In this week’s episode of the Special Needs Mom Podcast, I’m diving into something that’s been on my heart for a while—feeling like an outsider. As a mom who’s been in both the cancer and disability communities for over a decade, I know firsthand how isolating it can feel when you’re walking a path that doesn’t quite look like everyone else’s.
I shared about my son Levi’s journey, from his brain tumor diagnosis at age two to our recent connection with a family camp for oncology patients. Even though we’ve been dealing with cancer for 13 years, we only recently started fully identifying with the cancer community. Why? Because for a long time, I didn’t feel like we fully fit in. Our story was a little different, and that made me hesitate to connect.
Maybe you’ve felt that too—like you’re on the fringes of a group you should belong to. Maybe your child’s diagnosis is a bit different, or their challenges don’t exactly match the others in the room. It’s so easy to feel like an outsider, even when we desperately want to belong.
But here’s the thing I realized over the weekend: it’s not about the details of our stories. It’s about choosing to belong. I saw people from all walks of life, some who had no personal connection to cancer, opting into this community because they wanted to help and be part of something bigger. And that made me think—what would it be like if we all opted in, just because we want to be part of a community, even if we feel a little different?
In this episode, I talk about breaking down those mental barriers that tell us we don’t fit in, and instead, embracing the idea that we belong because we choose to. We’re all walking hard paths, and we don’t have to do it alone.
I also give an update on the Pathway to Peace program, which has now evolved into a full coaching community. This is where we come together, not to just survive, but to reach for more—to thrive. If you’re ready to stop feeling like you’re on the outside and start finding your place, this episode is for you.
Tune in and let’s work through this together!
see you in the next episode,
Kara
