Special Needs Mama in Business by Moms of Heart

Hope you and your kids enjoy this story of why we celebrate Christmas!Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

For full show notes head over to momsofheart.com/028Find me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/momsofheartGet the hospital journal and use promo code "podcast20" to get 20% off!Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

For complete show notes check out http://www.momsofheart.com/027Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

This is the last episode of Moms of Heart. Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me. You guys are the original followers. I value every one of you and I appreciate so much that you've joined me on this journey. I hope this isn't good-bye but just a growing up and connecting at the next phase.The podcast is merging with Authentic Sisterhood and becoming Chase Joy 100 Ways.I want to stay in touch!!Go subscribe at http://authenticsisterhood.buzzsprout.comFind me on Social: Instagram, Facebook, PinterestSupport the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

Make sure you don't miss any part of this conversation and subscribe to the Authentic Sisterhood podcast also!For resources mentioned in this podcast head over to https://authenticsisterhood.com/blog/enneagram/ Also check out http://momsofheart.com/enneagramWe're talking through the nine enneagram types today. Discussing how they can be useful in your journey to chase joy in your life. We'll be talking about this tool for the next few episodes. This is just the introduction. In the coming weeks, we'll be discussing how this is useful in marriage, your motherhood, your working relationships, your friendships, and your relationship with yourself. Are you following me on social media? I'd love to connect with you everywhere!Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, youtubeSupport the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

This episode is a replay of our live hang out on youtube and Facebook. You can catch the live hangouts on Wednesdays at 3 pm CST.This episode we talk about fear and faith and the relationship between the two. I share about my irrational fear of potato roots. And we have some fun playing some games that... this time are best played if you watch the video, but you can always go catch that part later.I really loved this conversation. I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful. Thanks for tuning in. I shared about an article in the episode, here's the link.You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Thanks for hanging with me today!(Don't forget to check out my other podcast Authentic Sisterhood!)Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

Have you heard the saying the mama is the thermostat of the mood in the home? We're going to explore that and talk about some ways you can "change the temperature".Quick tips for right now changes:Gratitudeself-carethings that feed your soulsunshineexerciseread a bookJournalSpend time intentionally thinking - problem solve(I totally forgot to mention MUSIC!!)Big picture tips to craft a brighter future:Dream and make a 5-year planCraft a family mission statementPractice AffirmationsCreate a Vision BoardResources mentioned: Authentic Sisterhood PodcastAuthentic Sisterhood BlogApps mentioned:GetHelpTalkSpaceHeadspaceBooks:(These are Amazon Affiliate links)Girl, Stop ApologizingMiracle EquationYou are a Bad AssRisen MotherhoodThe Gift of Being YourselfThe Gift of Imperfection7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleSupport the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

If you want to catch the next nap time hang out live you can head over to Facebook on Wednesday at 3pm CST. This episode we're chatting about grounding yourself especially during uncertain times like a global pandemic. Though everything discussed here would also be helpful when life is in flux because you're in an out of the hospital. Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

Hey! Welcome to season 2 of the Moms of Heart Podcast! I mentioned the academy in this episode, you can check that out at authenticsisterhoodacademy.com/shopYou can find Moms of Heart on Instagram and Facebook and don't forget our exclusive community for mamas here. If you'd like to check out Authentic Sisterhood on Instagram and Facebook there's those links as well as the exclusive community here. Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

On this episode I'm joined by Stacy Simms of the podcast, Diabetes Connections. You can find out more about her and find her book and her podcast with the links below! Thanks for listening!!www.diabetes-connections.com twitter.com/diabetescxnsFacebook.com/diabetesconnectionsInstagram.com/staceysimmsSupport the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

For full show notes go to momsofheart.com/020On today's episode I'm interviewing Claire Pan for Julia's Journey, you know that mom who went viral on facebook because her daughter's doctor called her a bitch?! Yeah her! She tells us the whole story!I loved chatting with Claire because she talks about how her daughter wouldn't be alive today except for that she and her husband have stepped in to advocate for little Julia... several times! While this might lead one to feel bitterness towards the medical community Claire continues to stay optimistic and hopeful and maybe only just a little salty. I think you're going to like it. When her post went viral she was so inspired by all the other stories moms were sharing that she decided to collect it all into a book. If you'd like to submit a story you can do so here. When the Book goes live for pre-orders I'll let you know via my mailing list. Are you on it? If not, go do it now! Subscribe here!Also if starting this week join me for a nap time hang out session on social media starting Wednesdays at 2 pm CST. We're gonna talk about a different topic each week pertaining to the special needs mom life. It's gonna be so fun! Come join me!Come follow me on Facebook and Instagram!Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

For full show notes head over to www.momsofheart.com/016On this episode I chat with Jennifer Williams of La Luna Creative about her son's various challenges that bring him to the special needs community. She has had to constantly advocate for the RIGHT diagnosis. Genetic testing has been pivital in understanding what exactly is going on with their son. Initially it seemed as though maybe he "simply" had autism. But it was a much more complex story than that.Next we jump into how owning a business has allowed Jennifer to show up well for her son at times when he has needed her because she was her own boss. At La Luna Creative among other things, she specializes in SEO. SEO leaves me confused and scratching my head, much like conversations on genetics. But Jennifer gives us some really easy simple tips to apply to our websites to improve our SEO game. Things like:Add descriptions to picturesmake sure to use the alt textdo keyword researchuse that keyword for 3-5% saturation in your textUse location if applicableYou can find Jennifer at La Luna Creative.Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

Head over to www.momsofheart.com/015 for full show notes.Chatting with Laura from the Messy Bun Life was sure a treat as we talked about parenting children with special needs, IEP's, Disney World and sensory issues, blogging, entrepreneurship, and so many more things. First, we chat about how Laura's son was first diagnosed with Autism. She wasn't expecting it and the beginning of the journey was full of challenges as they worked to figure out what help her son needed. As they kept trying they got the right resources, they got him in the right school with the right therapy. She advocated fiercely for him with the help of her mother-in-law who knows the ins and outs of what's available to her in that school district. Today if you met her son, you might not even know he has struggles.Laura has created a tool that she shares for free to help you prepare for IEP meetings. As we talked about it, I realized that an IEP meeting can be very emotionally charged for any number of reasons. As a result some times it's easy to forget to ask your question or sometimes forget altogether what was said without being well organized and prepared. So she's created a tool to help you through this IEP world you can get right here! We talked a little about blogging life and how that journey began and about her boutique. Through this conversation about business, it was fun to hear how her kids are engaging in her business even as young as they are. Personally, what a win for your child to see you working and want to participate in it. If our goal is to raise these tiny humans to be good, kind people who can find meaningful fulfillment in work, that adds value to others, and provides a sustainable lifestyle... what more could you want? (or maybe that's just my personal parenting philosophy.)Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

For full show notes check out www.momsofheart./014Please note, some links may be affiliate links - this helps pay for the cost of providing you with this free resource."I don't have enough money.""I can't pay for that therapy.""Our co-pays are killing us."The list of money-related complaints from special needs parents is long. I get it I've been there... we're still in a tight spot but we have a way and a plan out. FINALLY. You didn't choose this life of being Mom of Heart. Yet, it impacts you on EVERY. SINGLE. LEVEL. When it comes to money in this economy where inflation keeps growing, student loans are insanely high, and wages haven't changed... for decades what is a parent supposed to do? Medical costs, even with good insurance, are terrible. You have to be pretty poor to qualify for Medicaid. So how do you survive? How do you thrive financially when something is wrong with your child? That's what we dive into in this episode of the Special Needs Mama in Business Podcast. Basically the answer is you need to start a business.More specifically you need to start a business that brings in passive income. Meaning you can put some work in... and you keep getting paid. You're not trading time for money.Why do I need a business?Why? Because the most catastrophic event to your finances is when your child has a LONG hospital stay... like months to years. You don't want to leave that hospital room to go to work. If the worst happened and you had to plan a funeral... would you want to go back to work the next week? Or would you want some breathing room to grieve?Now you understand where and why I'm coming from. Let's talk about some practical ideas and resources.Start a freelance businessIf you've never owned a business and this is the first time you've entertained the idea and you're STRAPPED FOR CASH. A great starting point is freelancing. Yeah, you're trading time for money, but it gets you cash now to start some other ideas later. Also, it gives you experience as a business owner and it lets your brain start working in a totally different capacity while you figure out a good passive income idea. Need some freelancing ideas? Do you have a valuable skill? Copywritinggraphic designphotographybeing a virtual-assistantsocial media marketingvoice-oversfiver.com is a great place to get startedNeed something RIGHT now? Here are some great ideas to check out.Be a pet sitter for rover.com or wag.comDrive for lyft or uberRun errands for Shipt, or door dash etc.Aim for passive income!!Ready to work on passive income ideas? Let us explore some of those ideas like real estate, network marketing, digital marketing and developing a product. For more ideas, Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income is really helpful.Real Estate?If you are curious about exploring real estate, the Bigger Pockets podcast is really great. There's a huge archive to explore different ways of investing in real estate. That could look like vacation rentals, buy and hold, fix and flip, or BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) all these different ways of doing real estate are discuses on Bigger Pockets. Don't buy any kind of expensive education or mentorship until you've got the money and you're ready to start deal hunting. Then be careful about some of these guru trainings. Sometimes they aren't at all what you were expecting. I have a resource for this kind of education. If you want to know more coSupport the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

Today on the podcast I got the chance to interview Jami Balmet from YoungWifesGuide.com. It was so good I wanted to get it to you right away so we actually recorded this earlier today! Unlike most of my guests, Jami doesn't have a child with special needs. She is familiar with advocating thought. She had to fight for her own health care when after having 5 children in just about 4 years, her hormones were all out of wack and she needed a provider to listen and help. Would you believe in the midst of all this, she also had her own business and was growing and scaling it? Now today she is healthier and her business has become so big that her husband works full time for the family business as well! She started off blogging and offering her own printables and ebooks etc. This has grown and now this year she'll be hosting the 6th Annual Virtual Homemakers Conference.The theme this year is Crafting a Gospel-Centered and Home and sessions range from the theological to the practical (because if you can't get dinner on the table it's hard to let the gospel into some of the abstract parts of our homemaking.) She does this really crazy thing... that actually isn't so crazy and is kinda my favorite now... She grinds her own grains and bakes all the things. Muffins, waffles, sandwich bread, pasta, tortillas she makes them all from scratch and grinds the grains fresh in her kitchen. I know you're thinking what is she super mom? But I've tried it and it doesn't add any time to the baking process and you get a much much better end result (when you have a recipe meant for freshly milled grains... I've had some fails too. haha) She's gotten so many questions about this that she created a digital course with recipes, how-tos and even breaks down how she does her "baking day" where she makes all the things for the week in just a few hours. - mind. blown. I have this course and a new fancy grain mill on my Christmas list for this year. You've gotta check it out!!Check out Jami's podcast Homemaking foundations episodes #117, #124, and #166. For more about baking with freshly milled grains.Finally, Jami is a READER. I mean she reads so much, so fast. She talks about what she's reading often on her podcast - Homemaking Foundations. We shared our favorite books about integrating the gospel into our practical theology. My favorite:Gospel Fluency by Jeff VandersteltYou Can Change by Tim ChesterJami's Favorite:Glimpses of Grace by Gloria FurmanWhat is the Gospel by Greg GilbertThe conference is going to be so good this year. Be sure to grab your tickets - right now they're on earlier bird special and as the date approaches the price will go up.The conference is in November, but there is some bonus content releasing in September. You can start thinking about these things and preparing yourself before the conference even starts. The best part about the conference is the sense of community created and the fact that it's virtual so if you're stuck at home with littles or at the hospital with your warrior you can still participate be encouraged and have a little fun. But also if you're in the midst of a crisis and not up for this at the time you get lifetime access to the conference so you can go thSupport the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

You asked and I answeredOn today's episode, you've asked a lot of great questions about relationships and how to make it work when you have a special needs child. So I grabbed my husband, John and we worked our way through them.Some questions we answered:What keeps us together through all we've been through?What tools have helped us?What if I don't feel loved by or feel love for my partner?How do you do date nights?How do you stay on the same team?How do I forgive when I've been hurt?How do you communicate about money?We talk about how we're not experts but we've worked through a lot of common causes of divorce and are still together to tell the tale. We give you practical examples and resources to address things like communication, dealing with "falling out of love" money, responsibility, stress, etc. Our hope is this episode encourages you to open up some doors of communication with your partner and find ways to refresh your relationship.Some resources mentioned on today's episode:The 5 Love Languages by Gary ChapmanLove and Respect by Emmerson EggerichsThe Meaning of Marriage by Tim KellerGirl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel HollisDave RamseySupport the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

Check out full show notes at www.momsofheart.com/011Summer McDade of Summer at the Lake House shares her story of how her son was originally misdiagnosed with Autism, but it turns out he has Dandy Walker. She talks about how she had to advocate to get testing for her son, even after her daughter was diagnosed gestationally. Then we discuss how she got started in the vacation rental business and how now she coaches other business owners to build their own vacation rental business. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook!Don't forget to get your entry in for the Art contest as it closes in just 10 days!!Leave a review for this podcast at www.momsofheart.com/reviewFind me on Instagram and Facebook!Thanks mama!Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

Full show notes can be found at momsofheart.com/010In this episode, I chat with Jenna Pratt about the children's books she wrote and self-published to help 2-5-year-old siblings understand what's happening when baby brother or sister is born with a congenital heart defect. First, we chatted about her son, Liam. His journey with HLHS was right alongside my son's journey. They had the surgeries around the same time and we chat about how it was to watch each other go through a similar journey as our own. She shares about how her family juggled both of them being employed full time through multiple hospitalizations. Then how they helped their older child understand what was happening to her baby brother. She struggled to find the resources she really wanted to be able to explain on a toddler level of comprehension what was happening. So she wrote Doctors Help Baby and Baby has a Booboo which can be purchased on Amazon.*She talks about the process of finding an illustrator, collaborating with a child's psychologist and the journey of self-publishing. *These are affiliate links. These help support the cost of this podcast. Thank you for your support!Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

As a special needs mama burn out and self-care are topics constantly on my rotation of concerns. When you have to give of yourself to care for one or more humans it's vital to make sure you care for yourself intentionally so you have something to give to those humans. I got the hang of this for a while and then out of nowhere burn out hit.In this epsiode, I break down the circumstances that led to my burn out and how I fought my way out and how I'm now working to prevent it from happening again.My health was neglected, my mental health, and I was placing unrealistic expectations of myself on others causing guilt and shame ( that was totally unfounded). I had a difficult work situation in the midst of all this and I felt like I just wasn't enough. That feeling got louder and louder and pretty soon, I was exhausted from trying to be enough.Resources mentioned in this episode:Ashwagandha (I now use this blend instead of the supplement by itself)Hospital Binder PackStart Today JournalArt ContestSupport the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

In this episode, I dive into my mission with this podcast and the rest of my business. I talk about how I defined that mission. And how it applies to the day to day stuff. I had a rough idea of why I was doing what but when I stopped and took some time to think and clarify why I was doing what I was doing the how I was doing what made more sense... that was a ridiculous sentence. This episode is brought to you by the hospital binder pack from Momsofheart.com. This is a great tool to help you manage the information overload when you're in the hospital so you can be a better advocate for your child!I was listening to a great podcast by The ONE Thing talking about thinking time. I have been frustrated by my VERY slow business growth over the last few months and decided it was time to apply some thinking time to this problem. Why is my revenue not growing faster? The conclusion I came to? I can't attract more of the right customers because I don't know who that is or what exactly I have to offer them. Quite the profound problem. Huh? So next I defined that my mission. My Mission: To help moms advocate effectively for their special needs child from a place of hope. That means a lot of different things for me. Advocating effectively means giving you the tools to be prepared and communicate well. The hospital binder pack and this podcast definitely fit that bill. But it also means encouraging you in self-care and giving you other tools to handle all those complexities. I have some big exciting ideas for this in the future. So stay tuned to see what's next!The word "hope" I struggled with because this concept encompasses a lot of pieces for me. It starts with encouraging you in your entrepreneurial journey if you're a network marketer, real estate agent, or VA... I've found that a lot of special needs moms have a side hustle or a full-time business because they need money and time flexibility that comes with being your own boss. This means you are coming from a stronger place to advocate because you aren't worried about the cost of the next thing that "might help."Hope also translates to me that we're talking about alternative health care. Because when traditional western medicine says this pill or this pill will help and neither do, or they cause bigger problems to begin with and there's no next step... That is a hopeless situation. But I truly believe health is the greatest wealth for the adults and children in my family. So we're looking at chiropractic, diet, essential oils, detoxing, all the things... under the supervision of trained practitioners. As we get some momentum going in this podcast I hope to have some guests come to talk about these things. So that's it. The whole point of what we're doing here is to help moms advocate effectively for their special needs child from a place of hope. So would you share this podcast with a special needs mama in your life? Until next time, come find me on social media! Instagram or Facebook Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

Check out full show notes at www.momsofheart.com/007On this episode, I chat with Quinton and Barbara from CHDwarrior.com. They share their story with CHD. They share the rollercoaster of the last several years in and out of the hospital with multiple open-heart surgeries. Asher's journey has been a difficult one with Shone's complex. But they continue to find hope every day. Then we transition into talking about how they launched chdwarrior.com while Asher was in the hospital. They talk about some of the different challenges of running an online business in the retail space, some of the great feedback they've heard from customers and how they give back to the CHD community through donations from the proceeds from their shop. Check out their creative designs and products at CHDwarrior.com and use promo code: "Momsofheart" through the end of August 2019 for 15% off.Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by the hospital binder from Moms of Heart.Don't forget to get your Child's art entered into the art contest! (contest details)Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

In this episode, I tell the whole long story of Henry and his HLHS journey. We start from pregnancy up to the present day. Including 2 open-heart surgeries. Congenital heart defects are so common 1 in 100 children will be diagnosed with one. This is one of the reasons I feel it's so important to share Herny's story, but also because every day several families get the devastating news that their child has this diagnosis. There is hope. If that's all you get out of this episode then I've done my job.Check out the Hospital Binder Pack to keep organized in the hospital.Find out more about the Art Contest.Be sure to find me on social media - Instagram and Facebook.Check out momsofheart.com for more!Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

For full show notes head over to www.momsofheart.com/005In this episode, Robyn Rosenberger, the brains and heart behind the Tiny Superheroes project, shares her story of how she accidentally created this business that is creating a huge impact in the special needs community and then how that community rallied around her when she had a special needs child of her own. To nominate your child for a cape go here.She talks about Blessed by Brenna who was her inspiration for things and you can find Courtney Westlake's book here.Ready to jump in on the missions? If you have a cape, check your email you probably got an invitation but just in case you can't find the link, click here!Wanna know more about the art contest and how you can enter your child's artwork? Find out more here.Find Tiny Superheroes on Instagram and Facebook.Find me on Instagram and Facebook.Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

For full show notes head over to momsofheart.com/004Check out contest rules for the art contest at momsofheart.com/artcontestWe talk about my issues with getting the right things done and organization and productivity. I follow The One Thing for help with this, but I'm struggling with the practice part of learning this new skill.I break down my activity goal for July. And what worked and mostly what didn't.I need more training on my social media strategies from VIP life. Getting things done that increase revenue is sometimes really hard. This was my biggest goal for the month of July. This podcast was originally recorded on July 6th. By the time of editing on July 27th I've made some good progress but I've got a long way to go!Thanks for listening! Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

If you have a child in the hospital or you are about to, this is a must listen to episode about advocating for your child during hospitalization.The hospital binder pack available at momsofheart.com is gone over in detail as I explain how I would use this during hospitalization after learning all the hard ways of how best to communicate with the hospital staff. Don't forget to use promo code: podcast at checkout to get 50% off your PDF download!For Full Episode notes head over to momsofheart.com/003Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

In this episode, we talk through the various health challenges our family is and has been facing over the last several years. Up until recently, poor health has defined us. But we finally have taken control of our lives, health, and future. My personal journey includes PCOS, endometriosis, abdominal pain with food, fatigue and a lot of misdiagnoses.My husband, John, has a cholesteatoma, Chiari malformation, vertigo, and a whole bunch of "random" issues that point to a greater problem of poor health caused by toxic overload.My son was born with HLHS, a congenital heart defect. He's more healthy than typical of kids in his category. He's slightly delayed developmentally but rapidly catching up. Mostly from all we've learned about our health we're very proactive with his nutrition, supplements, vitamins, etc. To give him his best chance at a healthy life with few complications since there is no cure for his condition. Finally, I wrap it all up sharing the changes we've made over the last few months to give us the changes in our health we've been experiencing. If you want to find out more about what we're doing you can connect here.Check out the full show notes at www.momsofheart.com/002Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)

All the details about what's to come on this season of Special Needs Mama in Business.We talk briefly about my family including my son with a congenital heart defect (CHD), our family's health journey, and all our businesses that I'm juggling.Moms of Heart is the brand that's associated with this podcast.You can find out more about my network marketing business and my health journey here.And Our RV journey is only in its infancy in preparation but you can find more on that here.If you're in the North Houston area and interest in having me pet sit for you, you can find me at Rover.com.That's about it this episode. It's awkward. It's poorly edited. But it's just the beginning. Support the show (http://Paypal.me/momsofheart)