Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed

Right after this pic, I dropped my vanilla lavender latte and just stood there looking at it splashed all over my shoes and the sidewalk.

My first thought was “ugh, I can’t believe I wasted my money”. (I’ve always been frugal.)

My second thought was “The barista told me to have an awesome Monday. Well, that’s not happening”. 

My third thought was “I’m not going to let this ruin my day and start my week off wrong. I’m going back inside and I’m ordering another one.” (Pssst... this should’ve been my first thought, not third.)

I returned to the coffee shop and the barista had already seen what happened. He had my second drink almost ready by the time he asked me “did you have a little spill”.

His kindness of helping me through a little bump in my Monday turned my entire day around. Kindness is a superpower.

I thanked him several times, probably too many times. (Awkward!) I bet he still has know...

I love this pic of Berny & her mamma bear mug! She recently finished the IEP Coach mentorship and is helping special needs parents in her community. Find out how, here.

Raise your hand if you've ever felt your "mamma bear" instincts when you've been sitting at an IEP meeting!

A little secret... I know teachers and therapists feel that way too. They take the responsibility of their students seriously and often get protective during IEP discussions.  

I know because I was a teacher and I am a mom. It happens in both situations. I see it everyday when I'm helping parents and schools. 

When a district or a parent brings me into an IEP "situation", it's usually because many of the team members are in "mamma bear" mode. 

If you find yourself stuck in an IEP conversation that seems to be going nowhere, try this: 

• Write down the end result that you are looking for, such as, "more inclusion time".
• Write down 3 ways that more inclusion could be...

I wish you could've heard the conversation I had last night with an Occupational Therapist who works in both the school system and a private therapy clinic.

I mean it's one thing for me to share with you my experiences as a former special education teacher and decades of special education consulting and it's a whole other level when you hear the experience from someone who is still in the trenches everyday.

First, let me just disclose... she loves her job in both locations, but she had to accept that they serve VERY different purposes.

At school, she's limited to how many minutes she provide, how she can advocate for a child, what tools she can use and what tasks she can tackle.

In her clinic she has opportunities to get creative and serve the child and family in whatever manner is needed to get results.

Now, you'd think this would make her dislike her job at the school, but it doesn't. It's just different. She told me over and over how she wished parents knew the difference of...

Dear Special Needs Moms,

You've been to the support groups and you've researched for hours upon hours on how to make things better for your family.

You sit in the room, listening to other moms, the expert doctor or the IEP team and you think "there has to be more".

You go home to your family and there's still a little piece of you thinking "nobody gets us".

Until now... WE GET YOU!

You are EXTRAORDINARY!

You refuse to settle for yourself and your family, no matter how many labels or limitations others try to put on you.

You are determined to not live less fully just because you're a special needs family.

You just found your people, here, in the EXTRAORDINARY Moms Mastermind.

You don't have be isolated. You don't have to be broke. You don't have to miss out on building the life you've been dreaming of, but have been almost too afraid to share.

I grew up as a special needs sibling and became a special needs mom. I've broken the boundaries of "average" and built a life that makes...

Chances are either Valentine's day is a huge deal for you and your family or you really don't care. It's ok either way. No judgement here!

No matter what your feeling are about the day, it's always fun to find new ways to connect with your kids (and students)... this week is the perfect chance to play Kindness Bingo! 

I've attached a PDF (Download now)
or you can screen shot this pic and play on your phone. 

Finish all the tasks with your kids and then TREAT YOURSELF to something special to celebrate.

Remember, kindness isn't just about doing for others, it's also about taking care of yourself. You'll see acts of kindness for both yourself and others... YOU are important!

Have fun!

With Love, Hope & Determination Always,

Catherine 

Founder of the Become an IEP Coach Mentorship, Online IEP Help Center & EXTRAORDINARY Moms Mastermind

P.S. If you jumped to the bottom for the good stuff. The EXTRAORDINARY Moms Mastermind is 60% OFF for...

Dangerous situations haunt special needs parents, but is there something we can do in the IEP to help?

YES!

Sign up here for the free IEP Goal Writing Webinar and find out how!

Heather's son, Elijah, struggled for 3 years to make progress on his IEP goals. 

She knew something needed to change.

She took the leap and decided to Become an IEP Coach for her family and for her community.

You have to watch this video to see what has happened!

Now it's YOUR TURN to BECOME AN IEP COACH!

Enrollment is CLOSING - Sign Up Here

See you in the mentorship!

-Catherine