: kimbotto.comBook: Boundless Hope for Every ChildPodcast: Every Child BelongsInstagram: @kimbottoTBRI® (Trust-Based Relational Intervention)Baylor University & Eric Carter research on disability and church inclusionGet The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HEREConnect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
--------
44:53
--------
44:53
Nine Moms, One Book, Infinite Courage
Send us a textThis week, I’m sharing something exciting: I co-authored a new book called The Courage to Raise! It's a collaborative project with eight other special needs moms, and I’m proud (and a little surprised) to be a published author again—especially since writing has never come easily to me.In this episode, I talk about how the opportunity came about (perfect timing while I was already traveling), what my chapter is about, and the special tool I included called Tolerating the Intolerable—a game plan for surviving those chaotic, over-the-top moments we know too well. I even share a few “plays” that didn’t make the book but are too good not to mention (Skedaddle, anyone?).Whether or not you buy the book (but I hope you do!), this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how I turned hard stories into something meaningful.Resources Mentioned:📘 The Courage to Raise on Amazon ✍️ Publishing Company: Hope Books 📕 Becoming Brave Together – A past collaborative bookGet The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HEREConnect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
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
Ireland