Laugh Cry Rage Repeat : The Caregiver Chronicles

Welcome back to Laugh Cry Rage Repeat.. Today we're diving into a conversation that's equal parts heartwarming, hilarious, and real. Because let's be honest: parenting often feels like a game show where no one explains the rules, the prizes are questionable, and somebody is always sticky. This is no surprise to veteran parent Mitch -  a phenomenal mom who is raising a daughter with Down syndrome,...

Today's episode is on Self care. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Take a bath. Read a book. Go for a walk.  Self-care can be physical like a massage or it can be mental/emotional like therapy or learning to say no and setting that boundary. It can also be quiet like reading a book or making connections and building community. And sometimes it’s hiding somewhere in your own house and refusing t...

Feeding your child is supposed to be one of the most basic parts of parenting, but for special-needs families, food can be anything but simple. It can be nutrition, having sensory needs, routine, fear, and comfort all rolled into one. Some kids live on a handful of safe foods, some struggle to swallow and some deal with food aversions or intense fixations. So today we’re getting into all of it—the...

For special-needs families, heading back to school can come with excitement and relief—but also anxiety, preparation, new teachers, new routines, and a whole lot of hoping that the people on the other side of those school doors will really get to know our kids. Because sometimes getting them ready for school takes a whole lot more than a new backpack and a pair of shoes. Are you ready to laugh, cr...

Sometimes, as mothers, we have the ability to transform into a force that cannot be reckoned with. People often call it "mama bear," but if you've lived it, you know it's so much more than a cute expression. It's a force. A fierce, unwavering determination that rises from somewhere deep within. A part of you that doesn't hesitate to speak up, push back, ask harder questio...

Today we’re talking about car rides — because for families like ours, getting from one place to another is never as simple as just getting in that car. Car rides can be calming, predictable, contained, rhythmic, and low-demand. It can also feel like a complete loss of control, with no escape from the noise, smells, sun, siblings, seatbelts. And sometimes, it’s both.  So today we’re talking about w...

Today we’re talking about the invisible admin of parenting a child with disabilities or complex needs. The forms. Renewals. Appointments. Referrals. Funding applications. School emails or texts. Medication tracking. Waitlists. Guardianship paperwork. It’s the advocacy, memory, project management, emotional labour, crisis prevention, and systems navigation, usually done by one exhausted parent who...

We’re talking about love, gratitude, happy surprises, and the little moments that don’t look big to anyone else, but to us, they are everything. A good transition. A shared joke. A quiet car ride. A hug that came out of nowhere. A skill they worked so hard for that finally clicked. Like when your child laughs at something completely unexpected, or when the whole day has been hard and then suddenly...

Have you ever shared something hard about your child, your home, your exhaustion, your fear, and someone responded with, “Well, everything happens for a reason”? And suddenly you weren’t comforted. You were quiet. That’s what we’re talking about today. We’re talking about the things people say to neurodivergent families. The little comments. The well-meaning advice. The “at leasts.” The “Everythin...

Today's episode is about “Meltdowns”  Not a child being dramatic. Not a child throwing a tantrum. Not a child trying to embarrass you in public. We’re talking about those moments where it feels like a switch flips — and suddenly your child is no longer able to reason, listen, explain, compromise, or calm themselves down. And if you are the caregiver, you know how helpless that can feel. Becaus...

Today we’re talking about transitions. For many special needs families, transitions are where the day is won or lost. Not because our kids are trying to be difficult. Or because they’re being stubborn. And not because we, as parents, have somehow failed to teach them better. Transitions require flexibility, communication, emotional regulation, trust, and the ability to shift from what is happening...

Today we’re talking about routines. Not perfect routines. Not pretty routines. We’re talking about the routines that help families get through the day. For many children with special needs, routine is safety. It helps them know what’s coming, what to expect, and what is expected of them. It can create calm in a world that often feels unpredictable. And for parents, routines can be the difference b...

Today’s episode is about the wandering, disappearing humans in our lives. Most parents worry their child will get lost. Some special needs parents live with the fear that their child will leave a safe place. There is a kind of fear that changes the way you sleep. The kind where you don’t just lock the door — you check it three times. You install alarms. You know the sound of footsteps. You can’t f...

In this episode of Laugh Cry Rage Repeat , Jennifer and Kim share the special needs parenting stories that are too messy, shocking, hilarious, or painful for polite dinner-table conversation — from meltdowns and injuries to dark humour, survival, and feeling truly understood. Music licensed through Soundstripe.4XCWLS7ZO1DLYDN9

Welcome to Laugh Cry Rage Repeat —where we talk about the real, messy, emotional side of caregiving and parenting. Today, we’re talking about medication. Not just the prescriptions themselves—but everything that comes with them. The trial and error. The hope. The side effects. The moments you question everything. And the quiet wins that sometimes come out of nowhere. For families like ours, medica...

There’s a common belief in medicine that disability is something located within a person’s body… something to be diagnosed, treated, and, if possible… fixed. Everyone has a diagnosis story—even if it’s something as simple as a common cold. But when a diagnosis comes without a cure or a quick fix, grief and loss often follow close behind. Grief for the life you thought you would have… and grief for...

Today’s episode is about something we didn’t realize we were signing up for — the long game. It’s the version of parenting where the rules are different, the timelines don’t match anyone else’s, and progress looks nothing like what you were told to expect. This is a story about waking up to demands that don’t end, about learning to measure wins differently, and about what changes when you finally...