Punched at Parties with Brittney Crabtree Artwork

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

I'm tired of taking care of my special needs child

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

Punched at Parties with Brittney Crabtree

November 05, 2025 • Kara Ryska • Episode 275

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In this episode, I sat down with my friend Brittney Crabtree from Moms Talk Autism to talk about something few of us say out loud, aggression in our homes.

Brittney shares what life looks like parenting her non-speaking son with profound autism, while I share parts of our story with Levi, a brain tumor survivor with his own set of challenges. Together we explore what it’s like to navigate these moments, when love and physical or verbal aggression exist in the same home, and how it feels to live in that constant tension.

We talked about the gray area between parenting and caregiving, the weight of hypervigilance, and the mix of shame and strength that can surface in public moments. This episode isn’t about fixing anything, it’s about being seen, validated, and reminded that you’re not the only one living this reality.

Get to know Moms Talk Autism:

Podcast on Spotify

Podcast on Apple Music

Website

Instagram

Brittany Crabtree Instagram

Contact: hello@momstalkautism.com

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Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/