8 Reasons to Hire A Special Needs* Mom (Especially If You Need A Copywriter)

If you need something done right, under pressure, and with a ridiculous amount of creativity and flexibility, I have a secret for you...

You need to find the mom of a special needs kiddo (or two).

Whether we’re helping our kids navigate the never-ending specialist visits and therapy appointments, battling an insurance company, researching a new treatment, or just dealing with the day to day struggles that come with raising a child with additional needs, here are 8 reasons working with a special needs mom may be your best bet:

1. No one does their research better. Yeah, yeah, I’m not talking about the “I’ve done my own research, I know more than you do Dr. McFancyPants” type of research. Almost all SN moms I know have done extensive research on the conditions their child/ren have so that they better understand their kiddo’s experience and can make more effective treatment choices. Often, this does require getting what feels like a Jr Doctorate.

   Additionally, if you are dealing with multiple or rare conditions like we are in my family, you have to do your own research to present it to the doctors and work together to figure out what is going on. When it’s your kid’s health, happiness, and safety on the line, no one does better research than a SN mom.

2. Resilience….so much resilience. Do you have any idea what it takes to get up day after day when your kids are struggling and you’re uncertain if today will be the day you have to finally take them in to be admitted to the hospital (and praying that they’ll be able to find you a bed close by and you won't have to go out of state)? I do.

   It takes a lot to start each day with a fresh perspective when things look grim for so long. There’s a reason I became a meditation instructor...daily stress takes its toll in a huge way if we let it. Most SN moms I know have found an effective way to balance their own feelings with the day-to-day challenges they face, and are great at being resilient in the face of adversity.

3. You need creativity...we got that! How many ways can you think of to try and get your kids to brush their teeth? How many have you had to try? I could list 30+ different things I have tried to get my kids to effectively brush their teeth through the years.

   That’s just one self care task they struggle with. From figuring out clothing options that work, to feeding them, to the never ending battle that is bedtime, we’re a bunch of creative problem solving ninjas when it comes to the small (and big!) stuff.

4. We’ve got acrobatic levels of flexibility. Ah, and my mom said being a cheerleader in high school was a waste of time... Things change on a dime around here, and I have to be willing to roll with whatever happens.

   While I have a plan in place at almost all times (ya’ll know how much your girl loves her timeboxed schedule), if one of the kids is struggling, sometimes that plan goes out the door. We switch gears real quick around here when we need to. I’m always willing to meet my kids where they are and do the best I can to get them what they need at any point.

   I will add, lest any potential clients read this and think I blow off work in favor of my kids - I’ve never missed a deadline, client call, or meeting because of what’s going on for my kids.

   Part of this is good time management, and part of it goes back to being flexible…sometimes my schedule gets hijacked, but I make sure my problems don’t become your problems, even if that means sacrificing some sleep or getting take out three nights in a row.

5. You need to persuade someone? That’s literally what I do all day. Seriously. Both of my kids were born tiny, little lawyers (with huge, loud mouths). Arguments over everything, and a general lack of desire to do anything unless the “what’s in it for me” is painfully clear and immediately available are our normal.

   One kiddo is literally incapable of accepting the word “no” as an answer, and thinks everything in life can be negotiated in their favor. They also refuse to do most things you ask of them….we’ve had arguments with this child about getting ice cream before. They didn’t want to go since they were mad it wasn’t their idea first. We lovingly call this child No-Can The Contrarian.

   It’s a sign that their anxiety is so bad they don’t feel safe doing anything unless it is their idea first (for more info on Pathological Demand Avoidance, click here). It’s age appropriate when said child is two or three, but I’ve been dealing with this for a lot longer than that…

   Every day is a masterclass in persuasion! Getting someone to do what you want without actually asking or telling them to do it (and convincing them it was their idea first)?! That’s how I’ve spent my days for the past eleven years...I’ve gotten pretty good at it.

6. Need someone who can handle stress?! Oh, my sweet Summer Child, I can handle stress! Research shows moms of autistic kiddos have stress levels on par with combat soldiers. While not an ideal situation, I’ve learned how to manage the stressors in my daily life so that when facing pressure with my clients, I’m able to focus, work through it, not get upset, and finish the task.

   You’ll also find I’m very good at reducing stress by conceiving of problems ahead of time and working to prevent them from happening in the first place...Autism Mom lesson 101: the best way to stop a meltdown is to prevent it from ever occurring. 

7. Impeccable organizational skills are our specialty. One horrible week in 2019 we had 24 appointments, one ER visit, and a planned surgery (all while the doctor's thought my one kiddo may have had a brain tumor...thankfully, he did not).

   I managed to get us all through it.

   Not saying it was easy, but it got done.

   If you have a larger project that has lots of moving parts, I’m definitely the person you need to organize, plan, and make sure it rolls out on time. 

8. And finally, the biggest benefit to working with a SN mom - I get that your life has static! Girl, I feel ‘ya! You’re running your business, maybe you have kids of your own, and life is just hard sometimes. I don’t want to add to your burden, I want to alleviate it.

   While our situations may be different, I get that business isn’t the only thing you have going on. It’s nice to have someone who “gets it” and can work with you to come up with realistic, creative, and collaborative solutions to your problems.

My one hope is that you don’t look at this and say “How TF does she have time to work with clients if this is her life?!” I have help and support for the kids, and always give realistic timelines that ensure I have enough time to finish a project if crap hits the fan around here.

I’m honest with myself and my clients about my availability, and I’m an expert at knowing when we’re cycling towards a challenging time (screw you time change next week!). I think it does explain why full time agency work is not an option for me, so I’m on team #freelance4life.

It’s all a huge juggling act, but since my business has taken off, the kids are actually doing better and I'm a much better mother as well. 

Have I convinced you that hiring a special needs mom is the best way to get the most compelling copy for your business? Contact me so we can get started!

*I really don’t like the term “special needs” mom, but at this point, don’t know what else to call myself, especially since my kids have both developmental disabilities like autism, and physical health challenges (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). Every person has needs that are unique and special, and I never want my kids to feel less than or like they’re a burden. Until we come up with some better language around this topic, I’ll keep using the term “special needs” and invite anyone who has a better suggestion to share it with me.