Julia Garstecki Archives - Mothering in the Middle

Birthday Parties with Special Needs…

by Julia Garstecki

Raising a child with a special need certainly has its ups and downs. An impending birthday party, either for your child or a peer, can be a roller coaster ride of emotions for both you and your child. With creative planning and realistic expectations, your child can be a part of the fun.

If you are hosting….

Let your child guide the planning. What does your child like? What are they able to do? If your child doesn’t like chaos on a daily basis, they certainly won’t have fun with a house full of kids amped up on cake and ice-cream! You can still decorate and get a cake, even if there are only a few guests to make it special. […]

Toilet Training Children with Special Needs

by Julia Garstecki

Toilet training any child is frustrating. The number of light up musical potties, DVDs devoted to the task, and sticker charts available for purchase indicate parents’ desperation for success. Toilet training a child with a disability can be a whole new ballgame, and depending on the disability, it requires patience, endurance, and creativity. In our case, it even involved a custom toilet specific to my son’s size made with love by Grandpa! […]

Back to School With Special Needs

by Julia Garstecki

For some children, a new school year is an exciting time to make new friends and learn new things. For others, including those with disabilities, a new school year can be a challenge. Some children worry how others will react to them. Those with not so obvious learning disabilities or attention disorders sometimes worry they won’t appear smart. Students with Autism or Anxiety disorders can struggle with new routines and the unknown, which can cause back to school panic as well. And of course, those of us that are parents of a child with a disability can’t help but worry about our children worrying! Fear not, though. There are things you can do to ease these back to school nerves. […]