Updated blog post from July 1, 2010 There are seasons of parenting that can leave even the strongest mom feeling worn out. Over the past few months, I have had several conversations with a dear friend who has been struggling in raising her son. Her girls are obedient with the normal challenges, but her son? He is one of those spirited ...
Disabilities
When we dreamed about a family, my husband and I never imagined the challenges that we would face. It wasn't in our plans to have children with diagnoses and disabilities. But, none of this was a surprise to God. He knew that our children would need us; and we would need them.
This blog was started to encourage and help families, especially those with challenging children. While reading these posts, I pray that you will find ideas to implement in your home. Secondly, I pray that you will find hope and encouragement knowing that you are not alone. Finally, we pray that God will use Our Story to encourage you.
Preventing Meltdowns Before They Begin
One of the biggest lessons I have learned while raising a child with sensory challenges is this: the best way to handle a meltdown is to help prevent it before it starts. That sounds simple, doesn’t it? But in real life, it takes a lot of observation, patience, and grace. I feel I had to get it wrong a whole lot to start discovering how to get ...
Calming Sensory Strategies for Children on the Go
There are moments when everything seems fine one second, and the next, the child is completely overwhelmed. I saw it often in my own home—usually when noise, emotions, and too much stimulation built up faster than one of my kiddos could process. In those moments, movement became one of the most effective tools in my parenting toolbox. I remember ...
The Hard Reality and Hidden Purpose of ADHD Parenting
When Bubs was just a baby, I read a parenting book written by a mom raising a boy with ADHD. At the time, I didn’t know much about ADHD. I remember thinking how incredibly hard that must be—parenting a child who never slows down, who struggles to focus, who acts before thinking. I had no idea I was reading a glimpse of my own future. Bubs—our ...
How to Know If a Child Has a Disability
There are moments in motherhood when a quiet question keeps returning: Is this just a phase, or is something more going on? I remember asking that question again and again, unsure if I was being overly concerned or not concerned enough. This post was originally written in April 2015, a season when I felt confused, overwhelmed, and desperate for ...
How to Teach Volume Control: Free PDF
“Why are you using your yelling voice?” “Please turn down your volume.” “I need you to talk quieter, please.” Do those phrases sound familiar in your home? If so, friend, you’re not alone. Those were regular lines in our home when my son was younger. For the longest time, I felt like a broken record, constantly reminding him to lower his ...
When Occupational Therapy isn’t an Option
If you’re raising a child with Sensory Processing Disorder and don’t have access to occupational therapy (OT), I see you. It’s overwhelming, and the daily challenges can leave you feeling helpless and alone. But mama, you are not without tools or hope. While OT is a wonderful resource, I want to share practical, home-based strategies that made a ...
When “Normal” Doesn’t Fit Your Child
When I imagined becoming a mom, I pictured sleepy baby snuggles, first words, and sweet milestones. I didn’t picture the first month of my child’s life being spent at a children’s hospital after open-heart surgery. I didn’t expect therapy appointments to fill our calendar, or for terms like “neurophysiologist,” “psychiatrist,” and “conduct ...
What to Do When Sensory Emotions Explode
Sharing a past post in the prayers that it will be helpful to many. It was the perfect scenario—or so I thought. We had just left church, and Grams was sitting in the backseat cuddling with Bubs (age seven). We picked up pizza and chatted about the fun day we had thus far with family. Once home, everyone gathered at the dinner table—except ...
Do Your Understand Dyslexia: Dyslexia Bible Review
Most likely you have heard about a learning disability called dyslexia. Many people associate it with reversing letters. But 2 years ago, I learned that about dyslexia on a personal level when after 10 years of searching for the cause, my daughter was given the dyslexia diagnosis finally providing a path to help. You may remember in my post ...