Summary
In this episode, Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon interviews Angela O'Brien, a professional organizer, about back-to-school organization for parents of special needs children. They discuss the stress and anxiety that can come with the new school year and offer tips for managing it.
Angela emphasizes the importance of approaching the new school year with a sense of wonder and excitement, rather than stress. She also suggests practicing the new routine before school starts and incorporating the child's interests and fascinations into the routine.
Angela also provides advice on decluttering and organizing the home, including creating designated spaces for items and focusing on small areas at a time. She encourages parents to let go of perfection and focus on what works best for their family.
You're invited to join the Lighting the Path community for free today! Come chat some more with Angela and other special needs parents about back to school organising!
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Welcome
03:19Approaching the New School Year with Wonder
05:05Practicing Routines and Incorporating Rewards
06:29Organizing for Different Types of Children
07:27Understanding and Meeting Individual Needs
09:11The Importance of Having a Place for Items
10:37Managing Overwhelm and Simplifying the Back-to-School Process
12:26Letting Go of Perfection and Embracing What Works
15:05Dealing with Judgment and Setting Your Own Standards
18:25Creating a Home that Reflects Your Values and Supports Your Family
20:17Decluttering and Removing Unnecessary Items
22:19Starting Small and Practicing Organization
23:46Organizing Spaces to Support Daily Routines
25:40Shifting Rules and Creating Functional Spaces
27:55Creating Entryway Systems and Command Centers
29:49Prioritizing Spaces for Organization
32:35Designating Spaces for Items and Simplifying the Kitchen
34:56Reimagining Spaces and Letting Go of Traditional Rules
39:38Golden Pieces of Advice
43:33Free Resources and Podcast Recommendations
About our guest
Angela O’Brien is a mom of 2, professional organizer, Enneagram coach, and host of the podcast Especially Organized: Sensible Solutions for Special Needs Moms. After spending 18 years raising her kids and advocating for her daughter who has Down Syndrome, Angela took her love of home organizing and turned it into a business where she coaches fellow special needs moms through their clutter so that they can reclaim the space, freedom, and energy to do what they love.
Find her at https://yourspacereclaimed.net/ where you can get her document retention guide for all your child's paperwork. (And learn more about her and what she does.)
About the podcast host
Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is a special needs parent and coach to parents, a podcaster, author, and strategy lecturer. She runs the Special Needs Parent Podcast because she aims to make special needs parents feel valued, connected, and supported.
Get her Amazon bestselling book, Lighting the Path, at https://books2read.com/lightingthepath
Find Marcia on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarciaNB8/ and on Instagram @specialneedsparentjourney
Join the FREE Lighting the Path Community for Special Needs Parents at https://www.facebook.com/share/jG6JEHafR3TWTyqG
