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The Special Needs Mom Podcast

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 help

How to do self care as a special needs mom?

Dealing with anger as a special needs mom

How to manage special needs mom burnout and stress?

How do I deal with mom's guilt?

Help for myself as a special needs mom

How 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 caregiver

Support group for special needs mom or community for caregivers

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Finding balance between my child’s needs and my own mamas needs

Respite and rest for special needs moms

All Episodes

The Special Needs Mom Podcast

When You Don’t Expect Good Things To Feel Bad

June 11, 2025 • Kara Ryska • Episode 254

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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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Hi, I am Kara, life coach, wife and mom to four incredible and unique children. It wasn't all that long ago that my son received a diagnosis that had my world come crashing down. I lacked the ability to see past the circumstances, which felt impossible and the dreams I once had for my life and family felt destroyed. Fast forward, past many years of surviving and not at all thriving, and you'll see a mom who trusts that she can handle anything that comes her way and has access to the power and confidence that once felt so lacking. I created the Special Needs Mom podcast to create connection and community with moms who find themselves feeling trapped and with no one who really understands. My intention is to spark the flare of possibility in your own life and rekindle your ability to dream. This isn't a podcast about your special needs child. This is a podcast about you. If you are a mom who feels anxious, alone or stuck, then you are in the right place. Welcome.