Parents Helping Parents Blog

This week I thought I would share something called “Temptation Bundling.” Many of us are struggling with New Years resolutions that don’t work. I think we can all attest to that. Workout gym parking lots are filled until February with everyone working out. Soon the resolutions begin to fade and plenty of parking spots begin to reappear. Why is that and what can we do to become more consistent with our goals?

Introducing “Temptation Bundling”

A woman named Dr. Katherine Milkman out of the University of Pennsylvania did a study based upon her own experiences that...

Carol Berman came on December 7th and gave a tremendous amount of great information about parenting a child with special needs and what she has learned through raising her son who has multiple disabilities. I have known Carol for over 20 years and here are the 3 most important things she taught me and shared that night on Zoom.

Never Stop Encouraging Independence 

Carol made sure her son Michael was as independent as possible. She taught him ways to get around his weaknesses and to express his strengths. She shared about how so many IEPs focused on what her son Michael could not do....

If I could say what was the single most important thing I did as a parent of a child with disabilities, it was to find mentors. This month we will interview one of the most influential mentors I had on the free “Women Empowering Women” training on Dec 7, 2022 at 7:30pm-8:30pm. Who is she?

Carol Berman was my mentor for years. I have asked her to come and speak about her experiences with her son, Michael who is employed as a recreation therapist and is the father of two children. Her son also mentored my son who has multiple disables. Without the support she gave to me, life...

A Vision 

After running Pathways for over 20 years, I have been told more often than not, that many things we set out to do could never be done. How can you get children to include each other and work together? How can you get children to sing together in a rock band and perform alongside the Jonas Brothers? How can you get children with disabilities employed at higher rates? How can you get them off of grocery bagging lines and into the science professions? Like many people, I  also at some points, never thought this could be done. What kept me going?  I was willing to...

We are nearing the end of 2022. How did you do in accomplishing some of your goals?  Most importantly, what did you do for YOU?  I feel 2023, is going to be a great year and I have started to plan for it now. Pandemic fears are almost nonexistent and life does not seem so uncertain. It is time to take a deep breath and start dreaming again. 

Are you Listening to YOU?

What is gnawing at your soul? You may feel like starting a new career, changing some of your goals for your existing career, or even starting your own business. It might be doing things for your physical and...

The past few years have been really tough for me personally. In 2019, I was forced to move out of my home of 25 years and downsize. In 2020, the pandemic hit which pushed everyone to the brink. In 2021, I had a bike accident that broke my hip and injured both legs. I had 4 surgeries, including at total hip replacement to recover. This year my condo was flooded by the person that lives upstairs from me. It caused massive destruction where my walls and floors had to be replaced. Over the last 5 months, I have been living in hotels and cleaning up major weekly messes that contractors have...

One of the skills that is most important in life is learning when and how to quit. We have all been there. Maybe it is a school placement for your child, you have lost passion for your career, or a relationship has gone bad. Whatever it is, it does not feel right anymore or align with who you are. Everyone has been faced with the daunting question, “Is it time to quit?”

Get Clear About What You Want

When I am looking at quitting something, I always sit down and think hard about what am I feeling. Sometimes I want to quit and walk away because I am tired, over stressed, or...

Life throws us many curve balls. Whether it is the death of a loved one, a crisis caused by mother nature, sickness, financial difficulties, or something else, it can leave you in a state of shock. That shock makes your life stop and forces you into spending time doing some major self reflection and redirection. 

This summer my condo was flooded out by the tenant above me. Their washing machine broke and water came flooding through my condo like a major river. Thank God I was home, but there was little I could do. When it was all said and done, my condo suffered $44,000 of damage. I...

When you look at your life or your children’s lives, what do you see? Do you see status quo, comfort, or boring repetition?  Do you wake up feeling alive, excited, and fulfilled about your life or do you hate the thought of getting out of bed because it’s just another day?  I find in my life I have to keep expecting more and stretching to live up to my truest potential. Nobody else will do it for me. When I stop expecting more, both my son with special needs and I begin to stagnate. Ask yourself do you keep evolving toward a better self? What kind of expectations do...

This last week I talked to several parents who are struggling with their time and feeling overwhelmed. The school year has started and some children are struggling to adjust. We have all been there. Phone calls, IEP meetings, and the stresses of life are starting to build up. Do you feel exhausted? There are days when I feel the same way! 

How Do You View Boundaries?

Begin by looking at how you view setting boundaries. You may often think that giving yourself time and attention is a tradeoff that means less time is available to give to those that need you. Do you feel that setting...