Mama, we see you. We know your calendar is filled with therapy appointments, medical visits, and school meetings—not exactly the glossy goal-setting life Instagram shows us, right?

Traditional goal-setting wasn't designed for us. It assumes control we don't have, focuses on achievement when we're in survival mode, and completely ignores the invisible work we do every single day.

That's why we're doing things differently.

In this episode, we're sharing 7 mindset shifts and 5 practical steps to help you plan your year in a way that actually honors YOUR reality as a special needs mom. We're talking about purpose over perfection, compounding over completion, and building your life resume, not just your work resume.

If you know a Mum who is raising children with additional needs, we would love it if you shared this podcast with her. She will greatly appreciate you thinking of her.

In this podcast episode we discuss:

• How to "get lighter" without adding more to your plate
• The compassionate year review that celebrates survival AND growth
• The Japanese concept of Misogi—your ONE big thing for 2025
• The Rule of 6: mini-adventures that break the pattern (backyard picnics totally count!)
• How to stack winning habits one quarter at a time without burnout
• The 8 Life Boxes framework for mapping what truly matters

We're not here to help you crush goals or become someone new. We're here to help you move YOUR world forward, one intentional step at a time—even when tomorrow is unpredictable.

Ready to plan your year with purpose?

Download our FREE Planning Your Year with Purpose workbook—complete with a 30-day checklist, and all the frameworks we discussed.

Connect with us on Instagram @strongherside and subscribe on YouTube @TheStrongHERSide for more encouragement, practical strategies, and real talk for special needs mamas.

You're not alone in this, Mama. Let's make 2026 better—not perfect, BETTER.

Hann & Nessy 💛

What a whirlwind 2025 has been for us! As we sit down to reflect on the past months, we want to share the challenges, triumphs, and the heart behind our mission to empower mothers—especially those of you navigating the complexities of raising children with disabilities. Join us as we unpack our journey and look ahead to what's coming next.

Download our free guide to Preparing Calm for Christmas: www.strongherside.com/calm

A Year in Review

We can't believe how far we've come in just four months of active execution. "It has been quite a year," Hannah says, though the vision and mission have been brewing in our hearts for much longer. We've stayed intensely focused on our mission, committed to making a real impact in the lives of moms who need it most.

The Mission Behind the Movement

This work isn't about us—it's about YOU, our mums. We're building a movement to support mothers facing similar challenges in raising children with disabilities. "This mission is not about us; it's about our mums," Hannah explains. We feel a deep responsibility to uplift and edify our community. For Vanessa, it's about aligning her values with a cause that resonates in her soul.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strongherside

Our Aha Moments

Vanessa shares her journey of commitment to this podcast: "When you came to me with your mission and vision, I just wanted to get behind you." Her experiences as a mother of children with disabilities showed her how important this message truly is. It was such a pivotal moment that she shelved her own business plans to fully commit to Stronger Side. We knew this was something greater than ourselves.

Join Us

We're inviting you to engage with this mission. Community and support are everything, and we want to hear from you—share your experiences, connect with other mums, and know you're not alone. "Our message is needed, and our audience needs that community," Vanessa says. We're building this together.

Looking Ahead

Our journey is just beginning. We've laid the groundwork for a movement that empowers mothers and creates a supportive community where you belong. We're committed to this mission with our whole hearts, and we invite you to join us in making a difference. Remember: alignment with your values matters, community is powerful, and stepping into a mission that resonates with your heart changes everything.

Download our free guide to Preparing Calm for Christmas: www.strongherside.com/calm

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Alex, a personal trainer and advocate living with autism, to explore the complexities and nuances of his journey. Alex shares his personal experiences growing up with autism, elaborating on the unique challenges and insights that have shaped his life. He emphasises the importance of understanding communication styles and the critical role of empathy and patience in engaging with neurodivergent individuals.

Delving into the societal challenges faced by those on the autism spectrum, Alex discusses his work with Weflex, where he helps neurodiverse kids enhance their social skills and physical well-being. He touches on the power of creative outlets such as gaming and music as coping mechanisms, along with valuable psychological tools that facilitate personal growth. Alex's narrative is a compelling reminder of the potential locked within neurodiverse communities, advocating for better awareness and inclusion to bridge gaps in understanding.

Alex is an inspiring individual navigating life with autism. At the age of 22, Alex is a personal trainer and support worker at Weflex, an NDIS-accredited company focused on helping neurodiverse individuals. With a deep sense of understanding and empathy, Alex shares his journey, offering insights into living with autism and advocating for a more inclusive society. His passion lies in guiding children with disabilities to find their place in the world, leveraging his own experiences to make a substantial impact.

• Alex highlights the importance of understanding body language and tone for autistic individuals, underscoring the need for clear and calm communication.
• The role of creative outlets like gaming and music in providing solace and self-expression for neurodiverse individuals.
• An emphasis on societal inclusion, aiming to provide better life opportunities and extend the average lifespan of those with disabilities through fitness and supportive environments.
• Alex's personal journey through social anxiety and the psychological support that has helped him develop coping mechanisms.
• Advocacy for empathy and respect when engaging with neurodivergent individuals, stressing that they seek the same emotional connections as everyone else.

1. "For us, it's not what you're saying, it's how you're projecting yourself… that can cause sensory overload."
2. "I've realised now how beneficial having proper health professionals was… knowing how to approach conflicts."
3. "Really try to recognise when your stress cup is overflowing and know your limits."
4. "People like us are very creative… it's being sucked into a different reality."
5. "We still want the same things in life that anyone else does."

Join Hannah Gair as she converses with Graeme Cowan, a key figure behind Australia's R U OK? movement. Graeme shares his personal journey through depression and his insights on mental health, emphasizing the importance of community and self-care. With practical advice for carers, especially moms raising children with disabilities, Graeme offers strategies for maintaining mental well-being, such as identifying the 'one thing' that brings joy and balance. This episode provides guidance on recognizing signs of depression and taking steps to seek help in challenging times, with a focus on meaningful connections.

• The Power of Connection: Graeme highlights the role of supportive relationships in mental wellness, urging people to prioritize community and friendships.
• Identifying Personal Warning Signs: Recognizing and addressing early symptoms of mental struggles is crucial to managing one's mental health.
• Prioritizing Self-Care: Graeme stresses that "self care isn't selfish," emphasizing the need for carers to maintain their own well-being to effectively support others.
• Finding Your "One Thing": Discovering a personal practice that brings joy and calm can greatly contribute to overall happiness and resilience.
• Reach Out for Help: Recognizing when professional help is necessary and the importance of preparing for a productive mental health discussion with healthcare providers.

• "I have profound relief that I didn't put my family through the same thing."
• "Self-care isn't selfish. We can't help others if our own fuel is running out."
• "People don't talk about it or if they are going through it, they think they're the only ones going through it."
• "Recognizing the early warning signs because the earlier we get it, the quicker we turn it around."
• "If you let your own fuel run out, you're no good to anyone."

• Graeme Cowan on LinkedIn for more insights and updates about his initiatives.
• R U OK? Day: ruok.org.au
• Book: "Back from the Brink: True stories and practical help for overcoming depression and bipolar disorder" by Graeme Cowan
• Robert Waldinger's TED Talk on happiness: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

The diagnosis changes everything. In this raw and honest episode, Hannah opens up about the grief that no one warns you about—the kind that comes when your child is diagnosed with a disability or additional needs.

She shares her own story of receiving her son Sunny's intellectual disability report, the waves of chronic sorrow that resurface at every milestone, and the sacred journey of rebuilding yourself around loss.

We're walking through the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—and what they actually look like for mothers raising children with autism, cerebral palsy, fragile X, global developmental delay, and complex needs. Because grief isn't weakness, it's your nervous system processing change.

You'll hear about finding safe people, reclaiming your identity beyond the carer role, creating meaning from hardship, and learning that joy and grief can coexist. This isn't about moving on—it's about learning to live and love again in your new reality.

You're allowed to grieve. You're allowed to heal. And you're not alone in this. When one of us heals, we all rise.

If you know a Mama who needs to hear this please send the episode to her.

Globally, there are 240+ million children living with disabilities, and behind every one of them is a mother who is longing to be seen, heard and connected with.

Our mission is to impact the lives of 1 million of these mothers.

How can you help?

Share this podcast!

Visit us on Instagram @strongherside

Connect with us www.strongherside.com

This episode is one I've been sitting with for a while, and I knew it was time to have this conversation with you.

We're talking about self-worth – but not in a superficial way.

I'm talking about the deep, often confronting truth that so many of us as mothers, particularly those of us raising children with disabilities or additional needs, have quietly handed our value over to everyone and everything else. Our achievements. Our children's progress. Our appearance. The approval of therapists, educators, family members.

And somewhere in all of that giving, we've completely lost sight of who we are.

Here's what the research tells us: 70% of women tie their self-worth to achievement and the approval of others. When those external measures shift – when our bodies change, when our child's diagnosis arrives, when we're no longer producing or achieving in the ways we once did – our sense of value can collapse with it. We've been measuring ourselves against the wrong standards, and it's absolutely exhausting.

In this episode, I walk you through the difference between your true self and your performed self, why belonging built on imitation is actually bondage, how to identify whose approval you've been chasing, and why your worth was never lost – it's simply been waiting for you to remember it. Because here's the truth I need you to hear: you are not your productivity, you're not your child's behaviour or progress, you're not your relationship status, and you're certainly not defined by how well you're managing in the eyes of others.

This is for every mother who has whispered "what happened to me?" in the quiet moments. It's time to remember who you are.

Keywords: self-worth, mothers of children with disabilities, disability parenting, self-esteem for mums, maternal mental health, special needs mums, burnout in mothers, people pleasing, comparison culture, social media impact, authentic self, performance-based living, approval seeking, self-compassion, personal growth for mothers, emotional wellbeing, boundary setting, positive self-talk, affirmations, chronic fatigue in mothers, caregiver burnout, Brene Brown, emotional agility, true belonging, self-abandonment, forgiveness and guilt, additional needs parenting, strong mother community

In this episode, Hannah flies solo and challenges the myth that Mama’s who suffer from burnout are seen to be weak.

Up to 77% of parents of children with complex care needs experience parental burnout - a level of chronic exhaustion, emotional distance and overwhelm far higher than in the general parenting population.

(Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2004)

Hannah unpacks the topic of burnout and the emotional and physical toll of constant vigilance, the invisible load of emotional labour, and the systemic barriers that often exacerbate stress.

Hannah shares personal insights on identity erosion, the societal pressure of the "strong mom" narrative, and the chronic stress that can lead to emotional exhaustion.

Hannah emphasizes the importance of community support, self-care, and reaching out for professional help.

This episode is a connection point for mothers feeling isolated, offering a reminder that they are not alone and burn out is often felt the most by mothers who love over and above.

Listen in to explore the signs of burnout and discover ways to reclaim joy and resilience.

Follow us on Instagram @StrongHERSide

Support the podcast and help us reach 1 Million Mama's around the world who are raising children with additional needs.

Learn more at www.stronghersidepodcast.com

Keywords: burnout, emotional exhaustion, invisible load, systemic barriers, identity erosion, chronic stress, self-care, community support, resilience, joy, vigilance, emotional labor, societal pressure, professional help, isolation, caregiving, advocacy, emotional detachment, perfectionism, self-criticism, cognitive overload, loss of joy, survival mode, Stronger Side podcast.