Speaking Life Into Motherhood ~ Routines, Time Management, Holistic Health, Self Care, Autism, ADHD, Neurodiversity, Special Needs, Disabilities

Are you exhausted from watching your child struggle in the classroom while feeling like you're missing something important? 

Do you suspect your child needs support but don't know where to start or feel overwhelmed by the options? 

What if the key to helping your wiggly, unfocused child isn't another diagnosis, but addressing foundational reflexes that never properly integrated?

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany Parsons, a practicing occupational therapist, pastor's wife, and twin mom who is revolutionizing how families access therapeutic support in non-traditional settings. Ti...

Is that nagging feeling in your heart telling you something about your child's development? In this first episode of our Back to School series, we're diving deep into the question every concerned parent faces: "Does my child have special needs?"

Join me as we explore the wide spectrum of what "special needs" really means - from food allergies and ADHD to sensory processing and behavioral challenges. You'll discover why many parents initially say their child doesn't have special needs, then list countless struggles they're navigating daily including medication management, behavior plans, and daily meltdowns.

We'll...

Are you exhausted from hitting dead ends with doctors who never ask about your diet, leaving you feeling like poor health is just "normal"?Do you struggle to show up as your best self for your family because you're constantly tired, achy, or lacking confidence in your own skin?What if God's design for healing was simpler and more accessible than you ever imagined - found right in the creation story?

In this powerful conversation, Chelsea Blackbird, The Christian Nutritionist, shares her incredible journey from digestive issues and infertility to discovering God's blueprint for wellness in Genesis. After overcoming...

Do you feel so buried under the responsibilities of motherhood that you've lost touch with who you are?

Are you constantly dropping the ball and feeling like you can't keep up, no matter how hard you try?

Episode Overview

Aubree Felderhoff, SPARK coach for moms and host of the top-ranked Mom Intentional podcast, shares her incredible journey from a seven-year battle with mystery illness to helping overwhelmed moms rediscover their identity. After being bedridden and completely disconnected from herself, Aubree faced a hard truth: she had spent so long taking...

Does the lack of summer structure leave you feeling overwhelmed and your child struggling with transitions?

Are you tired of repeating the same directions over and over while your child seems to tune you out?

Summer can feel chaotic when familiar routines disappear. In this episode, Elyse shares three game-changing ways to use visual supports in your home that will help reduce stress, improve communication, and bring calm to your daily rhythms. Drawing from her experience as a speech-language pathologist and mom, she provides practical strategies that work for children with and without special needs.<...

Are you wondering if your child's speech disfluencies are normal or something to be concerned about?

Do you feel like your doctor keeps telling you to "wait and see" while your mama heart is telling you to seek help now?

Are you struggling to know how to support your older child who continues to stutter despite receiving speech therapy?

In this encouraging episode, I sit down with Briann Morbitzer (Ms. Bri), a speech-language pathologist who specializes in stuttering therapy for all ages. As a mama of four...

Are you sitting in the NICU wondering if your micro preemie will not just survive, but actually thrive and live independently?Do you have an older child with special needs struggling to find their purpose?Have medical professionals told you to "prepare for the worst" and you're searching for hope that God's plans are bigger?

Episode Overview: Meet Bethany Bacon who defied every medical prediction when she was born at just 24.5 weeks in 1983 after her mother endured 14 miscarriages. Today, Bethany is a thriving, independent adult who runs her own purpose coaching business. Her story is a powerful...

Does summer feel overwhelming when the structure of school disappears and you're suddenly trying to keep everyone happy and regulated for three whole months? 

Are you struggling to find the balance between maintaining some routine while still allowing for the flexibility and fun that summer should bring? 

Do you find yourself depleted and reactive because you're focusing so much on your child's needs that you forget to nourish yourself?

Episode Overview

In this episode, I share five practical strategies that you can implement right away to not only su...

How do you respond when your child is having a meltdown and you feel yourself getting triggered? Do you find yourself asking "Why?" or do you shift to asking "How do I survive this moment?"

When you're in your "shark waters" - those moments when your own past wounds get activated by your child's behavior - what physical sensations do you notice in your body?

Are you more focused on correcting your child's behavior or connecting with their heart? How might shifting this focus change your family dynamics?

In this...

Have you ever thought "If only I had known sooner" about your child's needs?

Do you struggle with guilt over past decisions made before you had all the information?

Are you worried that early unaddressed issues like tongue ties are affecting your child's sleep, breathing, or attention now?

In this short solo episode, we tackle the heavy burden of "mom guilt" - specifically the pain of realizing your child needed interventions earlier than they received them. Drawing from personal experience with my son's undiagnosed tongue tie and...

Are you struggling to connect with your uniquely wired child?Do you feel exhausted trying strategies that don't seem to work?Would you like practical, faith-aligned tools to better understand and advocate for your child?

In this episode, I welcome back my friend Jamie Kirkbride to discuss how parents can better understand, connect with, and advocate for their uniquely wired children. Jamie shares invaluable insights about meeting children where they are, understanding their emotional needs, and fostering stronger connections. Whether your child has special needs, is highly sensitive, or emotionally intense, Jamie's practical...

Do you struggle with disappointment when your Mother's Day doesn't match the picture-perfect celebrations on social media?Have you found yourself navigating the gap between your expectations of motherhood and your actual journey parenting a child with special needs?Are you looking for ways to find genuine joy and peace in the beautiful, messy reality of your unique motherhood experience?

In this episode, we explore how to embrace Mother's Day with realistic expectations, authentic joy, and deep peace as Christian moms of children with special needs. We'll discuss how God's grace meets us in our disappointments and how we...

Is your brain constantly on fire? 

Do you feel depleted trying to manage your child's needs while neglecting your own?

 Are you interested in natural approaches to help both you and your special needs child find calm?

Does your child have and ADHD, Autism, or other diagnosis? Are you unhappy with what traditional therapies are offering? This episode brings info for a holistic approach you probably haven't heard of. 

In this transformative conversation with Laurie Hammer, functional nutritional therapist and neuro nutrient specialist, we...

Are you struggling to find support and resources as a parent of a child with special needs? Do you sometimes feel distant from God, questioning His purpose for your child's challenges? Have you found yourself focused on "fixing" your child rather than embracing who they are? 

In this episode, we welcome JJ LeVan, an award-winning author and mother who shares her 27-year journey of raising a son with autism. JJ opens up about the challenges of navigating autism in the late 1990s when resources were scarce and awareness was minimal. She discusses her transition from wanting to "fix" her son...

Have you ever wondered how God's calling can lead you through unexpected career paths?What happens when your passion, a community need, and God's will perfectly align?How can speech therapy be viewed through a Christian lens, and did you know Jesus might have been the first speech therapist?!Are you struggling with accepting your child's developmental delays or special needs? How can faith guide you through this journey?

In this episode, I sit down with Timea Hyatt, a devout Catholic wife, mother of two, speech-language pathologist, business owner, and soon-to-be PhD student. Timea shares her fascinating journey from...

Are you looking for guidance when life takes an unexpected special needs turn?

Do you want to explore or create opportunities for adults with special needs in your community?

In this heartfelt episode, I speak with Ana Munoz, bestselling author of "Perfectly Loved" and dedicated advocate for the special needs community. Anna shares her journey as a mother of a daughter with Down syndrome and how this unexpected path led her to discover deeper purpose and meaning.

Now, with her daughter at 28 years old, Ana has become a powerful voice for the special...

Have you ever blamed "mom brain" for your forgetfulness, only to wonder if there's something more serious happening when you parent a child with special needs?

What if the cognitive challenges you're experiencing are actually part of God's design, preparing your brain to be the perfect advocate for your child?

Could simple, scripture-supported self-care practices and holistic strategies dramatically improve your mental clarity without taking time away from your family?

Episode Summary

In this episode, Elyse explains the science behind "mom brain" and why it affects special needs...

Have you ever felt alone in your journey parenting a child with special needs?

Do you struggle with balancing advocacy for your child while maintaining your faith?

What if the challenges your family faces are actually opportunities for God to reveal His power?

Episode Highlights

Are you wondering how to homeschool a child with special needs? Curious about balancing therapy with education? Looking for encouragement in your unexpected parenting journey?

In this heartfelt episode of the podcast, host I welcome Sarah Frazer, author of "I Didn't Sign Up for This," to discuss her experience homeschooling her nonverbal daughter with special needs. Sarah opens up about adopting her daughter from China, discovering her daughter's significant special needs were more complex than initially understood, and how she navigated the grief and acceptance process.

Sarah shares practical wisdom about:

Has a doctor ever dismissed your concerns about your child with "they'll grow out of it"? 

Have you ever felt like you're the only one who truly sees your child's struggles? 

Does it feel like you're alone on this special needs journey with no roadmap? 

Have you wondered how your faith fits into the unexpected path of special needs parenting?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this episode is for you.

Episode Description

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Eri...

Is your body still carrying the effects of a difficult birth? Could your unexplained fatigue or emotional triggers be connected to unprocessed birth trauma? What if seeing Jesus in your birth story could transform your relationship with trauma?

In this episode, functional women's health coach Brigid Tebaldi brings an insightful conversation about healing from birth trauma. Brigid shares her unique approach that combines functional medicine with faith-based healing to help mothers recover from difficult birth experiences.

In this episode you'll learn:

Catherine Cowell, a spiritual director and life coach specializing in supporting parents of children with additional needs, shares her journey as an adoptive mother to two boys and introduces us to the transformative PACE model of parenting. She offers a unique perspective on integrating faith with therapeutic parenting approaches.

Key Topics Covered:

Connect with Catherine:

Military spouse and adoptive mom Becca Pass pulls back the curtain on the realities of modern adoption. From navigating questionable industry practices to experiencing adoption disruptions, Becca shares how God transformed her challenging five-year journey into an unexpected ministry. After facing her own struggles, she now serves as a doula and mentor, supporting both birth mothers and adoptive families through their most vulnerable moments. 

This eye-opening conversation reveals essential insights for families considering adoption, including how to find ethical, Christian-centered adoption professionals and the importance of supporting expectant mothers. Whether you're personally touched by adoption or simply i...

Transform your parenting doubts into peaceful confidence! In this solo episode, we dive into a powerful framework for handling doubt and fear when making decisions about your child's care. Learn how to move from uncertainty to confidence using the PEACE framework, born from real experience with criticism and doubt.

Check out the blog post: HERE

Key Takeaways:

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Davina McLean-Randall, founder of A Caring Voice for You, to discuss navigating the special education system while maintaining faith and emotional wellness. Drawing from her unique perspective as both a former special education administrator and a parent of a child who needed services, Davina shares invaluable insights for parents facing similar journeys.

Episode blog post: Read Now

Key Topics Discussed

In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Barlow, a parent trainer and wellness coach who specializes in supporting foster and adoptive parents. Nicole shares her personal journey through foster care and adoption, and introduces us to the WELL framework for maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health while parenting children with special needs.

Episode Blog Post: https://speakinglife.co/well-framework-self-care-strategies-for-special-needs-foster-parents-christian-parenting-tips/

Key Takeaways

In this episode, we sit down with Lucy Martin, a licensed therapist, certified relationship coach, and homeschool mom of five. Lucy shares her personal journey and professional insights on maintaining a strong marriage while parenting children with special needs.

Key Topics Discussed:

In this episode, parent coach Jamie Kirkbride shares her powerful CARE framework for helping overwhelmed parents, especially those raising children with additional needs. Jamie, a mother of seven and former counselor, breaks down practical strategies for self-care through Compassion, Adjusting commitments, Recharging intentionally, and Evaluating what works. She offers faith-based insights for managing daily challenges and shares personal experiences from her journey parenting a child with ADHD and mood disorders. 

Episode Blog Post: From Burnout to Breathing Space

C - Compassion How often do we extend grace to our friends but s...

In this heartfelt conversation, Amy Sloan shares her family's journey through her son Isaac's leukemia diagnosis. She discusses the challenges they faced, the importance of faith, community support, and the adjustments they made in their homeschooling and family life. Amy emphasizes the significance of maintaining relationships, both within the family and with friends, and offers practical advice for those navigating similar situations. Her story is one of resilience, hope, and the power of community in times of crisis.


Episode Blog Post: 

Key Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Sloan Family's J...

In the inaugural episode of the Speaking Life Into Motherhood podcast, host Elyse shares her mission to support Christian mothers facing challenges, particularly those with children who have special needs. Elyse discusses her personal journey through infertility, her professional background as a speech language pathologist, and the importance of advocacy and self-care in motherhood. The episode emphasizes the need for community support and finding joy in the parenting experience, encouraging listeners to seek inspiration and empowerment in their unique journeys.


Takeaways: