Take Heart Special Moms

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Take Heart Special Moms

Welcome to Take Heart, a podcast for special needs moms, by special needs moms encouraging authentic connection, experiencing fervent hope, and embracing joy.

We are so glad you are here!

$\For caregivers, holiday demands can pile up fast. Be gentle with yourself; you don’t have to do everything to create me...$

04/12/2024

\For caregivers, holiday demands can pile up fast. Be gentle with yourself; you don’t have to do everything to create meaningful memories."
Other people might not fully grasp our family’s needs, and that’s okay. We can let go of expecting them to; instead, focus on setting clear boundaries for our family, knowing that saying 'no' when needed is enough.

03/12/2024

In all the talk of Christmas being wonderful, there's also a huge sense of dread for mothers to get it all done. There's so many expectations on us during this time of the year. Carrie, Amy and Sara discuss what lessons we have learned over the years. There are some rhythms and things we cut out in December to be more present and at peace. We want to encourage you to do the same, so listen in!

29/11/2024

Life as a caregiver has ups and downs, joys and sorrows.

Tears don’t erase your awesomeness.

Stress doesn’t mean you aren’t handling things with grace and strength.

Taking a nap or screaming into a pillow doesn’t mean you aren’t kicking butt and taking names.

You are doing a great job, mama. Period.

28/11/2024

We are so grateful for each one of you.

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at Take Heart!

26/11/2024

Sara interviewed Jessica Patay last week. Jessica is a contributing author to the book, Becoming Brave Together: Heroic, Extraordinary Caregiving Stories from Mothers Hidden in Plain Sight.

Too many caregivers don't feel validated, seen, heard, or understood because we are mothers hidden in plain sight. We walk around with a smile on our faces, getting stuff done, putting on a strong front, and nobody has any idea how much we're struggling as caregivers.

It's not just crucial, it's a necessity that we create a space where caregivers feel not just comfortable, but truly understood and supported in sharing their experiences.

Do you struggle with a lack of community and connection as a caregiver? If so, please visit www.wearebravetogether.com and follow them on .

21/11/2024

When you receive a diagnosis, face a crisis, or endure chronic hardship, your mindset matters.

Letting yourself be open to the possibilities of being a caregiver and the blessings of this life, you realize there are beautiful possibilities. It leaves you open to dreams.

It just leaves you open.

Listen to this week’s episode with author and nonprofit founder Jessica Patay as she shares how she switched her mindset to one where she would find meaning out of the crisis. You will be moved by her story of how she took something that might break some people to create an amazing community where women can be connected with other caregivers.

19/11/2024

Sara met with the author and founder of We Are Brave Together , Jessica Patay, to discuss the beautiful things that come from being in a community of women caregivers. Jessica's community provides mentoring, meaningful conversations, and an authenticity that very few outside the caregiving community can replicate. She launched the nonprofit to support mothers of children with disabilities or mental health challenges. In her book, "Becoming Brave Together," she shares real stories of caregiving mothers to encourage understanding caregivers and their families and friends. Listen in to hear the inspiration for her nonprofit and her heart for special needs caregiving women.

You do not want to miss this episode!

12/11/2024

In last week’s episode, we talked about how lonely and isolating it can be for disablility moms, caregivers, and special needs moms.

We also gave some examples of how others around us showed up well and asked pointed questions about our children and our lives. They asked questions, were willing to do the work to learn, and did so without judgment!

Sometimes, we only need to know someone WANTS to understand and be there for us.

Have you had someone “show up” well for you and your child? If so, how? Share below.

07/11/2024

Amy, Carrie, and Sara talk about practical ways to connect with others.

Unfortunately, it’s so common for us (special needs moms) to feel lonely and isolated. It takes intentionality and some work.

Listen to this week’s episode for some ways we have learned to foster relationships with others.

05/11/2024

Amy, Sara, and Carrie explore the pervasive feelings of loneliness and isolation that special needs parents experience. They discuss how their past focus on efficiency led to prioritizing tasks over relationships. Now, years into their special needs parenting lives, they need intentional connection. They discuss their strategies for pushing past isolation and loneliness towards deeper friendships and finding their worth in the Lord.

Join the conversation to learn how to nurture meaningful relationships and gracefully navigate the loneliness challenge.

31/10/2024

This month on the podcast, our wonderful guest, Sandy Ramsey-Trayvick, talked about having an undisabled mindset when it comes to raising our kids with disabilities.

One example of this mindset is when we focus on all the things we can't do or don't have rather than the opposite. Our enemy always wants us to focus on how we are less than others, our lives less than other people's lives or families, rather than on God's good plans for our lives.

Our future - is always filled with hope, even in the storms.

Have a listen to this month's interview. You will walk away feeling blessed and refreshed.

https://buff.ly/4edSJ96

29/10/2024

One question we often get is:

What about the siblings of children with disabilities?

The truth is, it's hard. They will probably have times when they feel left out, neglected, and alone.

Just like we do...as parents.

But one thing that we must remember is that we can trust God with ALL of our kids. He loves them more than we do.

What else would you add to our list that you have found helpful with siblings?

24/10/2024

This month on the podcast, our guest, Sandy Ramsey-Trayvick, reminds us that God is a God of process.

It can be challenging to consider our hard days valuable and helpful, but they help develop character that will allow God to move us spiritually to where He wants us to be.

What is a character trait that might be developing in you as a result of being a mom to a child with disabilities: physical, mental, or behavioral? We would love to hear about it.

22/10/2024

There are times in the upheaval of our lives when we need to look for ways God sees us. He is El Roi, the God who sees. It's the greatest desire of our souls to be seen, known, and loved. God does that all for us.

What is one way He has made your soul sing?

Maybe it's a way where he specifically showed you something meant only for you. God is a personal God who loves us individually right where we are.

This week on the podcast, Sandy and Carrie M Holt talked about those moments. Listen in to this week's episode:

buff.ly/3T7iArE

21/10/2024

Carrie M. Holt sat down with Sandy Ramsey-Trayvick,
author of the new book, "When Dreams Are Disrupted," to talk about her journey as she was forced to step into the role of caregiver for her child. When a childhood illness changed the life of her son, it left her feeling helpless. In this episode, she shares what God revealed concerning her choices and how she’s been working with this new set of options God has given her. This conversation with Sandy will inspire you to choose an “un-disabled” mindset as you raise your child with disabilities or special needs and fill that role of caregiver.

17/10/2024

This week on the Take Heart Special Moms Podcast, Carrie interviewed Sandy Ramsey. They discussed how we can let go of the disabled mindset that we are victims of our circumstances, tossed around by the waves of life.

But, Jesus

He's always our Anchor.

One thing we can do is remember. Sandy reminded us that the same things we believed about God before this happened are still true today, in the middle of the storm.

What a great reminder?

How has He been your anchor today?

15/10/2024

Over Heart, Carrie M. Holt sat down with Sandy Ramsey-Trayvick, author of the new book, "When Dreams Are Disrupted," to talk about Sandy’s mindset journey as she was forced to step into the role of caregiver for her child. When a childhood illness changed the life of her son, it left her feeling helpless. In this episode, she shares what God revealed concerning her choices and how she’s been working with this new set of options God has given her. This conversation with Sandy will inspire you to choose an “un-disabled” mindset as you raise your child with disabilities or special needs and fill that role of caregiver.

Listen in: https://buff.ly/3zOHCFr

10/10/2024

When an issue comes up with my child with disabilities that I need to fix, I typically want to fix it right now instead of living in the tension of the unresolved issue. This happened to me recently because I only wanted the situation to go away - it brought shame, guilt, and frustration. I felt like a "bad" mom.

Of course, we have emergencies to jump into with both feet right away.

But....what if we always chose in every issue to:
breathe first,
turn to God
ask Him for peace and direction

BEFORE attempting to solve the problem.

I have found that the more I do this, the clearer my thinking becomes. I lessen my reliance on myself and more clearly see God's provision in my situation—even if the only things He provides are His presence and His peace (which, of course, are the most important).

How about you? How are you learning to live in this tension of unresolved diagnoses, behaviors, and medical issues?

As Amy J Brown: Writer always reminds us: choose the peace first, not solving the problem.

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UPDATED! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 We're extending the contest to Monday, June 10th at midnight. Please share our post with a special needs mama and have her enter to win! Do you want a free ticket to @risingaboveministries conference Beloved for June 21-22? We have three tickets to give away All you need to do is comment on this post and tag a friend. Enter by midnight on Monday , June 10th, and we will draw a name. You don't want to miss this conference. It's going to be amazing. We hope you can join us in person as we would love to meet our listeners! Rising Above Ministries

348450_TheOtherSideOfSpecialBrown_Storyboard

Tuesday, May 9th, is the release of our book, "The Other Side of Special: Navigating the Messy, Emotional, Joy-Filled Life of a Special Needs Mom." We are excited and grateful for our listeners and readers support. There is still time to preorder. Click the link in our bio to preorder from your favorite retailer. Don't forget to head over to our website at https://takeheartspecialmoms.com/books to claim your preorder bonuses.

JOIN THE LAUNCH TEAM

Join "The Other Side of Special" 🚀 LAUNCH TEAM 🚀 | April 3rd - 24th!! Well, it's happening! We can hardly believe it's true, but we are getting ready to launch our book, and we can't think of a better way to do that than to do that with a team of our best supporters (moms, dads, grandparents, ministry leaders, neighbors, friends...anyone is welcome)! We would be honored if you would join us as we launch "The Other Side of Special" into the world and help other #specialneedsmoms and #caregivers navigate this messy, emotional, joy-filled life! Since this is so important and dear to our hearts, we are adding some extra incentives/bonuses to those friends that join our launch team. Those bonuses are: ⏩ Free DIGITAL copy of the book 📙 Free audiobook (to be released May 9th) ☕ 3 free virtual coffee chats with Amy, Carrie, and Sara 💥 Access to a private Facebook community 🎉 Opportunity to win prizes in giveaways and a virtual coffee chat with the authors 🎁 PLUS: All the pre-order bonuses Launch team member expectations: ✔ Read the book early. ✔ Recommend the book to family, friends, and social media followers ✔ Write an honest review of the book on retailer websites ✔ Follow Take Heart and Carrie, Sara & Amy on Instagram & Facebook so you don't miss at thing! How do you join the launch team, you may ask? It's easy peasy! 1️⃣ Step One: Preorder the book. (The pre-order link is in our bio!) 2️⃣ Step Two: Sign up on the launch team form. (The launch team link is in our bio!) 3️⃣ Step Three: Check your inbox for additional instructions. Don't worry, you will be getting emails from us that remind you of "all the important things" launch team related; we will walk you through this every step of the way! We are so excited to launch "The Other Side Of Special" with you! Questions? Email us at [email protected]!

Launch Team Teaser

How would you like an advanced copy of our book, The Other Side of Special: Navigating the Messy, Emotional, Joy-Filled Life of a Special Needs Mom, access to a private community group, live calls with us, and a chance to enter exclusive giveaways?! Starting Monday, April 3rd, you can join our launch team to help support the release of our new book. This book is for any mom or caregiver who has felt alone, misunderstood, or that your good isn't good enough. This book is not a "how to" book with pat answers or quick fixes. It's a book by three special needs moms who want you to know that we have been there. You are seen. You are heard. You are good enough. We would love the opportunity to spend some time together to talk about this messy, emotional, joy-filled life we live. We would be honored if you join us to help us launch this book and God's message for moms and caregivers into the world. For more information, visit our website at https://takeheartspecialmoms.com/books. (We'll also have a link in our bio on April 3rd!)

Three years ago today, we met for the first time in a @hopewriters writers’ group. Quickly realizing that the three of us were writing for other special needs moms, we quickly connected. One evening, in some random burger joint in California, we realized that although our children’s diagnoses are vastly different, as are our journeys, we experience the same emotions. Amy’s journey began through adoption, mental health, and hidden disabilities. Carrie’s son was diagnosed prenatally with a permanently disabling condition and became medically complex, facing numerous surgeries. Sara’s path started when her son received a progressive, fatal, and incurable diagnosis at the age of eight. Sitting around that table, with nothing but melted drinks and profound feelings of being understood and seen without judgment, we realized we had the same fear, guilt, anger, despair, and jealousy. Sitting around that table, we also experienced joy, hope, and shared faith. This book is about precisely what we were feeling. It is about the other side of special, the other side of parenting a child with disabilities and special needs that is too difficult to talk about; the messy emotions that never go away, the emotions that aren’t ever fixed. This book is not a “how to” book on how to master this parenting experience, nor will we offer pat answers or quick fixes. Instead, this book is a guide for how to navigate this messy, emotional, joy-filled life. Pre-order wherever books are sold! Stay tuned for some exciting bonuses and news coming soon! Visit us at https://takeheartspecialmoms.com/books for more information and to pre-order!

Episode 114

Amy shared with us this week how she learned to trust herself, not others. We are the experts. We know our children. That doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt when others don't "get us." It doesn't mean that we don't get frustrated or feel unsupported when others try to coach us from the sidelines when they aren't "in the game" every day. We are talking about how to support families with special needs this month. Amy's released this past Tuesday, the 7th. We release a new episode every Tuesday! You can find us on Apple podcasts here https://buff.ly/3Y9Glzy, or on Spotify here https://buff.ly/3RDgbTh, or on Amazon here https://buff.ly/3jyVo6U, or on Podcast Addict here https://buff.ly/3DEtCww, or on Podchaser here https://buff.ly/3DHRiQH! Come join us!

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Take Heart Podcast

Welcome to Take Heart!

As special needs moms, it is important for us to connect with others who are like-minded and who understand the day-to-day to-do lists and stresses that go hand and hand with this special journey.

We also need authentic connection and fervent hope, both of which are vital to embracing true joy.

That’s not always easy to come by though, right?

Through Take Heart, our goal is to offer insight, encouragement, laughs, tears, and heartfelt lessons - all in a judgment-free zone.

Carrie, Sara, and I have a combined experience of over thirty years of parenting children with special needs. Each of our paths are extremely unique and we are continually learning, making mistakes, but also making amazing memories along the way.

Each month, we will explore and discuss a theme that impacts caregivers. We will bring our unique perspectives, our hard-earned lessons, and we will share insightful stories, practical tips, and encouraging blessings that will help you flourish in your journey as a special needs mom.

Whether you have a child with chronic or complex illness; behavioral, mental, emotional, or physical special needs; we all have one common thread. Resilience.

We’ve all heard the saying “Giving up is not an option.” We disagree. Giving up IS an option. It’s just not an option us special needs mamas choose.

Giving up would mean admitting that our child’s disabilities or special needs are greater than who our children are as human beings. Giving up would mean missing the joy that is abundant throughout this journey.

You may be thinking “What do joy and resilience have to do with each other?” Well, author Brene Brown said it best when she said “Joy, collected over time, fuels resilience - ensuring we’ll have reservoirs of emotional strength when bad things do happen.”

The best way to endure those hardships when they do come, and they will come, is through community and connection. We hope that you find community and connection here. So welcome.

You can find us on Instagram at @takeheartspecialmoms or on our website at takeheartspecialmoms.com. To reach us separately, you can follow the links in our show notes. Each of us have a website, newsletters that offer practical advice, tips & tricks, and a little (or a lot) of randomness that seems to come hand in hand with our journeys.

We’d like to leave you with the scripture behind our podcast. In John 16:33 Jesus says “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We are looking forward to spending every week with you! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.