A COMMUNITY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS MOMS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM
A safe place to land
A strong place to launch
for mothers
If you are a mother of a child with special needs, let us come alongside you with testimonies and tools that will help you right this very moment.
If you are someone who loves this mother but who feels both desperate to help and uncertain of how, let us equip you to bring meaningful relief and care.
And those who love them!
"in it".
We invite these mothers to feel safe, seen, and known as they are. In community, we support, encourage, and guide with resources and love.
They are overwhelmed not only by the flood of feelings that come along with this journey but also by how much there is to figure out.
We believe…
We all long to be seen, heard, and loved exactly as we are.
Vulnerable, honest sharing is powerful.
We were born for community and are stronger in it.
There is no shame in not knowing.
Big change starts with small steps.
Hi, Lovely!
I'm Julie Foge, and I'm honored and delighted you are here. I am the proud mama to three of the most resilient, funny, and kind girls who constantly keep me on my toes:
Amelia, Eliza, and Caroline.
My incredible husband, Derrick, and I got married in Colorado and were just starting to settle into our dream jobs in our dream home when our story took a hard turn in 2016. Our second daughter, Eliza, landed unexpectedly in the NICU at just two days old and then entered the special needs world when she was diagnosed with a rare chromosomal disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) two weeks later.
I learned most of what I knew in those early days from Google, and let me tell you, that was not my best move. But the truth is, I didn't know where to turn. I felt ashamed of my grief and jealousy and completely unequipped to navigate parenting a child with complicated needs and real struggles. I needed help, and while I was lucky enough to have friends and family who wanted to give it, I couldn't tell them what it was they could do.
If you don't feel like you can possibly stand against the weight of it all, lean into love. It is here.
FEATURED IN
A safe space for mothers and friends to share their concerns and questions.
This form provides an anonymous platform to express your deepest worries and ask questions, from “What do I do if my child has special needs?” to “How do I prepare for an IEP meeting?” They can be practical or they can be personal. Ask anything!
By encouraging open and honest dialogue, we seek to create a supportive community where moms of neurodiverse children and those who love them can find comfort, understanding, and the knowledge they seek to better navigate their unique journeys.
Ask Away!
RECENTLY ASKED
Q: “We just received a crushing special needs diagnosis, and I feel totally overwhelmed and isolated. I feel like I should be bonding with my baby and grateful that he’s getting the care he needs and is still with us, but I just feel so sad. What worked for you when you received a rare disease diagnosis?”
A: “First of all, allow yourself to feel it all without any guilt or expectations of how you “should” feel because there’s really no such thing. I think so often we try to rush ourselves into the silver lining and then beat ourselves up for the moments we can’t get there. You have experienced a trauma, and healing from that takes time. For me, asking for help to coordinate the practical things helped a ton, but I also had nurses and doctors checking in on my health and needs, so be sure you let your providers know how you’re feeling and then give yourself lots of grace. The other thing that really saved me was joining an online community group for my daughter’s diagnosis to connect with other parents who really understood. You don’t have to do it alone.”
Q: “What is the best way to help someone in the NICU?”
A: “I think in the particularly rough patches when we were in the NICU or in subsequent hospital stays, the thing that helped most was when someone organized a care calendar for our family with meal signups, hospital visits, and playdates for Eliza’s older sister. I loved that I wasn’t in charge of it but could make changes or requests based on our needs.”
Fill Your Bucket
My heartfelt collection for mothers of neurodiverse children seeking moments of reflection, solace, and empowerment. This includes an array of quotes, devotions, prayers, and meditations, specifically curated to uplift and nourish the spirits of mothers.