5 routines to incorporate before you go to bed to make your morning less hectic

As our family has grown, the morning time chaos has as well. I’ve had a hard time figuring out how to get 3 kids up, ready for the day, fed, and out of the house by 8 am…. Let alone setting aside some time for myself to enjoy 1/2 a cup of coffee and a […]

Family

A few weeks ago, I was doing makeup for a client and she said something that spoke directly to one of my mama fears. My client is in high school but her maturity level is well beyond her years. As she was sitting in my chair, I told her how mature she is, how she […]

Family, Special Needs

Growing up fast: siblings of special needs children

A few weeks ago, I was doing makeup for a client and she said something that spoke directly to one of my mama fears. My client is in high school but her maturity level is well beyond her years. As she was sitting in my chair, I told her how mature she is, how she […]

Family, Special Needs

Growing up fast: siblings of special needs children

2021 Year in Review

As we round out another VERY full year, I carved out some time to reflect and think through the highlights—for me and my family.  Oh, and if you want a trip down memory lane, here is my 2020 year in review! 2021 Year in Review Two intensive PT programs for Jax  Jaxlee did two separate […]

Business, Family

Emily Barton reviews her 2020 and 2021 plans

The question I got asked this week was, “Is she deaf?”  As a mom of a daughter with special needs, I’m used to answering questions people have—or reading peoples’ faces when they have questions but are too uncomfortable to ask.  This was the first time I had been asked this particular question, but when I […]

Special Needs

5 things I want you to know about my non-verbal child

Cerebral Palsy warrior

The question I got asked this week was, “Is she deaf?”  As a mom of a daughter with special needs, I’m used to answering questions people have—or reading peoples’ faces when they have questions but are too uncomfortable to ask.  This was the first time I had been asked this particular question, but when I […]

Special Needs

5 things I want you to know about my non-verbal child

Cerebral Palsy warrior

How to talk to your kids about inclusion

With the start of the new school year, there are a couple of things weighing heavy on my mind and one of them is the topic of disability inclusion. As a mom of a special needs daughter, this is something I manage almost daily as we interact with typically-developing kiddos and their families, but it […]

Special Needs

As a first time mom of a daughter with Cerebral Palsy, I didn’t spend much time at playdates with other kids Jaxlee’s age. I preferred to hang out with my friends who didn’t have kids or friends whose kids were significantly older than mine.  Looking back, I realize this was an act of protection and […]

Special Needs

How friends can support special needs parents

As a first time mom of a daughter with Cerebral Palsy, I didn’t spend much time at playdates with other kids Jaxlee’s age. I preferred to hang out with my friends who didn’t have kids or friends whose kids were significantly older than mine.  Looking back, I realize this was an act of protection and […]

Special Needs

How friends can support special needs parents

Real talk: special needs parenting fears

A few weeks ago another special needs mom reached out to me on Instagram and asked if I would share about how we decided to have more kids after Jaxlee. My heart goes out to her and all the other mamas who are grappling with this same decision. Let me start by saying I have […]

Special Needs

While I wouldn’t consider myself a tom-boy, I grew up playing sports, riding bikes outside with the neighbor kids, and taking dance classes just like a lot of my peers. When I pictured myself raising kids, I pictured the same things for them. After I had my first baby, the visions of these childhood activities […]

Special Needs

Horse therapy gave my daughter a childhood

While I wouldn’t consider myself a tom-boy, I grew up playing sports, riding bikes outside with the neighbor kids, and taking dance classes just like a lot of my peers. When I pictured myself raising kids, I pictured the same things for them. After I had my first baby, the visions of these childhood activities […]

Special Needs

Horse therapy gave my daughter a childhood

Defying the odds as a special needs parent

There was a time after Jax was born when I thought my life was over. I didn’t see a “hope and a future.” All I could see were feeding tubes, feelings of desperation, and what seemed like the never-ending race to find a diagnosis for her. I told myself there was no way we could […]

Family, Special Needs