In this episode your host, Theresa Bartolotta, is excited to announce that she is resuming the podcast! She shares an update on life and the reasons behind the long gap between episodes. Theresa reviews podcast statistics and how successful the previous episodes have been with over 2500 listens in 34 countries! The core principles behind the podcast remain the same:  to share experiences about parenting children with disabilities, sharing our stories (not comparing), and valuing every life. This podcast is for parents who are walking this challenging path. We parents did not choose to have our children be born with disabilities, but we are embracing this life in all its forms, and we celebrate the beauty and wonder we experience.  In future episodes you'll hear stories that will challenge and inspire you. We'll talk about tips for all phases of life as well as strategies for self-care and healing.

Come share your thoughts in the Safe Harbor Facebook group. And find me on:

Instagram: @theresabartolotta
Facebook: Safe Harbor: A Podcast for Parents of Children with Special Needs
Website: https://www.theresabartolotta.com/

Please rate and review - it helps others find us. And thank you for listening! I know your time is precious and I send my gratitude to you.

In this solo episode I talk about stages of parenting a child with a disability. First there's the initial stage, when we deal with a diagnosis and setting up a treatment program and a community of care.  Then there's the middle stage, when we are busy with educational programs, managing a medical team, IEPs, therapy, and advocacy. That's a really busy time. Then there's the third stage, as we and our children age. In this third stage we are faced with managing details around guardianship, wills, trusts, and future planning for our children. There's also the feelings that occur during this stage as we face our mortality and the reality that our children may outlive us.  Many of us put off dealing with these tasks as they feel overwhelming and bring us concern and sadness. Procrastination actually is harmful to us, both to our bodies and to our minds. I talk about strategies to use to move past procrastination, and how freeing it feels to have these decisions made. You can always make adjustments as life changes.

Here's a link to a great resource on future planning: https://thearc.org/our-initiatives/future-planning/
I will take some time off towards the end of the year so there may only be a could more episodes for 2022.  Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating. 

Come share your thoughts in the Safe Harbor Facebook group. And find me on:

Instagram: @theresabartolotta
Facebook: Safe Harbor: A Podcast for Parents of Children with Special Needs
Website: https://www.theresabartolotta.com/

Please rate and review - it helps others find us. And thank you for listening! I know your time is precious and I send my gratitude to you.

In this episode I speak with Abby Burle, founder of Love Your Story, an organization dedicated  to create places of belonging for families impacted by disabilities.  This project started after Abby and her husband Ryan traveled around the country seeking medical care for their triplets. They realized the financial impact of disability on family, and that many families spend more than 22% of their annual income on expenses related to the disability.  In the episode, Abby talks about her journey as a mom to children with disabilities, and how she advocated to start Love Your Story. She shares the story of their first project, which was to purchase a home in Gainesville, Georgia to provide physical and financial rest for families traveling to the area for medical treatment or intensive therapies. 

Abby is passionate about inclusion and changing the way we talk about disability and understanding those who live with disability in their families. You will be inspired by her drive and how she creates community.  Enjoy!!

You can follow Abby at:
Instagram @loveyourstory.us
Website: https://loveyourstory.us

Come share your thoughts in the Safe Harbor Facebook group. And find me on:

Instagram: @theresabartolotta
Facebook: Safe Harbor: A Podcast for Parents of Children with Special Needs
Website: https://www.theresabartolotta.com/

Please rate and review - it helps others find us. And thank you for listening! I know your time is precious and I send my gratitude to you.