Welcome to the Special Kind of Motherhood podcast! In this episode, we delve into effective strategies for overcoming the stress and inefficiency of multitasking. Discover the power of single-tasking and how creating decision-light routines can help reduce mental overload. Learn practical tips for incorporating stillness into your daily life, allowing you to manage stress and find moments of peace. Tune in and explore ways to simplify your life, boost your focus, and create a more relaxed and meaningful motherhood experience.

Private Facebook Group

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

Join us in this episode of the Special Kind of Motherhood podcast as we uncover the sneaky culprit behind your daily stress: multitasking. Discover why this seemingly efficient habit may actually be contributing to mental overload and explore the science behind how our brains handle multiple tasks.

We delve into the concept of decision fatigue and how the myriad of choices faced by busy moms each day can lead to that overwhelming sense of pressure. Learn how constant notifications and the “hyperactive hive mind” of our modern world can exacerbate feelings of stress and distraction.

Tune in to understand the invisible stressors in your life and get ready for our next episode, where we’ll share practical tips to help you break free from this cycle and embrace a more focused, calm, and fulfilling day-to-day life.

Private Facebook Group

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

Hey friend, 

Welcome back to the Special Kind of Motherhood podcast! In this episode, we’re diving into two more powerful ways to make healthy eating more affordable: becoming a savvy shopper and cutting down on food waste. Learn where to shop, what to buy, and how to make your groceries last longer—saving you money and keeping your family well-fed with nutritious meals. Join us for easy tips to get the most out of your grocery budget! Episode 55 - Tired Of Spending Money On Organic Produce Freeze Fresh Book

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I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

Hey Mamas,

If you have a child who is nonverbal or pre-verbal, you might find yourself feeling like things would be so much easier if your child could just talk!

I have been there, Mama, and today I want to share with you a bit of encouragement and a possible perspective shift on how we can focus on hearing our children when they are unable to talk to us, and how we can find value in the nonverbal ways our children communicate with us. 

Ashley 

 

My favorite natural products:

Skin & Beauty Products: Earthley

Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

Ordering organic bulk food: Azure Standard

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you use my links I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hey friends!

Have you been on a journey to switch to a more holistic lifestyle?

You're trying to avoid chemicals and pesticides, but you aren't sure if it's realistic to garden without the use of these chemicals?

Join me on the podcast today as I share 5 reasons why we grow organic produce in our backyard and how that can benefit you are you're trying to reduce toxins in your home. 

Ashley 

Greenstalk Planter get $10 off here.

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

Hey Mamas,

Do you have child with SPD who is struggling to self-regulate when they get overwhelmed or overstimulated? Maybe, like me, you have sensory-seekers in your house and you feel like you don't have enough resources to offer them the sensory input that their bodies really need! 

Join me on the podcast today where I will share 12 of my favorite tools and resources to help my children learn how to regulate and get their sensory needs met. Being intentional about providing them with the proper tools helps my kids to feel much calmer, safer, and happier. It also makes a huge difference in having a peaceful environment in our home! 

Ashley 

Free Facebook Community

Episode 14 - Reducing Screen Time Part 1 

Episode 15- Reducing Screen Time Part 2

Sensory Pod

Wiggle Seat

Chew Necklace 

My favorite natural products:

Skin & Beauty Products: Earthley

Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

Ordering organic bulk food: Azure Standard

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

 

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you use my links I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hey friends!

Are you going through a challenging season that's leaving you feeling defeated and frustrated?

Maybe while parenting your Autistic child you've encountered some struggles that you aren't sure how to handle.

You wish you could show up with more peace and joy in your daily life, but don't know how to ACTUALLY make that happen. You start the day with good intentions, but chaos happens and you find yourself dealing with a negative mindset. 

Today I want to share 4 tips to finding joy and peace during hard times as we parent our Neurodivergent child.

Ashley 

My favorite natural products:

Skin & Beauty Products: Earthley

Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

Ordering organic bulk food: Azure Standard

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you use my links I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hey Mamas,

Are you feeling stressed out and overwhelmed while parenting your child with special needs? Do you need to create a way to manage your stress, but find that you spend all of your time and attention caring for your kids? 

I want to share with you today why you NEED a garden as a busy, stressed out Mama. You may feel resistant to starting a garden because it feels like another thing to add to your never-ending to-do list, but I want to share with you today why I think gardening can be an amazing tool for stress management as we parent our differently-abled children. 

Ashley 

Greenstalk Planter get $10 off here.

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

Hey Mamas,

Have you been looking to reduce toxins in your home and you know you need to switch out your cleaning products, but you've just been too busy caring for your neurodivergent child to actually sit down and decide what to use instead?

I got you! I want to share with you some EASY swaps you can make to have more low-tox cleaning products in your home. Plus, this a great way to streamline the amount of cleaning products you have to keep up with, which can often just add to our overwhelm. Let's keep things simple, Mamas! 

Ashley 

Azure Standard Cleaning Products I Use:

All Purpose Cleaner

Floor Cleaner

Glass Cleaner Concentrate

Dish Soap

Hand Soap

Dishwashing Powder 

Laundry Detergent 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

Hey friends, 

Do you have a dream to start a homestead, but you aren't sure if that is actually possible with your child's special needs?

Are your concerns about how you could actually start a homestead while caring for your child holding you back from taking action? 

Join me on the podcast today as we talk about how we can customize our homesteading experience for our unique family dynamics! 

Ashley 

Greenstalk Planter get $10 off here.

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

Hey Mamas,

Do you want to make sure that you are pointing your children to Jesus, but at times you aren't sure how to do this because of your child's language or developmental delays? 

Today I want to offer some quick and practical tips that will help you to lead your children to Jesus on a daily basis. Let's do this! 

Ashley 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

Hey Mamas,

Have you considered starting a garden this year? I want to share with you 3 things to do BEFORE you get started growing your garden. These tips are going to help make sure that it's a fun experience for everyone  and that you have the best chance of successfully growing healthy food for your special needs family. 

Let's go!

Ashley 

Greenstalk Planter get $10 off here.

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support! 

Hey Mamas,

Have you been wanting to raise chickens in your backyard as a way to get quality eggs, but you're wondering if it would REALLY be worth the trouble? I know you're already busy with homeschooling, running your children to speech and occupational therapy, and caring for your home. The idea of caring for chickens as well may feel like too much! 

On the podcast today I want to share with you 4 reasons I think having backyard chickens is SO worth the effort! Not only are there health benefits, but it is an amazing learning opportunity for our kids to become more connected to the food we consume every day. Let's do this, friend! 

Ashley 

My favorite natural products:

Skin & Beauty Products: Earthley

Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

Ordering organic bulk food: Azure Standard

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you use my links I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

 Hey friend, In today’s episode of the Special Kind of Motherhood podcast, we’re tackling a challenge that many busy moms face: feeding your family healthy, nutritious meals without breaking the bank! From prioritizing nutrients to meal prepping like a pro, we’ve got practical, budget-friendly tips that will help you make healthier eating easier and more affordable. Tune in to learn how small changes can make a big impact on both your health and your wallet.

Private Facebook Group

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Hey Mamas,

Are you looking to switch your family to a more holistic lifestyle?  Are you wanting to reduce chemicals in your home and offer your Autistic child healthier foods, but you feel overwhelmed on where to start? 

Join me on the podcast today as I share 3 EASY swaps you can make in your kitchen to begin cooking in a more clean manner for your family. Added bonus is that you can do several of these on a budget! 

Ashley 

My favorite natural products:

Skin & Beauty Products: Earthley

Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

Ordering organic bulk food: Azure Standard

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Private Facebook Group

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you use my links I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hey, friend! 

It's that time of year where everyone is getting out of school for summer break. This means lots of fun and downtime for many families, but as Mom with Neurodiverse kids, we continue our therapies year-round.

The fact that everyone else is getting ready to enjoy summer while we continue our daily therapy schedule can sometime contribute to feelings of burnout and wishing we could have more time to relax and create fun memories with our kids.

I want to encourage you that this is totally normal! On today's episode I also share some ideas on how you can get creative to still enjoy fun and family as a special needs family, while sticking with the schedule that provides your children with all of the amazing resources you've found for them so far! 

Ashley 

Hey Mamas,

Are you looking to start a garden to offer your special needs family more healthy food, but you have no idea what to grow? Maybe you're hoping that by growing your own food, your child with SPD will be open to trying the foods you're growing in your backyard (TOTALLY has happened with my kids!) but you're looking at all the options with seeds and plant starts and feeling absolutely OVERWHELMED!  Today I want to share with you 7 of my favorite things to grow in our backyard garden. Not only will I share with you what I love to grow, but why I love growing these things! I hope my list will help you to become clear on what it is you want to grow so you overcome any procrastination you're feeling from being overwhelmed and just get started!  Ashley  Seeds I mentioned in this episode:

Honeynut Squash

Dragon Tongue Bush Bean

Lemon Drop Watermelon

Greenstalk Planter get $10 off here.

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

Hey, friends!

Have you noticed your child struggles to focus? Does it feel like they constantly need to be moving and at times that can interfere with daily activities?

I want to share 4 tips with you that I have found to be helpful in working WITH my children and the way their brains operate so that all of their needs are being met and they are able to focus more. Whether your child has been diagnosed with ADHD or not, these tips are going to offer you some ideas that you can start working on TODAY!

Ashley 

My favorite natural products:

Skin & Beauty Products: Earthley

Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

Ordering organic bulk food: Azure Standard

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you use my links I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hey Mamas,

Is your child having a hard time falling asleep at night? Are you feeling irritable and anxious from being sleep deprived? I have been there! I want to share with you 4 different tips I have used over the years to help my Autistic child to be able to fall asleep easier and rest throughout the night. 

If you are in that spot of desperately needing some sleep (I get it!) join me for today's episode where I will share some tips, routines, and natural solutions I have found helpful along my journey of helping my kids with special needs to get enough rest each night! 

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage Magnesium Cream: HERE Sleep Tincture: HERE

*Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Hey Mamas, 

Have you been considering starting a backyard garden, but you feel like it will take way too much time, so you keep putting it off? Maybe you would love to grow your own fruits and vegetables as a way to offer your family healthier food options, but getting started feels really hard? Join me to today as we talk about how YOU get to be in control of how much time it takes you to garden (and how it really doesn't have to require that much time!)  Ashley  Gardening Episodes:

Episode 26

Episode 11

Greenstalk Planter get $10 off here.

MIGardener: migardener.com

Baker Creek: rareseeds.com

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you use my link I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood/

Hey Mamas,

Mother's Day was yesterday, I hope you all had an amazing day! As a Mom who has kids with speech and developmental delays, I know that sometimes big days like this have a way of bringing up a lot of feelings for us. Maybe we wish our child could speak to us, or play with us outside, or pose for a nice family photo. Mother's Day can often magnify the ways we are different from those around us and that can leave us feeling sad, disappointed, or even angry. 

On today's BONUS episode I want to just remind you that you aren't alone in these feelings! I also want to share with you some hope and some encouragement that things DO get better as we commit to walking with the Lord and finding acceptance and joy along this journey of parenting our special needs kids. 

Ashley 

Hey friends,  Do you often find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of things you need to get done? Then you end up just procrastinating because the tasks seem so time-consuming? You're already juggling therapy schedules and researching new things to help your child with special needs, so that to-do list can just wait, right?!  I want to share with you one of my favorite hacks for getting super clear on how long tasks are actually going to take me. This helps motivate me to get things done when I realize it really won't take that long (like I hype it up in my mind!) and it also helps me to set realistic expectations about what I can *actually* get done with the time I have!  Let's do this! 

Ashley 

My favorite natural products:

Skin & Beauty Products: Earthley

Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

Ordering organic bulk food: Azure Standard

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you use my links I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hey Mamas,  Are you looking to switch to a more natural lifestyle, but you feel overwhelmed by the feeling that you need to switch everything at one time? Do you struggle with feeling like if you can't do it perfectly, it's not even worth trying?  Maybe you recently discovered that you or your child have food allergies or food sensitivities and the idea of removing those foods from your diet feels daunting?  Today I want to share with you how important I have found it is for me to keep myself grounded in grace along this journey of switching to natural living. I share a bit about how our mindset really does determine our actions and what we can do about that to see the progress we want. I hope you are encouraged by this episode!

 Ashley 

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7 My favorite natural products:

Skin & Beauty Products: Earthley

Use code NEWTOEARTHLEY to save 10% off your first order! 

Ordering organic bulk food: Azure Standard

Supplements for cellular health: LifeVantage

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you use my links I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hey Mamas, Have you ever had someone criticize the way you parent your differently-abled child? Maybe the person really hadn't taken the time to understand your child or their needs before speaking, but the comment still stung and left you feeling a bit insecure.  I have been there many times over the last several years and I know what it's like to go down that spiral of feeling shame and like we aren't enough all because we place too much value on the opinions of others.  I want to share with you today 5 tips I have found to be really helpful over the last few years in helping me to learn how to confidently stand in the parenting decisions we make, even when it looks different from what's "normal" and others disagree with us.  I hope this encourages you!  Ashley 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Hey friend, 

Moms, we know how hard it is to find time for you—but what if I told you just 5 minutes could help improve your health and well-being? In this episode, we discuss how taking tiny, consistent actions can lead to huge results. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, tune in for simple tips to boost your health, even with the busiest schedule! 

Private Facebook Group

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

 

Hey Mamas,  Do you desire to spend your morning with a hot cup of coffee, your Bible, and your favorite devotional, investing in your relationship with Jesus? Has this become a major struggle for you to do consistently since you became a Mom and began caring for your children with special needs?  Me too. I have had to get really creative with ways to intentionally grow my relationship with Jesus when it felt like I had no time and no energy to do so. I want to share these tips with you in today's episode!  Let's go!  Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Hey friends,  Today I want to share with you one of my favorite tools to increase productivity and focus as a Mom parenting my Neurodiverse children. If you have tried time blocking, creating a cleaning schedule, or meal planning and found time and again that these techniques don't work for your family dynamics, you're going to want to listen to today's episode!  Let's talk about one way you can remain productive, but also keep a flexible schedule so you can be present with your children and have the ability to support them on those days when they are struggling!  You can also find my free Bible-Based daily affirmations here. Here's a quick link to Episode 8 and Episode 12 that's mentioned in this podcast episode!  Let's do this!  Ashley 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Hello Mamas,  Have you ever started a new therapy or natural treatment for your child hoping to see progress for them and then you find yourself really discouraged whenever the thing you hoped to see improve still hasn't happened yet?  Or maybe you were seeing some great progress with your child in their development, only to find that you've come up against another challenge and it feels like it's always one step forward and three steps back?  I want to talk with you today about 4 tools I use to handle those moments of defeat and discouragement that inevitably come along this journey of parenting our differently-abled children. If you feel like you struggle to find support in this area, you're going to want to listen to today's episode!  You can also find my free Bible-Based daily affirmations here. XO,

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Hey Mamas, Welcome back to the podcast! Today I want to talk with you about something that I have noticed when talking with other special needs Moms. We have a hard time making it a priority to care for ourselves. We REALLY struggle to slow down long enough to figure out what WE need. I think this is because we love our children fiercely and whenever they have extra needs, sometimes that feeling of needing to do ALL the things to help them can become all-consuming. 

Join me today as I share my own struggles in this area and how the Lord really gave me the freedom of realizing it wasn't just fine for me to care for myself, but it was actually essential!  XO,

Ashley 

Find my favorite products for oxidative stress and mitochondrial health here  

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood *This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase using one of my links, I may earn commission, but at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

If you've considered starting a garden in your backyard, but feel like it would be too hard to actually be worth the work, you're going to want to listen in today! 

We talk about how it benefits not only our health, but our relationships and families. It's also an amazing educational resource for our kids who are out-of-the-box learners!  XO,

Ashley 

Greenstalk Planter get $10 off here.

MIGardener: migardener.com

Baker Creek: rareseeds.com

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Do you want to offer your child with Sensory Processing Disorder or food aversions new foods on their plate consistently, but you find yourself getting overwhelmed with what to try next? Or maybe you've tried things so many times with no success so you just feel discouraged about it all and you've given up. But still there's that underlying feeling of guilt that you should be doing more, yet you don't know where to start.  Today I share the routine I have implemented that helps me to offer my children new food on their plates daily in a way that feels very simple. I also talk about some tips I have learned along the journey to encourage my children to develop a positive relationship with food. Once I was able to change my own expectations and goals around my children expanding the list of foods they feel comfortable eating, I noticed so  much freedom and a much more relaxed feeling around our dinner table!  XO,

Ashley 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Hey Mamas, 

Join me today as we talk about managing stress levels as we parent our special needs kids. Stress is something we know we can't escape, and if you're like me, you also struggle with hypervigilance, constantly on alert with your kids, wanting to make sure they are safe and all is well. 

Living in that constant state of stress and anxiety can really do a number on the nervous system. I was finding that to be true in my life, and noticing the negative effects from living in a stressed out body. I started implementing these simple hacks into my everyday life and began to notice my ability to tolerate stress and overwhelm improved. Today I am going to share these 8 tips with you!  XO,

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Hey, Mamas!! We are back for part 2 of a conversation with my husband about community as a family with Neurodiverse kids. In this episode we share what healthy community looks like and some simple ways you can get started with finding your own supportive community! We hope you are encouraged by this conversation!  XO,

Ashley 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

Hey Mamas,

Join us today for Part 1 of a conversation with my husband about the importance of community and some of the hurdles we have to overcome in order to make it happen while parenting our differently-abled children.  We talk about the struggle in finding support, the fear of criticism we have to overcome in order to reach out to others, and share why we've found building a community around us to be so valuable! 

I can't wait to share with you a subject that I believe can change your entire family dynamics if you're willing to be vulnerable and step out!  XO,

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

Facebook: facebook.com/specialkindofmotherhood

Instagram: instagram.com/specialkind.ofmotherhood

As busy Moms who feel like we are juggling all the things with therapies, food allergies, behavioral challenge, and caring for our home, it can be easy to fall into the cycle of thinking negative thoughts about our life. 

We often have feelings of failure, wishing circumstances were different, comparing ourselves and our kids to others and feeling as if we don't measure up. These thought patterns can be extremely draining and are not what God desires for us to fill our days with! 

In today's podcast episode I share 4 steps that I take to help break the cycle of negative thinking when I find myself spiraling down that path. Join me as we talk about what the Bible says about our thoughts and how we can replace these negative thoughts with God's truth! 

XO,

Ashley 

 

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Hey friend, 

What if the secret to better health and happiness was as simple as saying “thank you”? In today’s episode, we’re unlocking the powerful benefits of gratitude—how it can reduce stress, improve your mood, and even boost your physical health! Plus, I’m sharing super easy, life-changing tips to make gratitude a daily habit that sticks.

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Analysis paralysis, brain fog, feeling hopeless or overwhelmed, procrastination....are any of these something you struggle with? If so, it's possible you're facing decision fatigue. It makes perfect sense, we all have so many decisions we have to make in a single day, sometimes it's just too much for our brains to keep up with!

I am going to share 8 tips that have helped me to decrease the number of decisions I have to make in a day. If you feel overwhelmed during meals because you're trying to encourage your child with food aversions to try new things, but it feels daunting to come up with something new, there is a way to streamline that!

I share all about this and many other tips I have found that help me with running my home, parenting my kids, and showing up to life in a way that feels significantly less overwhelming than it used to. I want that for you too!  XO,

Ashley 

 

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Do you find yourself struggling to find time for yourself each day? Does self-care feel like an impossible idea to actually implement in your life? While we care for our differently-abled kids, the reality is that self-care is so important for our own health and well-being, but also so we can show up for our family in the way that we desire to. Burnout while juggling the parenting and caregiver roles is very real. How can we find ways to decrease our chances of burnout and actually make time for ourselves? Is it possible that our thoughts surrounding self-care are stopping us from finding creative solutions? I think so!  Join me today as we talk about the real need for time away from our responsibilities, the challenges we come up against to actually make that happen, and some ways we can begin to be honest with those around us about our desperate need to care for ourselves, too!  XO,

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

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Do you find that the busyness of parenting your children with special needs leaves little room for you to connect with your spouse? Have you heard that the divorce rate is higher among those who have a child with a disability, but you don't know how to increase your chances of having a successful marriage?  I share my #1 routine for increasing connection and communication in your marriage in a way that doesn't feel unattainable or overwhelming. When we already struggle to find time for ourselves or to find someone to watch our kids so we can consistently go on a date-night, we just need to find a simple routine in order to cultivate that connection in our marriage that we really desire to have. Listen in as I share what that looks like for us!  XO, Ashley

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Hey Sister-friend!  Welcome back to the podcast! Do you have children who are Neurodivergent, who have some kind of disability, or complex medical needs? Do you find school and their education to be in a constant state of “Warrior Mom Mode" to fight for your kids to get an education that works for their unique learning styles? Been.There. I share in today's episode why we decided to Homeschool our kids and what a beautiful (and admittedly, often difficult) journey it has been for us so far. If you are desperately desiring to step out of the box of what you've been told is the appropriate way to educate your children, but can't overcome that feeling that if you do so, you will be failing them, then you're going to want to listen to today's episode!  XO, 

Ashley 

Resource for Learning Styles: http://carolbarnier.com/learning-styles/

 

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Hey Mamas!

Have you ever been told that you are SuperMom for parenting your child with special needs? Or that people don't see how you do it all as far as caring for your kids, juggling therapies, and all the things that parenting our kids requires?

I know I have had that said to me, or something similar, many times over the years. I want to chat with you today about how I feel that mindset of being SuperMom is often actually not helpful for us as Moms.

Parenting a child with special needs can be incredibly rewarding, but it's also incredibly challenging. There are days when you might feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and stretched thin. And that's okay! You're not alone in feeling that way.

Remember, there's no shame in admitting that you need some extra support. And we don’t have the keep the expectation that we do all the things, all the time. Let's talk about what the Bible has to say about how the burdens that we carry while helping our kids to grow into healthy, thriving adults really aren't a source for us to feel proud of ourselves for all of our accomplishments, but instead are a place to rest in the grace and love of Jesus.

XO,

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

Email: hello@ashleybraden.com

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Do you struggle with feeling like your kids are on screens too much, but you can't find a good alternative to replace some of their screen time?

Have you found setting boundaries for yourself with your phone to be really difficult to stick to?

Today I share some great screen-free alternatives that can provide your children with some entertainment! We also talk about some options that use screens, but how we can adapt those to make them less stimulating to our kids.

And if you're struggling to stick with your own boundaries around scrolling your phone, tune in to my simple hack for limiting the addictive nature your phone can have on you!

XO,

Ashley

Toniebox: $15 off coupon HERE 

Geminii: HERE

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I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

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Do you notice negative effects from screen time for your kids, but you also rely on screens to help educate or entertain your child with special needs? 

If you have a child who is Neurodivergent, you may find them being drawn even MORE to screens, which can make the idea of limiting screen time seem even more challenging. 

Today we talk about some of the research behind the negative effects that screens can have on our kids. If you notice your children are consistently overstimulated, struggling to concentrate, anxious, or obsessed with their games or devices, you're going to want to listen to today's episode! We are going to have some real talk about the problems that can come from too much screen time and what we can do about it as busy moms who often feel we need screen time for our kids as a way of getting a break! Here we go!

XO, 

Ashley 

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Parenthood is stressful at times, am I right? It's an amazing blessing to raise these precious kids, but there are days when it feels like WE may not make it until the end of the day. 

When we are parenting kids with special needs, at times, the feelings of stress can be amplified. Oftentimes as caregivers, we rarely (or never) get breaks. This can only add to our stress and the feelings of isolation and overwhelm. 

If you've found yourself struggling to manage your stress in ways that feel healthy and that actually work, please listen as I share 5 of my favorite tips that I use daily to help manage my own stress levels. An added bonus is that many of these tips can also help our children stay calm and relaxed as well! 

XO,

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

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Does this sound familiar? You start your morning out feeling behind, scrambling to get everyone dressed for the day, trying to find matching outfits, or some days, just clean clothes...who cares if they match! You finally make it out of the door, but you're late (again.) 

I know this has been a scene in my home more than once as I tried to get my kids to their speech and occupational therapies! 

Often as a Mom with differently-abled kids, our children may have some kind of disability that requires us to pick out their clothes and offer them extra help with getting dressed and ready for the day. If we aren't prepared, this can add to our stress as we are trying to get out of the door on time. 

I want to share with you in today's episode one of my favorite tips for eliminating some of the stress and overwhelm we can feel with our morning routines when it comes to getting our children dressed and ready to start the day! 

If you want to find a simple way to make your mornings feel a lot more relaxed (and start to actually make it to places on time!) then you're going to want to listen in! Let's do this!

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

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If you have a child with Sensory Processing Disorder, you may know what a struggle it can for them to be open to trying new foods. 

I started gardening as a hobby for myself then quickly realized it had even MORE benefits than I had ever thought possible. I share today all about the amazing things we have seen come from growing our own backyard garden (hint: it's not just the fact that my kids are willing to try new foods!) 

In today's episode you're also going to hear how to start a beginner's garden in a way that can feel really simple! I can't wait to hear what you're growing at your house this year!

XO,

Ashley 

Greenstalk Planter get $10 off here.

MIGardener: migardener.com

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Hey friend, 

In this episode, we’re tackling the winter health struggles—those sniffles, coughs, and colds that seem to pop up everywhere. It can be tough to keep your family healthy when the weather gets cold and germs are everywhere. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!   We’re diving into easy, holistic ways to naturally boost your family’s immune system. Grab a cup of tea, get cozy, and let’s chat about how to keep your family feeling strong and thriving all season long. Trust me, these tips are simple, effective, and won’t take up too much of your time—just what busy moms need!  

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You're out in public and it's apparent your child is overstimulated and having a meltdown. Everyone is staring and you have NO idea how to help your child. Ever been there? Yeah, me too. 

In today's episode I share some of my favorite tips for helping our children when they are feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. 

Tune in for some real talk about the negative feelings that can come up for us as Moms during these moments - shame, embarrassment, or  frustration, to name a few. If you've been on this struggle bus more times than you'd like to admit, know you aren't alone! Listen in for some of my favorite ways to work through these tough moments as a special needs Mom. 

XO,

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

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Hello Mamas!

One thing that I have noticed over and over is that finding support within the church as a special needs family can be very challenging. So many different things can play a role in making it very difficult for us to be engaged and active within our church body.

I share today some of the ways the Lord has shown me how to step out and find a community of believers who will love and support all members of my family, and especially my differently-abled kids. 

If you have found the area of church attendance to be a point of stress and disappointment over the years, you are going to want to tune in to today's episode! I hope you are challenged and encouraged to step out and make an impact within your Christian community!

XO,

Ashley 

 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

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Hello Mamas!

I think keeping our homes clean in a way that feels effortless is a struggle we ALL have! Throw in the fact that we may have one or more children with a disability that requires extra care from us, cleaning can feel like something that just isn't possible to get done.

While I haven't mastered the cleaning feeling effortless part (because, hello 4 kids!) I HAVE figured out a way to keep our home clean that builds teamwork, increases communication, and doesn't leave me feeling overwhelmed every single day of the week. 

Listen to today's episode where I share what is working for us to keep our home clean in a way that feels super manageable! The best part is, you can adapt this to fit YOUR unique family's needs when it comes to routines in your home with your differently-abled child. 

 

XO,

Ashley 

I would love to connect even more with you! Please email me or reach out to me on social media!

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