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PODCAST

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with Erica Hauser

As a mother and caregiver of a child with a complex medical background and special needs that all started as a result of epilepsy, I felt a calling to create a podcast that tells the story of our journey. A podcast that talks about moments of strength, the ups and downs and the lessons that we have learned along the way. Myself and my family have become stronger and are better humans because of what we"ve gone through. So come along with me, listen, learn and become apart of a community of parents,

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

00:25:46

Books That Helped Me Prepare For My Child’s Brain...

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/04/08

How do you mentally prepare for your child’s brain surgery?If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure how to handle what’s ahead—you are not alone. In this deeply personal episode, I share what helped me navigate one of the most emotional and challenging seasons of my life as we prepared for our daughter’s hemispherectomy surgery.While nothing can fully prepare you for a life-changing procedure like this, I found strength, perspective, and emotional grounding through three powerful books

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00:08:39

Caregiver Self-Care: Steps to Take a Break and Reset

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/04/01

In today’s episode, I’m opening up about something that can feel incredibly hard—but is absolutely essential… taking a break from caregiving.I recently took a short break away—from work, home, and caregiving—and it reminded me just how important it is to step away, even briefly. Whether it’s a few hours or a few days, creating space for yourself can leave you feeling refreshed, grounded, and more like YOU again.In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact steps I use to make a break actually

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00:19:55

Purple Day 2026: What I Wish You Knew About Epilepsy

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/03/25

March 26th is Purple Day, also known as Epilepsy Awareness Day—a day where many people wear purple, share posts, and show support.But behind that color… there are real families, real stories, and a reality that most people don’t fully see.In this episode, I’m opening up about what epilepsy truly looks like—not just from the outside, but from inside our everyday life as a family navigating seizures, uncertainty, and constant decision-making.Because awareness is important… but understanding is

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00:20:33

From Overwhelmed to Empowered: The Emotional Journey...

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/03/18

In this very personal episode, I reflect on a moment that always brings a wave of emotion — the anniversary of when my daughter and I came home from inpatient rehab after her hemispherectomy brain surgery. Every March, photo memories pop up on my phone from the weeks following her surgery and the five weeks we spent in inpatient rehabilitation. It’s a powerful reminder of just how far she — and our entire family — have come.Eight years ago, our daughter was discharged from rehab after undergoing a

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00:29:31

Getting a Second Opinion Before Your Child’s Epilepsy...

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/03/11

When brain surgery becomes part of the conversation for your child’s epilepsy, the weight of that decision can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I’m sharing our family’s personal experience with seeking multiple second opinions before moving forward with our daughter’s hemispherectomy surgery.This is a deeply emotional topic, and I wanted to create this episode because so many parents are asking the same questions: Where do I start? How do I know which hospitals to contact? What records do I need

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00:11:45

Braving the Unknown

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/03/04

As I was thinking about what to talk about today, I kept coming back to something so many of us quietly carry — the natural fear and anxiety that shows up when we’re about to make a change for our child.If you’re parenting a child with special needs and epilepsy, you know this rhythm. There are seasons of steady and calm… and then there are seasons where, in order to move forward — toward seizure reduction, toward progress, toward growth — we have to get uncomfortable.And that in-between space? It

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00:10:27

Finding Dental Care for Your Child with Special Needs...

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/02/25

The struggle is real!! If you have attempted to take your child with special needs and epilepsy for a “typical” dental cleaning, you know how challenging and stressful it can be. I was on a mission to find a provider who understood how to calmly, efficiently and quickly examine and clean my daughter’s teeth. I will be honest I wasn’t sure if this type of dental experience was out there, but I had to try. After a little research I found it and have been pleased with the results. Listen to today’s

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00:10:46

When Motherhood Introduced me to a New Kind of Love

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/02/18

In this episode I discuss redefining love when you’re raising a child with epilepsy & special needs. I touch on how love for our children can look different than how we thought it might look. The invisible love that no one sees, but that most definitely deserves recognition. Love for ourselves and also how the love in our relationships with our spouse can look different, but can still survive and thrive. If you need a little reminder that this journey didn’t take love away, but that it in fact

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00:16:17

It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect, It Just Needs to Get...

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/02/11

It doesn’t have to be perfect or hours long—it just matters that you do it.In this episode, I share a realistic approach to exercise for busy moms, especially those caring for children with epilepsy and special needs. From short workouts at home to walking, strength training, Pilates, and YouTube classes, I talk about how 10–30 minutes of movement can make a powerful difference in your physical and mental health.I also open up about my personal selfcare and fitness journey as I navigated major

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00:11:05

The 3 Items That I Must Pack When Doing an Inpatient...

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/02/04

It can be overwhelming when your child is scheduled for a multi-day inpatient EEG hospital stay, what do you pack, what will they need and what will you need for YOU?Over the years Erica and her daughter have had many inpatient 5 day or more EEG stays and we learned what personal items were important to have with us to make the stay more comfortable. Need a little extra help packing? In today’s episode Erica Hauser will list off three items that you may not think of packing for your next EEG stay,

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00:16:32

We Did It! Purple Blanket for The WIN!

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/01/28

If you are a mom of a child with epilepsy and special needs, you may be able to relate to the constant sleep disruptions that occur each night. In this episode Erica will share the solutions that her and her husband tried over the past years and what product FINALLY worked to help their daughter sleep through the night in her own bed! Erica also mentions the sleep monitoring system that she uses that not only records the seizure, but also alerts her if her daughter has a seizure while she is

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00:12:13

What You Tell Yourself Matters: A look at Self-Talk

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/01/21

If you are a mom of a child with epilepsy and special needs, chances are the hardest conversations you have aren’t out loud—they’re the ones happening quietly inside your own mind.In this episode, we’re talking about self-talk: the internal thoughts that shape how we see ourselves, how we parent, and how we survive the hard days. This isn’t about positive thinking or fixing your mindset. It’s about learning to notice your thoughts with compassion—and offering yourself the same grace you so freely

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00:14:38

The Quiet Identity Shift

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/01/14

There’s a quiet fear many parents carry after years of care giving for a child with complex epilepsy or special needs—the fear that somewhere along the way, they lost themselves.In this episode, we’re talking about the identity shift that happens when life changes you in ways you never expected. Not in a dramatic, overnight way—but in the slow, subtle ways that leave you wondering, “Who am I now?”This conversation isn’t about going back to who you were or trying to “find yourself again.” It’s about

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00:15:23

My Word for the Year When Life Is Unpredictable

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2026/01/07

What if this year didn’t ask you to do more—but instead asked you to be gentler with yourself?In this episode, I’m sharing my Word of the Year: Grace.For moms parenting children with epilepsy and special needs, life rarely follows a plan. Grace allows us to stay focused on what matters while remaining flexible when the unexpected arrives. By the end of this episode I want you to feel free from setting resolutions and instead find 1 word that has meaning to you and that can help lead you to be the

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00:22:35

This Year Didn’t Break Me—It Revealed Me

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2025/12/31

As the year comes to a close, it can feel like there’s pressure to look back and point to wins, milestones, and moments worth celebrating. But what if this year had challenges or unexpected obstacles? In this episode, I’m sharing a gentle reflection on what this year truly revealed—not through big achievements, but through the quiet strength that it took to get through the really difficult moments that 2025 gave us. The kind of strength that shows up in exhaustion, uncertainty, and moments where

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00:08:09

Giving Yourself Grace on the Hard Days

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2025/12/17

Some days hit harder than others—and often without warning.In today’s episode, I’m opening up and getting real about the overwhelming emotions, anxiety, and heaviness that can creep in, even when you consider yourself a strong person who’s been through a lot. As parents of children with epilepsy and special needs, we carry so much every single day. Sometimes it all shows up at once.I share a recent moment that caught me completely off guard—a phone call from my daughter’s school that changed the

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00:18:40

The Decision That No Parent Should Need to Make -...

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2025/12/10

In this episode, Erica will discuss her family’s journey and how they arrived at the decision to proceed with their youngest daughter having a major brain surgery to remove the right side of her brain- known as a hemispherectomy. She also shares the lessons they learned, what they did well and what they wish they had either done sooner or better. She wraps up by explaining how every child is unique, everyone’s journey and outcomes are also unique. Resources: If your child is suffering from epilepsy

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00:18:12

Holiday Shopping for Your Child with Special Needs

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2025/12/03

Holiday shopping can feel overwhelming when your child has unique sensory, developmental, or communication needs. In this episode, we explore stress-less gifting that brings genuine joy — not clutter or disappointment. Erica reminds listeners to focus on their specific child and the interests of their child. From sensory-friendly toys and skill-building tools to experience-based gifts that strengthen connection, you’ll walk away with practical ideas and encouragement for a more peaceful holiday

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00:17:29

Finding Gratitude in the Special Needs Parenting Journey

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2025/11/26

In today’s episode, we explore what gratitude really looks like in the world of special needs parenting — and why it often shows up in the smallest, most unexpected places. Gratitude in our world isn’t about picture-perfect moments or big milestones. It’s about tiny victories, surprising lessons, quiet support, and the moments of peace that help us breathe again.We walk through the micro-moments that make a big emotional impact, from the tiniest wins to the quiet strength we develop as parents. We

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00:13:10

Invisible Work: The Mental Load Special Needs Moms Carry

The Parenting Epilepsy and Special Needs Podcast with... ·

2025/11/19

If you feel mentally exhausted before the day even begins, you’re not alone. In this episode, Erica Hauser will dive deep into the mental load that special-needs moms carry every day — the invisible, nonstop planning, anticipating, and advocating that few people ever see. We’ll talk about why this hidden workload is so heavy, how it shows up in your daily life, and simple ways to ease the pressure without adding more to your plate.This is your reminder that the work you do — even the unseen parts —

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27 results

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