Forever Home for our kids with disabilities.
Formerly Special Needs Moms - Circle of Strength.
This podcast has begun a shift in focus...
Hey, I’m Valerie, mom to two with disabilities (one visible, one invisible). We came up with housing solutions for our children.
This space has been created to help you navigate the journey of creating a secure, sustainable forever home for your child.
We’ll chat with parents on this path, realtors, financial planners, and other experts who can make the process easier. We'll be dropping an episode twice a month.
Seeing my eldest thrive living independent of us was a gift I didn’t always know I could give. I'm excited for you to have the opportunity to explore giving that gift to your child.
Keep building your child’s future!
Music acknowledgement: Audio Coffee - Denys Kyshchuk
Forever Home for our kids with disabilities.
Do you know what an Enneagram is? Angela O'Brien shares how it helped with her relationships, especially parenting.
Introduction:
Angela O’Brien is a mom of 2, professional organizer, Enneagram coach, and host of the podcast, 'Especially Organized: Sensible Solutions for Special Needs Moms.'
After spending 18 years raising her kids and advocating for her daughter, who has Down Syndrome, Angela took her love of home organizing and turned it into a business where she speaks to, and coaches fellow special needs moms through their clutter so that they can reclaim the space, freedom, and energy to do what they love. She especially enjoys speaking to them weekly through her podcast, providing tips, resources, and encouragement along the way. Angela lives in Dallas, TX with her husband and daughter and is constantly trying to find her way to a beach!
- Angela shares her journey as an Enneagram coach and a special needs mom.
- The Enneagram helped Angela navigate her identity beyond being a special needs mom and discover her strengths.
- The Enneagram is a Personality Typing framework based on motivations rather than behaviors, fostering compassion and self-awareness.
- Angela explains the Enneagram as a tool for understanding motivations, fostering empathy, and discovering personal gifts and weaknesses.
- The Enneagram has positively impacted Angela's relationships, including her marriage and parenting.
- Angela shares her experience raising her children, Dan and Casey, the latter diagnosed with Down syndrome.
- Initially overwhelmed, Angela embraced advocacy and connected with the disability community, leading to significant life changes.
- Angela emphasizes the importance of trusting one's instincts and seeking support from fellow special needs moms.
- Reflecting on her journey, Angela wishes she had trusted her instincts earlier and encourages seeking connections with like-minded individuals.
- Angela highlights the transformative power of connecting with other special needs moms, providing essential support and understanding.
- Both Angela and the host share experiences of feeling isolated due to their children's disabilities and finding strength through community.
- Angela shares the importance of being present and grateful for each moment, learning from past regrets and embracing gratitude.
- The host resonates with Angela's experience, acknowledging her own journey toward present moment awareness.
- Angela and the host discuss the importance of physical exercise for maintaining overall well-being, especially for aging parents of children with disabilities.
- They emphasize the need for consistency in physical activity and share personal strategies for shifting negative emotions through movement and music.
Where to Find Angela:
Website: YourSpaceReclaimed.net
Instagram: @YourSpaceReclaim
Facebook: Your Space Reclaimed
Podcast: Especially Organized: Sensible Solutions for Special Needs Moms (Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms)
Music Acknowledgement: Audio Coffee - Denys Kyshchuk
Link for book: The S.H.I.N.E. Principle: The special needs mom's path to strength, hope and happiness
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CW18ZXGX (Canada)
Learn more about your host at:
https://coachingwithvalerieanne.com/