New Year, Same You, Different Attitude

How many times have you told yourself, "once I get through this week, it'll be smooth sailing;" only to end up in that same spot the following week, and the week after that, and after that?

It's gotta stop!

There will aways be work, family obligations, appointments, meetings, paperwork, laundry, and countless other pressing things to do. It's not going away. 

If you want something to change, it's gotta come from within. Maybe this new year, it's time for a new attitude!

The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. 

The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our services are free. We just want to help. We know how hard this can be because we're in it with you. 

 

SHOW NOTES:

There are very few studies on how women tolerate pain. This 2022 study explains that women were excluded from studies because of assumptions that potential hormonal changes could impact reliability in pain ratings. Yet new research shows those assumptions are false. 

While there is evidence that period pain is comprable to the pain of a heart attack; renowned gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter warns that waiting for excrutiating chest pain to tell you you're having a heart attack is dangerous, especially for women who often report having no pain with their heart attacks.  

Research continues to show the importance of limiting screen time for children. 

 

TRANSCRIPT:

Welcome to The Odyssey. Parenting, Caregiving, Disability. I'm Erin Croyle, the creator and host of The Odyssey podcast explores how our lives change when a loved one has a disability. I was lucky enough to head down this less traveled road when my first child was born with Down's Syndrome in 2010. Now I work for the Center for Family Involvement at VCU's Partnership for People with Disabilities.

This podcast explores the triumphs and hardships we face. We celebrate the joys that the odyssey of parenting, caregiving and disability bring all while tackling the tough stuff, too. The thing is, parenting is tough. Caregiving is tough. Middle age. It's brutal. So many of us live in the. I just need to get through this week mentality and that is bunk.

If we think that way, we're going to be white knuckling it through life until we die. There's always going to be something. So rather than waiting for the tide to turn or the pendulum to swing, it's time for an attitude adjustment. I'm going to get deeply personal here because I know the impact it can have. A good example of this is my first child's birth story.

Arlo's movement was slowing in the final weeks, and folks around me dismissed my concerns, telling me that it was natural to happen because as the baby grows, there's less room for them to move. But at 39 weeks, Arlo's movements were barely noticeable, and when he did move, it felt weak. So I went to the hospital and was immediately prepped for an emergency C-section.