Take Heart Amy J Brown, Carrie Holt and Sara Clime

We are excited to share Amy’s conversation with Michele Cushatt, an author, communicator, and 3-time cancer survivor. Michele's latest book, "A Faith That Will Not Fail," offers practices to strengthen faith during challenging circumstances. Amy and Michele talk about acknowledging and dealing with trauma honestly, offering hope. They also discuss the concept of lament and the practice of relinquishment. 


Eps. 164 : April 16, 2024
 Navigating Family Trauma: Finding Hope Amidst Hardship with Michele Cushatt
Summary: 

Key Moments:
[9:20] Fear of letting go
[18:34] Struggle to be content, envy is natural
[23:08] Suffering reveals gifts
[35:12] Guide children loosely, but then let go
[41:20] Permission to grieve and trusting the process



Resources:
Michele’s Website 


If you enjoyed the show:
Have you purchased our new book, The Other Side of Special? Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart WebsiteGet our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and HopeReview and like us on Apple Podcasts Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmomsFind Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writerFind Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholtFind Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime


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 Carrie, Amy, and Sara answer listener’s questions in this episode. Questions like, “How do you make good decisions regarding your child’s health?” and “What’s the appropriate amount of information you give when answering someone’s question about your child?” We have learned some real lessons over the years through trial and error and want to share with you some practical advice from our experiences.\

Eps. 163
Date: April 9, 2024
Key Moments:
[3:45] Choosing who you speak to about the hard things
[15:44] Advocating for privacy and understanding in healthcare
[21:54] Ask for more time to make decisions
[35:08] Life’s changes and feeling jealous of others


Resources:
A Blessing for the Gift of Doubt 
Recovery Formation
Ep 143: God’s Faithfulness in the Midst of Daily Suffering

Sara’s Wedge Boots  


If you enjoyed the show:
Have you purchased our new book, The Other Side of Special? Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart WebsiteGet our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and HopeReview and like us on Apple Podcasts Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmomsFind Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writerFind Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholtFind Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime


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We are honored to welcome the inspiring Kelley Coleman to our podcast. Kelley shared her deeply personal journey as a parent of a child with multiple disabilities and how she ended up writing her book, "Everything No One Tells You About Parenting." Her authenticity and wisdom shine through in this interview. We discuss the lack of information parents are provided on diagnosis and how there’s not one specific place a parent can go to find the info and support they need. We talked about the crucial aspects of caregiving in navigating the healthcare system, accessing financial support, and our need for self-care that might be unconventional.

Ep. 162; March 19, 2024

Key Moments:
[7:03] Care plan for my dependent child brings victories
[15:52] State disability definitions and benefits
[26:12] Getting a second opinion is freeing
[39:57] Balancing rewards and guilt of parenting challenges
[44:05] Going home Googling things and crying
Resources:
https://www.kelleycoleman.com/
https://www.kelleycoleman.com/books
https://www.instagram.com/hellokelleycoleman/
https://www.facebook.com/kelley.coleman.56
https://emilypfreeman.com/next-right-thing-book/ 


If you enjoyed the show:
Have you purchased our new book, The Other Side of Special? Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart WebsiteGet our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and HopeReview and like us on Apple Podcasts Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmomsFind Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writerFind Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholtFind Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime
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As caregivers, we are well acquainted with transitions, and very much so in regard to our children. In this collaborative, Amy, Sara, and Carrie discuss the difficulties of life transitions as parents. They talk about their personal experiences, including making medical decisions and educational changes. The challenges of balancing autonomy and outside influences, going against medical recommendations, and seeking guidance for decisions are all discussed. We hope this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for you!
Key Moments:
[2:20] 4 different types of transitions
[7:59] Planned our son’s birth…but have learned our lesson
[11:25] We don’t use ‘never’ when it comes to health
[24:34] Comparing to others make transitions harder
[35:30] Balancing hope and grief 


Resources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ace.193
Hospital Stay Guide by Carrie M. Holt: Listen to Episode 140, “Hospital Stay Survival: Spiritually & Practically.” You can access the transcript with links to her guide HERE. 


If you enjoyed the show:
Have you purchased our new book, The Other Side of Special? Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart WebsiteGet our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and HopeReview and like us on Apple Podcasts Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmomsFind Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writerFind Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholtFind Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclimeSupport the show

Being a parent to a child with special needs comes with its own unique set of challenges, and being misunderstood is a chief issue. As Amy, Carrie, and Sara share their personal experiences and insights, they provide valuable guidance on responding with grace and resilience when faced with misunderstandings…even though they don’t do it perfectly every time. They discuss the balance of speaking the truth and advocating for their children without being intentionally hurtful to others and not feeling the need to explain everything, instead using their child's trauma as an explanation only when necessary. Join us for a funny and truthful episode about real life. 
Ep. 160; February 27, 2024

Key Moments:
[1:35] One thing we want to set straight about a misunderstanding
[4:06] People ask the most inappropriate things, even those in medicine
[13:40] The tension of mishandling comments and drawing boundaries around ourselves
[21:00] Trying to understand others' intentions in church and beyond 
[28:23] Why don’t more people understand trauma 

Resources:
The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast
The Allender Center Podcast
If you enjoyed the show:
Have you purchased our new book, The Other Side of Special? Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart WebsiteGet our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and HopeReview and like us on Apple Podcasts Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmomsFind Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writerFind Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholtFind Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclimeSupport the show

Summary: Sara opens up about the challenges of feeling misunderstood as a mom and caregiver to a son with disabilities. Her top 5 instances when she has felt misunderstood touch on assumptions about strength, the perpetual feeling of needing to do more, finding a balance between identity and the constant impact of the diagnosis, and more. We know you’ll feel seen by listening to Sara’s honesty. So, grab a cup of coffee and prepare to dive into the heartfelt truth in this episode. 

Key Moments:
[1:54] “You’re so strong!” and “I couldn’t do what you are doing!”
[7:02] Believing in God but having fear
[8:05] We can be busy, never alone but not fulfilled
[10:22] Life outside of our child’s diagnosis


If you enjoyed the show:
Have you purchased our new book, The Other Side of Special? Subscribe to our newsletter on the Take Heart WebsiteGet our free resource on finding Gratitude, Peace, and HopeReview and like us on Apple Podcasts Share us with others from wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on Instagram @takeheartspecialmomsFind Amy at www.amyjbrown.com/  or on Instagram @amyjbrown_writerFind Carrie at www.carriemholt.com or on Instagram @carriemholtFind Sara at www.saraclime.com or on Instagram @saraclime


Support the show