Hannah Gair StrongHER Side ebook - Available for free to listeners, providing tools and resources for mothers.

Hannah Gair became a foster mum at 23, then had a son born with Fragile X syndrome. She's now raising three kids and knows firsthand the "pressure cooker" reality of supporting families with children with disabilities. In this conversation, Hannah shares practical strategies for raising teens with additional needs while still connecting with your other kids, how the broader community can genuinely help struggling families, and why 70% of disability caregivers experience burnout. She also opens up about navigating divorce, rebuilding life as a single mum, and creating StrongHER Side—a community for the nearly one million Australian mums raising children with disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Parental Advocacy: Hannah's journey emphasises the critical role of parents in advocating for children with disabilities, both in terms of education and day-to-day life.
• Importance of Support Structures: Family, community, and specialised education play vital roles in supporting children with disabilities and their families.
• Self-Care Strategies: Hannah underscores the necessity of finding personal time for self-care, which can range from exercise routines to quiet journaling moments.
• Navigating Emotional Complexity: Addressing the emotional and logistical complexities of raising children with additional needs, and how empathy and vulnerability foster resilience.
• Building Awareness and Empathy: Encouraging proactive interactions and openness with individuals with disabilities to foster an inclusive environment.

Notable Quotes:

• "The best thing we can do as a mother is actually allow our children to reach their full potential."
• "When somebody leans into their world and looks at her and displays empathy towards her and shows her support, then you're making her feel seen."
• "He's trying to find a common place to have a conversation with you because majority of Aussies have a team that they follow."
• "We are the product of our choices, and so it's being bigger than the most negative thought that you have."
• "Every one of us want to feel seen. Every one of us are hardwired for connection."

Resources:

• StrongHER Side Podcast - A podcast designed to support mothers raising children with disabilities.
• Hannah Gair StrongHER Side ebook - Available for free to listeners, providing tools and resources for mothers.