Life Unexpected

This episode is dedicated to all my fellow special needs mommas and full time caregivers. It's short sweet and to the point. 

An interview with PJ as she shares her trans journey with us. Some of you listening may have your own trans journey, some of you might know someone with a trans journey, this episode was made for you. If you know nothing (this was me!) about being trans or what that looks like for someone, this episode was made for you. If you want to be a supporter but don't know who you are supporting, this episode was made for you. If you simply want to listen, this episode was made for you. 

If you are local to the Northwest Arkansas area an need support, services or programs go to https://nwaequality.org. 

This episode is dedicated to anyone who has ever felt the need to apologize about how they are feeling or what they are going through. 

Are you happy or are you living? I listened to a podcast earlier this morning that discussed being alive and being happy. It really resonated with me so I wanted to talk about it and give my own thoughts on the subject. What is the difference? How are they the same? What are we really striving for in life? I mean we should have all the answers by now right? LOL 

So many of us take care of others who can't take care of themselves or need extra help.  I did not know caregiver burnout was a real thing until now and I want to share what I learned and why it makes so much sense. 

In this short episode I explain why I have not been feeling myself and what I'm doing to get back to me! 

What do you do when you are at rock bottom? How do you come out on the other side? How do you face the shit head on that you are going through? McKenna Reitz will tell you, she will sympathize with you and she will empathize with you then she will inspire you to get back up. 

As parents we have expectations of our children even before they are born. It's true. Even if you don't want it to be. What happens when those expectations don't happen? What happens when the unexpected happens? How do you handle it? How do you mourn the child you thought you had and accept the child you do have? I address these topics in this episode of Life Unexpected. 

Elizabeth is a dear friend and someone I have looked up to since the day we met. She is a very interesting lady and has had her own Life Unexpected trials. From unexpectedly being a librarian to teaching people about the beginning days of the internet and raising her boys as a single mother she always has something interesting and uplifting to say. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Bassman for the start of my second season. She is a business burnout coach, an author and a burnout survivor herself. We talk about all things burnout and how she worked her way through it, her book and how it can help you recover from burnout and several other interesting topics! 

A couple things have been on my mind as of late. The beginning of 2021 is probably not going to be a huge difference than the end of 2020, and understanding intellectual disability. In this short episode you will hear why I think this about the start of 2021 and part of our story with Andrews intellectual disability. 

My dear friend Adrienne is about as real as you can get. She tells us how it is with all her life unexpected stories from her own childhood through adulthood. I know so many of you will be able to relate to parts of her story and I can't wait for ya'll to hear it. 

 The siblings of special needs kids are often ignored, not on purpose but out of necessity of taking care of the other kiddo. We need to make sure we are making the time to let them be seen and heard. We need to make sure we are making the time to let them know they are just as important! 

This episode was super emotional for me to record and edit. There were several times Reese was ignored and we didn't even realize it. I am blessed we found a way past it but not without pain and hurt. 

I had the best time interviewing my grandmother. The one I call Meme. There was so much about her life I didn't know. And only so much I could learn in the short time we had together. She has always seemed like super woman to me and I am so honored to share her with you all. I will definitely be going back for a part 2, maybe even a part 3! 

I finally got to interview the hubby! I thought it would be good if ya'll got to know Rusty a little bit. He's funny and ornery and maybe a little smart! I truly enjoyed getting to interview him. 

November is epilepsy awareness month. In honor of that I recorded the beginning of our epilepsy journey. This episode was a lot harder to record than I thought it would be and even harder to edit. As hard as that was for me to do, I felt it necessary for anyone going through this journey so they know they aren't alone. I love and appreciate you all. Thank you for listening. 

Cheri is an amazing friend, an RN, NLP practitioner, master mindset coach and Reiki master-teacher. She and I talk all things mindset and self development. You don't want to miss her advice on how to call BS on limiting beliefs and coming to love who you actually are. 

This episode is dedicated to all moms who have suffered from mom guilt. I call BS on mom guilt while telling you one very important phrase that could change the way you think about yourself. 

Who am I and why this podcast! I mean what else would an introductory episode have lol.