Most of us have an idea of what motherhood “should” look like, but often times, that ideal doesn’t match with the version playing out in our real life. Especially when we are bombarded with images and videos of supposedly perfect families, Catholic or otherwise, who make us wonder, why don’t my children act like that?…
My son, Nathan, has been attending Mass since he was two weeks old. I still remember with perfect clarity that first time I took him to Mass – still struggling with the post-Caesarean section recovery, coupled with a case of Bell’s palsy that caused the entire left side of my face to droop, and still…
This post contains affiliate links. You don’t need to miss out on observing Advent just because you’re a special needs parent. Preparing for Christmas can seem overwhelming because on top of all the extra work you do as the parent of a child with disabilities you’ve now got to squeeze in all the shopping, decorating,…
Theresa Kiser is the author of the new book Caring for a Loved One with Mary: A Seven Sorrows Prayer Companion. It was her own experience caring for a medically complex child that led Kiser to this devotion in her greatest hour of need. “It wasn’t until truly the most difficult days of the caregiving…
Passing on the faith to our children is an awesome responsibility, and one that can seem overwhelming when one’s child is disabled, or learns in different ways. Author Allison Gingras shares the story of how she taught her deaf daughter about her Catholic faith through the use of the Church’s tangible treasures and traditions in…
Since starting Accepting the Gift as a one day conference in 2019, I am always on the lookout for ways to better serve Catholic special needs parents. In my talks with fellow parents, through surveys, and through discussions in online forums I learned that many families are struggling to figure out their child’s religious education…
Awakening at Lourdes: How An Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family And Restored Our Faith is a new book by Accepting the Gift regular contributor Christy Wilkens. In it she shares how her pilgrimage to Lourdes with her husband and son Oscar brought her healing, although not in the way she expected. While not written exclusively…
I had the pleasure of speaking with my friend Kelly Mantoan about her new book, Better Than OK: Finding Joy as a Special Needs Parent. Kelly is the founder of Accepting the Gift, an apostolate for Catholic parents of special needs children, and this book is the culmination of years of reflection and peer mentorship…
Catholic parents of physically and intellectually disabled children often miss out on so many milestones that parents of typically developing children take for granted. Thankfully, the reception of the sacraments doesn’t need to be one of those missed moments. According to the USCCB document Guidelines For the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities;…
As the founder of Accepting the Gift, I’m always on the lookout for resources that speak directly to Catholic parents of disabled children and the unique struggles they face. When I learned about The Caregiver’s Companion: A Christ Centered Journal to Nourish You Soul, I was eager to talk to its creators and learn more…
