Here are some blogs for parents of kids with special needs to follow…or write your own. We learn from each other!
1. Hopeful Parents
At Hopeful Parents, you’ll find “grassroots support for parents of kids with special needs.” And incredible group of parents share their stories, which will have you laughing and crying and nodding along in recognition. You’ll also find a great community, and an open invitation to join in the conversation.
2. 5 Minutes for Special Needs
Part of the 5 Minutes for Mom family, 5 Minutes for Special Needs offers “support, insight, and inspiration.” It’s another collaborative blog, with distinct voices and stories that will remind you of your own, and at the same time drive home how unique each family is.
3. Support for Special Needs
That theme — playing on our shared stories, rather than our differences — is at the heart of Support for Special Needs. “We have more in common than separates us,” say the site’s founders.
4. Parenting Isn’t Pretty
Parenting Isn’t Pretty is the personal blog of Terri Mauro, About.com Guide for Special Needs and author of the fantastic 50 Ways to Support Your Child’s Special Education. Terry and her husband are the proud parents of two teenagers adopted from Russia as young children. As she says, “Life is… interesting.” Is it ever!
5. MOM – Not Otherwise Specified
When a woman titles her blog MOM – Not Otherwise Specified, you know you’ve found a keeper. If you’re going to raise a child with special needs, you’re going to need a sense of humor, and you’re going to need to be an advocate. MOM-NOS is an advocate extraordinare — and she does it with grace and style.
6. Love That Max
Speaking of grace and style, few bloggers have as much as Ellen Seidman over at Love That Max. She is also all about commitment — when the woman says she blogs daily, she isn’t kidding. Every morning, I look forward to reading her post with my first cup of coffee.
7. Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid
Months ago, I heard about a book called Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid. Um, YES! And they have a BLOG, too? Sign. Me. Up. Sure, it’s sporadic, but that’s all part of the imperfect philosophy. It’s intentional. And funny.
8. Fighting Monsters With Rubber Swords
If you want to read posts while pumping your fist in the air and cheering and then posting your own entry that just links over and says, Yeah, ditto — then go read Robert Rummel-Hudson’s Fighting Monsters With Rubber Swords. Also, be sure to get yourself a copy of Rob’s book, Schuyler’s Monster. And a box of tissues, while you’re at it.
9. Winter Ramblings
Another amazing author, Judy Winter — who wrote Breakthrough Parenting for Children With Special Needs — shares her thoughts at Winter Ramblings. Judy is a woman of incredible courage: she finds the strength to get up every morning even though her son passed away seven years ago, at age 12.
10. Wrightslaw
Wrightslaw is an amazing resource for parents of kids with special needs. If you want your child to get what he or she deserves from your city, state, and school district, this site is the place to go. And the blog is full of informative — and interesting — posts.
Please feel free to add to our list at Varietykc@gmail.com or on Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City Facebook.
