Are You a Professional Woman and Mother to a Special Needs Child? This is For You.
Whether you just found out that your baby has special needs, you’ve just found your mommy sea legs after years of caring for your child with special needs, or something in between, the Mindful Return e-course, Balancing Career With A Special Needs Baby, is for you.
In this go-at-your-own-pace program, you will learn how to successfully navigate the path toward becoming a working mom of a premature, intellectually or developmentally disabled, and/or medically fragile infant or toddler.
This Course is the First and Only One of its Kind
Surprising, isn’t it? We thought so too. Until now, mothers of special needs kids have not had access to a network of women that encourages and offers tactical guidance to women who want a career and have a special needs child. So, we created one.
It doesn’t matter whether you sit in a corner office or a home office, working only during nap times, the guidance offered here is second-to-none.
We Hear You, Mama.
Do these thoughts cross your mind while you drive to a doctor’s appointment or rock your baby at 2 a.m.?
Sometimes I just really wish my kid was ‘typical.’ Does that make me a bad mother?
There are just too many specialist appointments involved with parenting a special needs child. Will I ever be able to make a career work while juggling them all?
If I ask for flexible scheduling, will I have to sacrifice career growth?
Other people may think they know what it’s like to raise a special needs child, but they don’t. Where are the moms who understand?
Is it possible to be successful at work while still being the kind of mother my child needs me to be?
We want you to know that we hear you, mama, and you’re not alone. These thoughts are completely normal. Not only that, but we’re fairly certain another woman raising a special needs child is thinking at least one of them at this exact moment.
Even if you have other children who call you mom, becoming a parent to a special needs child is a huge transition. Now, you’re responsible for caring for your baby while still earning a living and putting food on the table (or maybe in the g-tube). Yes, this is a beautiful time in your life, but it’s also a time riddled with anxiety about the future — and those feelings of worry are only natural when you’re trying to figure out this path alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way…
Introducing: Mindful Return’s Balancing Career With a Special Needs Baby
Mindful Return’s Balancing Career with a Special Needs Baby is a program designed specifically for career-minded women who have gone through the transformative experience of having or adopting a special needs baby or toddler. These children require extra love and attention. Sound familiar? Keep reading because this is for you.
This program is designed to leave you feeling more relaxed while simultaneously more empowered. It’s created to connect you with other women who have walked a similar journey as you’re experiencing now. Through each lesson and conversation, you’ll start to feel encouraged and inspired that it truly is possible to have it all.
We’ll show you how to negotiate for flexibility, plan complex logistics, and find
This is More Than an E-Course. It’s an Experience You Can’t Find Anywhere Else.
Created by Two Working Moms Who Get It
Mindful Return’s course for career-minded mothers of special needs children is the brain child of two women who
Lori Mihalich-Levin is a lawyer with two young children of her own. She has experienced first-hand the challenges that come with returning to work after maternity leave.
It’s through her experience that she created the original version of the Mindful Return course for working moms. However, given her passion for inclusivity, she wanted to design something unique to special needs moms, which prompted her to team up with Mia...
Mia Durairaj is a writing consultant with two medically fragile twin toddlers.
At first she assumed her career in health communications was over, so she decided to start a small consulting business during her children’s nap times. As that consulting business grew, she found herself with more flexibility to attend all of her children’s appointments without sacrificing the career she loves.
In Mindful Return’s Balancing Career with a Special Needs Baby, Lori and Mia brought together a core group of women to share words of wisdom about this unique journey:
Maria Dellapina, President and Founder of Specs4Us
Gina Gallagher, Copywriter, Speaker, and Coauthor of Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid
Kara Wahlin, Marriage and Family Therapist and Owner of NICU Healing
Tasha Howland, Mobility Sales Executive at AT&T and Special Needs Advocate
Sarah Rudell Beach, Executive Director of Brilliant Mindfulness, LLC and Author of the Left Brain Buddha Blog
A Completely Private Community of Support is Here
In addition to the expert guidance and support from Lori, Mia, and the group of guest authors, you’ll also find inspiration and support from a private community of moms who have walked or are walking in your shoes.
This community gives you the chance to ask private questions, get real answers, and sleep better at night, knowing other working moms of special needs children have your back. This community will put wind in your sails, helping you lead, grow, and thrive in your new role.
What to Expect When You Join
You’re busy, and the last thing you want to do is add another thing to your to do list. We get it, which is why we’ve made it as easy as possible to access the material you crave. Take the online class on your schedule and in the comfort of your yoga pants. Read the material while feeding your baby or sitting down (for once) with a hot cup of coffee during naptime.
Here’s what’s included during the 4-week course:
A mind shift that lets you feel calm and peaceful about returning to work;
Brainstorming exercises to help you find practical solutions to all those worrisome logistics;
The path to turning maternity leave into a leadership opportunity at work;
An unbelievably supportive, private community of other special needs moms with a career mindset.
In addition, here are the classes you’ll get access to:
Special Needs Parenting: Challenges and Rewards
Working with a Mindset of Gratitude
Adopting a New Perspective
Coping with Overwhelm, Anxiety, and Depression
Coping with Guilt
Baby Steps Toward Self-Care
Starting a Meditation Practice When You Have No Time
Choosing and Working with Child Care Providers
Understanding Work Flexibility
Sick Days, Snow Days, and the Land of the Unexpected
Nourishing Your Baby – Pumping, Formula, and Beyond
Putting Healthy-ish Food on the Table
Wellness and the Special Needs Mom
Can Moms of Special Needs Kids be Leaders?
Blazing Your Own Trail and Making it Meaningful
Redefining Success
Grow Your Team
Focus on Your New Skills
Letting Go of What Doesn’t Serve You
Avoid Isolation
Find Your Tribe: In-Person and Online Options
Your Village: Partners and Parents and In-Laws
Sharing Good News
Keeping the Course Alive
Around here, things are casual, comfortable, and most of all, convenient. But don’t mistake that for lacking power and efficacy. We’re simultaneously giving you relief while building your confidence.
Choose Your Session
The Fine Print
At $199/person, Mindful Return is around the same price as a night away, with far longer-lasting relaxation benefits. Participation includes:
Indefinite access to all the course materials
Indefinite access to a private Facebook group exclusively for special needs moms.
A $25 coupon for your partner to sign up for any of our Mindful Return courses, including a course for working moms or a course designed specifically for working dads. (Hint: You can also use this coupon toward a baby shower gift for a friend.)
Many employers cover the cost of this course! Ask yours if this is part of your employee
Know you’d benefit from this course but have
There’s a Book You Should Read if You’re Eager to Get Started.
Lori wrote the book on returning to work after maternity leave, and it’s available for you to start reading now. Dig in as you start your nesting phase, or crack it open during a marathon feeding session. The more you dig in, the more you’ll find hope that you can return to work prepared, confident, and ready to rock your new role.
You Have Questions. We Have Answers.
When should I sign up for this course? When I’m pregnant? On maternity leave? In the NICU?
The mamas who have taken this course have told us that the best time to sign up is when you’re out on leave, no matter how long that leave may be. With that in mind, you can dive in anytime you feel ready to start preparing for your return to the workforce or want some encouragement that you will survive the chaos. When in doubt, sign up for the earlier session. You can always take a later session at no extra cost.
Check out our course testimonials to see how mamas at each stage of their journey describe their experience.
What if I’ve already read Lori’s book Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave? Or what if I’ve already taken a Mindful Return course? Will I get anything out of this new course for moms of special needs children?
Yes, you will! There is overlap between the book and other Mindful Return courses where we talk about mindful mindsets, logistics, leadership, and community. But, there are important differences in each area specific to special needs families. More than two-thirds of the material is new or significantly changed to address the demands of being a working special needs parent. Key features found in the online course that
Does it matter how long my maternity leave was?
No. The lessons in this course will be helpful to you regardless of whether you took six weeks, six months, or several years off.
I’ve returned to work after maternity leave before. Will I still get anything out of this course?
Every return is different, just like every child is different. Add in the special needs of your newest child, and you’ll know that the parenting experience alone is vastly different than it was with previous children. When
Is there a particular time of day I need to log in to the course? And can I participate from a mobile device?
Any time of day is a good time to log in, read the lessons, and see what other mamas are writing. And yes, the private and secure online platform used for the course (Ruzuku) is accessible via mobile devices. Whether you log in during your metro commute at the beginning of the day, while your newborn is napping, or while you’re feeding your little one in a rocking chair at 3 a.m., chances are, another mama will be following along with you, posting comments at the same time!
My schedule is so unpredictable – what if I fall behind with the lessons?
This course is designed with the chaos of a working mom’s life in mind. It’s easy to pick up where you left off and go at your own pace. The weekends are always good times to get caught up, too, because there are no new lessons on weekends.
Will I have access to the course materials after the course is over?
Yes! You will have indefinite access to the course material, on the course’s private Ruzuku page. There will also be an opportunity to stay in touch with your fellow returning mamas after the course is over.
How much does the course cost, and what methods of payment do you accept?
Joining one of the scheduled sessions of the 4-week, 24-lesson course costs $199. All major credit cards are accepted for payment through the Ruzuku course website using Stripe (like PayPal, only easier to use!). If you know the course would help you, but you have a financial hardship, contact Lori at lori@mindfulreturn.com to discuss financial assistance options.
What if I don’t want to go back to work full-time and am more interested in pursuing a side business. Is this course for me?
Yes! The course material will help steer you on the best course for you, taking into account your situation, desires, and demands. In addition, we have guest authors in this course with a variety of career paths and stories. You can lean on these women for support, encouragement, and further guidance as you move forward in your career.
I’m worried about my privacy. How can you ensure my information stays private?
Privacy is paramount to us. All of the discussion and information takes place on a private platform. You can share as much or as little as you’d like. Have a question but don’t want to divulge your first name? No problem. You choose how you show up in this exclusive community.
I’m an adoptive mom. Does this course still apply to me?
Absolutely! We’ve had many adoptive mamas go through this course to get the same lessons in transitioning back into the workforce after adding a special needs child to their home.
How do you define special needs?
Special needs children are those who are born prematurely, have an intellectual or developmental disability, and/or who have a special health care need.
Do you have a question that wasn’t answered here? E-mail Lori directly at lori@mindfulreturn.com or Mia at mia@mindfulreturn.com.
Choose Your Session
Stay In Touch
Even if you’re not ready to sign up for Mindful Return yet, we want to keep in touch with you. Sign up to learn more about what it takes to be successful as a working mom, with regular tips, guidance, and support from Lori Mihalich-Levin.
