This episode’s conversation with guest, Laura Escayg, focuses on what special needs parents may be challenged by and how they can feel more supported and cope better with the heaviness they may be experiencing as a special needs parent.

Laura also shares about some events experienced in her own and her son, Isaiah's life. Marcia shares some from hers and her daughter, Emma's as well.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Laura Escayg and Her Journey

02:47 The Birth of Disability Activism

05:27 Founding Cause and Effect

07:47 Media and INtersetionality in Disability Advocacy

12:21 Personal Reflections on Motherhood and Activism

14:56 The Shift in Perspective as a Parent

17:08 The Importance of Storytelling

19:51 The Impact of Loss of Expectations

22:16 Isaiah's Journey and Challenges

24:32 The Power of Empathy and Community

42:55 Navigating the Diagnosis Journey

44:16 Isaiah's Progress and Family Dynamics

48:59 The Emotional Landscape of Parenting Special Needs

01:02:56 Advice for New and Experienced Parents

01:07:55 Exploring the Spiritual Journey of Caregiving

About our guest

Laura Escayg is a singer/songwriter and disability activist who released her first album twenty years ago to audiences in the region and Europe. After the birth of her son, Isaiah, who is severely intellectually challenged, she made the choice to give up her pursuit of her music career to meet his needs and was thrust into the world of disability activism. She is the co-founder of two NGOs, CKFTO and Cause An Effect.

Alongside her husband Francis and their three children, she has poured her talents as an artist, writer and performer into Cause An Effect, and set out to create stories that humanize people with disabilities and celebrate their right to live their best life.

Their website link: ⁠www.causeaneffect.co⁠

Their social media pages:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/1WEuAD1yHz/⁠

⁠https://youtu.be/E3Ri8PK6QWg?si=g19KBg_tv6HVNeEz⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/causeaneffectorg?igsh=MXh2NW05cGFiZmRibQ==⁠

About the podcast host

Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is a speaker, coach, and special needs parent, podcaster, author, and strategy lecturer. She runs the Special Needs Parent Podcast because she aims to make special needs parents feel valued, connected, and supported.

Get her Amazon bestselling book, Lighting the Path, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://books2read.com/lightingthepath⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find Marcia on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MarciaNB8/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @specialneedsparentjourney

Join the FREE Lighting the Path Community for Special Needs Parents at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/jG6JEHafR3TWTyqG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(* See Content Warning at end)

Stress has a profound impact on eating disorders, including in the context of special needs parenting. Stressors may come from others' heavy expectations, our own judgments, and our life situation. Food may play a part in how we manage that stress. Sometimes, it's by choice and sometimes it may not be so much in our control. In this episode, Sammie Lee shares her personal journey of endurance and recovery through eating disorders (ED), emphasizing the importance of self-love, forgiveness, and the need for better communication between parents and children.

Sammie and Marcia explore the complexities of eating disorders, the role of emotional trauma, and the necessity of building awareness and understanding in order to foster healthier relationships with food and oneself. It's an episode that will change lives for some of our audience, so please share if you know others who need some support. Chapters

00:00The Impact of Stress on Eating Disorders

03:57Sammie's Journey Through Eating Disorders

06:36The Role of Support in Recovery

09:04Understanding Forgiveness and Self-Love

12:12The Complexity of Eating Disorders

14:41Recognizing Signs of Eating Disorders

17:20The Importance of Communication in Prevention

19:59Generational Trauma and Eating Disorders

32:27The Impact of Eating Disorders on Family Dynamics

36:56Finding Time for Self-Care as a Parent

43:02Understanding Stress and Its Effects on Eating Habits

46:25Building a Healthy Relationship with Food

53:58The Importance of Self-Acceptance and Forgiveness

01:03:47The Power of Connection and Support in Healing

Keywords

eating disorders, special needs parenting, mental health, recovery, forgiveness, self-love, communication, awareness, stress management, body image

About our guest

Sammie Lee is a dedicated eating disorder specialist and coach, guiding individuals and families toward healing and recovery with a deeply compassionate, trauma-informed and holistic approach. Sammie's free workbook, to develop a stronger relationship with yourself/your body is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MWqxFU1Zxpk7OFiA-zRAzYRRsuQPBoGV/view?usp=drive_link

Follow Sammie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sammie.lee.71

Sammie's Support group "BE ED FREE~ PARENTS EDITION" is here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/3Yhg9dL6K7fQFJ3R/?mibextid=lOuIew

About the podcast host

Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is a speaker, coach, and special needs parent, podcaster, author, and strategy lecturer. She runs the Special Needs Parent Podcast because she aims to make special needs parents feel valued, connected, and supported.

Get her Amazon bestselling book, Lighting the Path, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://books2read.com/lightingthepath⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find Marcia on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MarciaNB8/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @specialneedsparentjourney

Join the FREE Lighting the Path Community for Special Needs Parents at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/jG6JEHafR3TWTyqG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

CONTENT WARNING: This episode of the Special Needs Parent Podcast explores challenging emotional and mental themes, mentions sexual assault and includes a few swear words that can be challenging for listeners. It may be a lot to take in, so if you need to take a break a tough part, please take a breather, and then come back in.

In this interview, Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon speaks with Mary Bostwick, a wellness entrepreneur and special needs parent to a 13-year old daughter. She shares about the importance of a solution mindset, self-care, and building community support for parents of special needs children.

Mary shares her personal journey, including the challenges she faces as a single parent and the significance of open communication with her daughter.

They also explore the concept of neurodiversity and the role of breath work in managing stress. Mary emphasizes the need for a supportive environment and the creation of her wellness center, Rebel Flow Wellness, as a safe space for families.

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Mary Bostwick's Journey

03:25Embracing a Solution Mindset

10:03The Importance of Self-Care

20:06Navigating Single Parenthood with Special Needs

27:33Building Community and Support Networks

35:27Understanding Neurodiversity and Emotional Responses

42:15The Vision for Rebel Flow Wellness

Keywords: special needs, parenting, wellness, solution mindset, self-care, community support, neurodiversity, breath work, mental health, Rebel Flow Wellness

About our guest

Mary Bostwick is the CEO and founder of Rebel Flow Wellness, and has a background in education. In addition, she is a single parent to a 13 yer-old daughter with special needs. All of her parenting, educational, and business experience combine to make her a heart-centred and effective supporter to the special needs community and others facing challenges.

Rebel Flow Wellness is located in New Jersey, and offers in-person office sessions, home sessions as well as online sessions focused on personal as well as family support, and coaching sessions.

Special request: Mary would love to receive your messages with suggestions and insights about the services you'd like to see at her wellness centre. Connect with Mary here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebelflowwellness_cheerbreath

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryDBostwick/

About the podcast host

Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is a special needs parent and coach to parents, a podcaster, author, and strategy lecturer. She runs the Special Needs Parent Podcast because she aims to make special needs parents feel valued, connected, and supported.

Get her Amazon bestselling book, Lighting the Path, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://books2read.com/lightingthepath⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find Marcia on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MarciaNB8/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @specialneedsparentjourney

Join the FREE Lighting the Path Community for Special Needs Parents at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/jG6JEHafR3TWTyqG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠