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This episode is pulled from the archives. It was aired September 23 2021, shortly after finding out my son Levi’s brain tumor had returned. It was a season full of fear and uncertainty—and that’s exactly what I talk about here: worry and anxiety, and how they show up in our lives as special needs moms.

I share real examples from that time and explore:

• Why worry can feel like responsibility (but isn’t)
• How trying to control the uncontrollable drains us
• What it looks like to trust yourself, even in uncertainty

You’ll hear mindset shifts and questions to help you interrupt the worry spiral and reconnect with presence, peace, and choice—even when the stakes are high.

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/

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Welcome to summer—ready or not! In this episode, I share a super personal mid-summer check-in that started with a frazzled Voxer chat with my friend Nicole and ended with some surprisingly helpful advice from... ChatGPT. (Yep, really.)

I walk you through a real-life day in the life: four kids, a business to run, complex caregiving, and an unfiltered look at what it’s like to try and do all the things during summer break. Spoiler alert: taquitos were involved.

I also talk through:

• Why I brought back my hand-drawn family schedule
• How I’m redefining what “working hours” look like for me
• My renewed commitment to managing my nervous system (hello, less social media and more morning walks)

It’s not about perfection—it’s about peace and presence (and maybe a little humor along the way).

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 210: Empowering Special Needs Moms with AI: How ChatGPT Can Help

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/

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This conversation with Erin Trier was equal parts heart, healing, and hard truths. Erin is a mom of four, a health coach, and someone who knows the weight of navigating rare diagnoses and emotional overwhelm. She shares about her son Brendan’s long, winding path to a diagnosis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex—and what it’s been like to mother through so much uncertainty, grief, and resilience.

We talked about how it feels when your family life doesn't look the way you dreamed it would, and the importance of making space for all the feelings—especially the ones we don’t usually say out loud.

Erin brought her insight not only as a mom in the trenches, but also as a wellness coach and someone deeply passionate about supporting women in caring for themselves well—even when time and energy are limited. We also dug into sleep, therapy, the all-or-nothing trap, and how baby steps are actually the big deal.

You’re going to feel seen, validated, and maybe even challenged to believe that small things count.

Get To Know Erin:

• Instagram: @erinktrier
• YouTube: @erinktrier
• Facebook: ektrier
• Website: erintrier.com
• Podcast: Empowered in Health by Erin Trier

Resources Mentioned:

• The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
• Episode 76: Having Impermissible Thoughts About Your Special Needs Child

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/

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Sometimes the “good” moments still catch us off guard—like when progress or positive change feels surprisingly heavy. In this episode, I share how a kitchen remodel gone wrong helped me notice something deeper: the emotional tension of expecting joy, but feeling stress instead.

If you're a parent of a child with special needs, you probably know this feeling well—when even the wins come with grief, fear, or fatigue. I unpack five mindset shifts that have helped me stay grounded when emotions don’t match the moment.

There’s a metaphor about manure. There’s a story about laughing in the middle of chaos. And there's space for you here, too.

Episode Resources:

The Glad Game

Work Life Podcast by Adam Grant

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/

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In this episode, I talk with Katelyn—a mom of three kids with different disabilities, including Trisomy 21, Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome & Autism, whose parenting journey started at just 19. Her story includes foster care, childhood trauma, a cancer diagnosis, and learning how to feel her emotions for the first time as an adult.

We talk about what survival mode looked like for her, how therapy (and a really good life coach-turned-therapist) helped her start healing, and the beauty of learning to set boundaries and feel again. There’s a lot of laughter, honesty, and even a little discussion about why she wants to throat-punch anyone who says, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

Katelyn’s story is raw, real, and full of unexpected wisdom. Whether you’re in the thick of it or reflecting from the other side, you’ll find something here that resonates.

Connect with our Guest, Katelyn Johnson:

Instagram

Facebook

Email: Katelynmarietheimer@gmail.com

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/

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This is a rebroadcast of Episode 130 that was aired back in 2023.

"In this episode, I open up about those moments when everyone assumes you're okay, but inside, you're struggling. It's a common experience, especially for us moms navigating the complexities of raising children with special needs.

I share personal reflections on the internal work required to acknowledge our true feelings and the courage it takes to express them. We delve into the layers beneath the surface and discuss the importance of authenticity in our struggles."

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/

Send us a text

This week, I sat down with Kristin Herzberg Purdy—psychologist, rare disease advocate, and mom of two children with disabilities. KristIn shares her deeply personal story of parenting through autism, epilepsy, and a rare neurodegenerative condition. We talked about the emotional toll of constant caregiving, the push to find answers when the medical system leaves you hanging, and how self-compassion gets complicated when you're stuck in survival mode.

Kristin was so open about what it means to love fiercely while grieving at the same time. We touched on everything from her professional lens as a trauma psychologist to the messy feelings of comparison and guilt that creep in, especially when you’re watching other families do “typical” things.

She's also raising funds for a gene therapy treatment for her son, Paxton, and currently in the quarterfinals of a Supermom contest that could bring in $20,000 toward that effort. She's a powerhouse, and I know you'll be as moved by her.

Connect with Kristin:

• CureCLCN6.org : Kristin and her husband’s nonprofit
• Contact Kristen: contactus@cureclcn6.org
• Vote for Kristin in the Supermom contest!

Other Resources:

• UMass Chan Medical School : Partnering for gene therapy development
• Article on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

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/

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In today’s episode, I’m sharing some personal reflections about acceptance and the emotions that come with it, especially with my son’s 16th birthday bringing up past challenges. I also share the excitement of an upcoming getaway, thanks to my friend Laura's help—talk about a surprise upgrade!

The highlight of the episode is a powerful Native American story about two wolves fighting inside us—one good, one bad. Which wolf will win? I dive into how this story helped me reflect on where I put my energy and how we often judge ourselves for our emotions. It’s a message you won’t want to miss.

Resources Mentioned:

• Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

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/