Mama Bear Podcast

In this episode, host Mary Susan McConnell reads submissions from listeners regarding ways to maintain your sanity during hospital stays with your child. In episode 11, Mary Susan and friend Alison Bynum discussed their own tips and tricks to handling the hospital season and then asked listeners to send in their own hospital hacks. Tips range from practical to hilarious (thus the title.) Thank you listeners and thank you contributors!

Host Mary Susan McConnell speaks with guest Ashley Montano about raising multiple kids with special needs when you have very little support. Ashley and her husband received an unexpected diagnosis two years into their son Ryder’s life: Williams syndrome and a heart condition. They were surprised again, when their second child Harper was diagnosed with severe autism and a chromosome deletion. Ashley speaks openly about what it’s like facing these challenges without a support network, and how her challenges have taught her to find joy despite extreme circumstances. Ashley can be found on facebook at Hope for Ryder and on Instagram at _ashleymontano.

In this episode, host Mary Susan McConnell speaks with friend Lindsay Williams, an experienced high school guidance counselor and student advocate, about the transition period from high school to adulthood for individuals with a variety of special needs. What does it look like to stay in the public school system into your twenties? What are the various graduation tracks? How do you access resources after school is over? Lindsay is a fierce advocate for all learners and she uses her past experiences to address these questions while sharing practical tips, resources, and realities for parents.

In this episode, Mary Susan McConnell and guest Alison Bynum share tips they have found useful in maintaining their sanity during hospital stays with their children. As moms to beautiful little girls with profound special needs, they both have significant experience with hospital life. Alison was formerly on episode 2, "The First Cut is the Deepest: Finding Your Footing at the Beginning of Your Special Needs Journey." --Alison can be found on instagram at @alisonbynum --Host Mary Susan McConnell can be found on instagram @marysusanmcconnell or at www.themamabearsite.com

It’s my TENTH EPISODE! (?!?) and today I’m talking about Squad Goals: Building a Village That Makes You and Your Kid Feel Seen and Supported... this includes doctors we trust, therapists who see how wildly capable our kids are, caregivers that keep us from hyperventilating when we leave the house, and friends that get it. I’m sharing personal stories of success (and jackassery) on all of these topics along with 7 ways that either I or my friends have used to find caregivers that we trust- 2 of which cost zero dollars (and I’m not talking about using your family.) Building a village can be so very challenging, but I truly believe it’s worth every ounce of effort we can possibly muster to make it happen. Also, in honor of today you can use discount code TENTHEPISODE at checkout in my Mama Bear Shop for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more. www.themamabearsite.com THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL MY GUESTS!!! Your stories continue to resonate with me. I can’t wait to celebrate 100!

In this episode, host Mary Susan McConnell speaks with Tracie Loux about self-care and her personal journey with motherhood, special needs, grief, and healing. Tracie is an author, a coach, and the founder of Just Breathe Women’s Wellness Program. She is also the mother to 7 children. Tracie speaks openly about her journey through motherhood including adoption, raising multiple children with special needs, and walking through profound grief. Tracie shares how she has handled life after the unexpected deaths of her beautiful son Mattie (almost 4 years old) and her beloved brother-in-law, Derek. Tracie now uses her experiences to help other women walk through their own unique journeys. Tracie’s words are powerfully transparent and her ability to make others feel genuinely seen and appreciated is exceptional. Tracie can be found at the following places: Just Breathe Women’s Wellness Program : www.thehealingbreath.org/just-Breathe Instagram: @tracieloux Mattie Breathes (tracheostomy awareness book for kids and families) can be found on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online

In this episode, Mary Susan speaks with guest Angie Ardolf about common struggles in motherhood and the tendency to lose oneself in the role. Angie's daughter Ruby has Stromme Syndrome, a diagnosis so rare there were less than 12 known cases in the world when Ruby was diagnosed. Angie discusses the early days raising Ruby as a single mom, and the journey of motherhood over the last 13 years. Together, Mary Susan and Angie discuss ways they have found caregivers, how they make time for themselves, and more. Angie is fun, and wise, and her strong spirit is contagious. Angie can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube as "AngieandRuby" and she can also be found on her blog www.raregemsblog.com.

In this episode, host Mary Susan McConnell and her friend Jennifer Dean discuss the journey the Dean family took to create a fully accessible home for their 17 year old daughter Katherine. Katherine was born 16 weeks early and has cerebral palsy. As Katherine entered adolescence, the home they had loved for so long was no longer fitting their lives. They needed more room for Katherine’s power wheelchair, a safe and accessible bathroom, and systems that would allow them to care for Katherine when they were older. The space they designed not only provides efficient solutions, it is also a beautiful haven for Katherine to experience independence. Learn how the Dean’s deigned the space and what Jennifer feels like are some of the most important factors to consider when beginning a long-term accessibility renovation. This home is AMAZING and it will get you so excited to dream up a space that works for you and your family. You can see photos of the space on Jennifer’s Instagram at JenJenDean. **The accessibility book we refer to throughout this episode is The Accessible Home: Designing for All Ages and Abilities by Deborah Pierce.

In this episode, Mary Susan McConnell speaks with Stephanie Wolfe about what life is like raising a child who is considered medically fragile. Stephanie’s daughter, Addie, was born at 36 weeks with a chromosomal abnormality, sacroccygeal teratoma, and hydrocephalus. She spent 6 months in the NICU. During this time she had multiple surgeries, including a heart surgery at 8 days old, surgery to remove her teratoma at 2 weeks old, g-button surgery, a tracheotomy, and a bilateral craniotomy for a subdural hematoma. After her craniotomy, Addie also developed epilepsy. After 6 months in the NICU, Addie went home for 6 days, only to return unexpectedly to the hospital where she spent another 4 months in the PICU. Today, Addie has been home for 3 years and is the big sister to a new baby brother. During the interview, Stephanie talks about daily life with Addie- how they do everything from going to Target, to how they get some sleep every night. Stephanie is honest and encouraging. Stephanie can be found at: Blog: thevintagemodernwife.com Facebook: thevintagemodernwife Instagram: MathewsBambina Go Fund Me for Van: www.gofundme.com/vanforaddie

In this episode, guest Jen Stegall speaks candidly with Mary Susan about the early days surrounding her incredible son, Silas's autism diagnosis. They discuss her son's regression, the lack of sleep, early intervention therapies, AAC devices, and what life is like raising a child with autism as a single mom. Jen is fun, honest, and beautifully reflective. Jen Stegall is in the music industry in Nashville, TN and has had multiple pieces published by The Mighty.