February 14 2020

37: Parenting Special Needs Kids with Jessica Temple

Brittany Parenting Podcasts, Podcasts Autism, Jessica Temple, parenting, Special Needs 0

Parenting Podcast – Episode 37: Parenting Special Needs Kids with Jessica Temple

For the full show notes, visit: https://growingourfamily.com/s02e37/

Today we have Jessica Temple on the show to talk about special needs parenting. Jessica is a board-certified adult clinical neuropsychologist. She has two children who have special needs. She and her husband, Lewis, host a podcast called Thriving in The Midst of Chaos.

Facebook Group: “Growing Our Family Podcast -> A Community For Moms”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434759000779665/?ref=share

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Show Notes

Finding out about Alex

High risk pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum, severe preeclampsia and inducement

35 weeks, cord wrapped around neck, stalled labor

Alex had trouble feeding right away and was delayed in milestones, so we knew early on he had different needs

– We found out about Benji’s extra needs when the baby was about 8 months old

What are some of the resources you used to educate yourself?

I took to the internet to see what these disorders meant and what to do about it

For Alex, all I really did was make sure to advocate for him and get him into every possible therapy, and to see the developmental pediatrician

I used the resources from the therapists

For Benji, I utilized the autism society, autism speaks, pathfinders, googled for every possible grant I would, looked into the DDA, Medicaid, and SSI. I utilized resources from major children’s hospital’s websites. I joined tons of facebook groups and reached out to people there. We also listened to lots of special needs podcasts, and created my own to learn from other people. I also found other parents through his school to learn from them.

How did you find support?

This was the hard part. We didn’t have a lot of family or friend support. We joined an autism support group, used lots of Facebook groups, joined a special Olympics group to meet other people, and found other special needs parents through their school to spend time with. It was really hard, but we cobbled together a good support network.

“Different kind of perfect” (positive traits that some people may not think about off the bat)

quality time with them has more quality

being more in the moment

Being excited by all the small things

Not taking anything for granted

Finding a less judgmental community

Less pressure to conform to society

Less pressure to always be perfect, be the best, have the highest score

Can let our kids be who they are

Less competing with others

Scripts, so we hear all about his day

Makes friends with sweet kids, instead of obnoxious kids

Cleverness, they do things in their own way

Learning patience, letting the small stuff go

How do you practice self care?

This was really hard, and I had to be creative about it

I do little things every day, from chewing yummy gum, trying to be mindful when I eat, be more in the moment with my kids, self-massage, baths, playing games on my phone, watching tv when I can, trying to take the kids to places I want to go.

Self-care looks different every day. Some days, I do big things, like getting a massage. Other days, just stepping outside for 5 minutes is considered self-care. My needs differ every day. But the important thing is to realize what you need every day and to ask for what you need when you need it so you don’t burn out.

Jessica’s Favorite Product: Graco Click Connect Travel System: https://amzn.to/2SG3oSa

About Jessica:

Jessica Temple, PsyD, ABPP-CN, is a board-certified adult clinical neuropsychologist. She has two children who have special needs. She and her husband, Lewis, host a podcast called Thriving in The Midst of Chaos. On this show, they talk about all aspects of special need, including getting a diagnosis and treatment, self-care, relationships, transitioning to adulthood, school, and finances. They created the Thriving in The Midst of Chaos podcast to offer support to others in the special needs world as well as to gain support themselves. They aim to share resources with others, advocate for improvement and change in the special needs world, and offer a different perspective on parenting in the special needs community.