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Parenting the Special Family From Diagnosis to Real Life

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The Myth of the Superhero Mom

February 7, 2017 By Patricia O'Machel Leave a Comment

I am super excited to be guest blogging today over at Easter Seals.  Please check it out HERE – Easter Seals provides resources and services for both kids and adults with disabilities, and I am proud to be a part of it. Easterseals.com Blog.easterseals.com

Filed Under: being a Mom, disability, disability parenting, parenting, siblings, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent, special needs parenting, special needs siblings Tagged With: disability parenting, parenting, special needs mom

Sharing Stories of Parenting the Special Needs Child Around the World

October 2, 2016 By Patricia O'Machel Leave a Comment

I NEED YOUR HELP and I WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY   Parents, I need your help with an important project, looking at special needs parenting from a global perspective. The purpose and focus of this project will be to address the day to day life of raising a young child with special needs.  It…

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Filed Under: being a Mom, diagnosis, disability, disability parenting, Global parenting, siblings, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent, special needs parenting, special needs siblings Tagged With: children disability, disability, globe, parenting, Special needs parenting, world

Please stop learning at my daughter’s expense

June 28, 2016 By Patricia O'Machel 3 Comments

The first day of summer or the first day of camp are supposed to be exciting and memorable and calm. But sometimes things don’t work out and it doesn’t go your way or the way you thought it should play out.  I get that and I am not an evil, mean Mom waiting to pounce…

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Filed Under: disability, disability parenting, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent

Growing Up: Transitions and Disability

April 19, 2016 By Patricia O'Machel Leave a Comment

I have been sitting through meetings these last few weeks to plan the transition of my daughter to middle school.  All is going well, and everyone seems to be on board with the plan.  But as I sit there at the big table, I fight back my fears and try to sit tall in my chair and…

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Filed Under: being a Mom, disability, disability parenting, parenting, special education, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent, special needs parenting Tagged With: cerebral palsy, disability, junior high, middle school, research, transition

Since You’ve Been Gone: A Letter to my Mom

March 1, 2016 By Patricia O'Machel Leave a Comment

  Dear Mom, It goes without saying that I miss you so badly my heart hurts, and I cannot believe still to this day (three years later) that when I pick up the phone to call, you will not be there.  Some days I can deal pretty well with this, but others I just ache…

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Filed Under: being a Mom, disability parenting, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent Tagged With: disability, parenting

The Crazy, Complicated, Upside-Down Feeling of the IEP

November 19, 2015 By Patricia O'Machel Leave a Comment

Tis’ the season, once again, to face my daughter’s annual IEP.  It is one of those meetings you silently dread, while all the time knowing you have to show up and be your best and bring your best game.  I rarely have done that.  My normal IEP day follows a sleepless night trying to think through…

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Filed Under: disability parenting, special education, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent Tagged With: IEP, INdividual Education Plan, School

Caregivers For Special Kids

May 5, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

 There is always so much talk about how Mom’s need to care for themselves so that they are able to care for their children.  When you Google “Secrets of a Happy Mom” you come up with everything ranging from new moms to moms of teenagers, and all the ways one can find happiness in those…

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Filed Under: disability parenting, parenting, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent, special needs parenting

What A Simple Spring Break Trip Did For This Mom

April 21, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

My family recently traveled for Spring Break – for a lot of reasons other than just “because everyone else does it.”  I felt we needed a drastic change of scenery.  We have been on a hamster wheel for way too many months – full of therapy after therapy, doctors’ visits, hockey practices, hockey games, homework,…

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Filed Under: disability parenting, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent, special needs parenting

The super hero flexibility of the special needs parent

April 12, 2015 By admin 2 Comments

I would not say I am a particularly flexible person, in the physical sense.  Can’t quite remember my last back bend or splits – but it was definitely sometime in my early childhood.  Yet, people are always commenting on my flexibility, my patience, and my ability to see the sunny side of the street. I…

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Filed Under: being a Mom, disability parenting, siblings, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent, special needs parenting

The Waiting Room : Now

March 24, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

Ten years ago I was a much different Mom sitting in this waiting room.  Now, seasoned beyond my wildest dreams, I have sat in more waiting rooms than I care to count.  The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is a massive place.  Floors of people who have suffered injuries, or strokes, or surgeries stay here and…

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Filed Under: diagnosis, disability parenting, special needs mom, Special Needs Parent, special needs parenting

Hi, and thanks for stopping by and joining me in this crazy, interesting life of parenting a special child.
Days may be long, but never boring - and I look forward to all of the amazing things that this kind of life, living outside the lines, will bring. More…

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Top Posts

  • Elearning Virtual disAbility Awareness
    Elearning Virtual disAbility Awareness
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    Our New Normal - Elearning
  • The Myth of the Superhero Mom
    The Myth of the Superhero Mom
  • Sharing Stories of Parenting the Special Needs Child Around the World
    Sharing Stories of Parenting the Special Needs Child Around the World
  • Please stop learning at my daughter's expense
    Please stop learning at my daughter's expense
  • I Want My Kids to Think I Matter
    I Want My Kids to Think I Matter

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