As many of you know, this time of year is always layered for me. Mother’s Day brings both sweet memories and aching absences.

In this episode of Parenting Impossible, I open up about my own motherhood journey. I’ve lived through the joy of raising two incredible daughters, and I’ve lived through the unimaginable grief of losing one of them. I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned along the way—things I wish I’d known when I was in the thick of it. To those of you parenting children with disabilities, caring for aging parents, or simply doing your best to hold it all together: I see you. You are not alone. And whatever Mother’s Day looks like for you this year, I hope you find a moment to honor the incredible work you're doing.

In this episode, you will hear:

• It’s okay if motherhood doesn’t feel magical all the time.

• A shift can come when you least expect it.

• Choose joy where you can.

Engage with us:

25% off any courses, masterclasses, and minisodes in Special Needs Academy here

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit: https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

When it comes to protecting a loved one with disabilities, few decisions are as overwhelming as choosing the right trustee. But in a world of nonprofit pooled trusts, legal jargon, and alarming headlines about financial misconduct, how do you separate peace of mind from potential pitfalls?

In this episode of Parenting Impossible, I break down everything you need to know about Pooled Special Needs Trusts, from how they work to when they make sense. I share hard-earned wisdom as both a lawyer and a special needs parent, guiding you through what questions to ask, how to vet your options, and why sometimes the best Trustee choice isn’t family, but a professional with heart and structure. You’ll walk away not just more informed, but more empowered.

In this episode, you will hear:

• What a Pooled Trust actually is, and who should consider one.

• The difference between First-party and Third-party Special Needs Trusts.

• What went wrong in the recent $100M nonprofit scandal (and how to avoid it).

• Why transparency, independence, and communication are non-negotiable.

Engage with us:

25% off any courses, masterclasses and minisodes in Special Needs Academy here

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit: https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Caring for a child with disabilities isn’t just a full-time job, it’s a deeply personal, emotional, and often isolating journey. What if the support parents need wasn’t just about filling a shift, but about building a relationship?

In this episode of Parenting Impossible, Annette Hines sits down with Susan Asay, founder of Apex Social Exchange Foundation, to talk about what it really means to find care you can trust. Susan shares her own story of juggling a demanding career, raising young kids, and desperately trying to find someone who could not only help, but understand. That search led to a program connecting families with compassionate, live-in care professionals trained to support children with complex needs. Building a more inclusive world starts in the home, and with the right support, parents don’t have to do it alone.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why the person caring for your child should be a true partner in their development.

• How to find someone qualified and emotionally ready to support a child with disabilities full-time.

• Ways international caregivers fill the critical gap in America’s special needs childcare system.

• Why matching personalities just as important as matching skills when it comes to live-in care.
  
  

Resources from this Episode:

Website: https://apex-social.org/

Instagram & TikTok: @apexsocial

LinkedIn:@apex-social

YouTube: @apexsocial1

Facebook: @apexsocial.org

Engage with us:

25% off any courses, masterclasses and minisodes in Special Needs Academy here

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit: https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.