Medical Parent Network
For medical parents
You don't have to carry it all alone.
A free twice-a-month drop-in and honest talk for family caregivers, from someone 20+ years in and still living it.
You can be grateful and still be drowning.
Why it feels this hard
Caregiving isn't one job. It's appointments, medications, paperwork, night shifts, and a hundred decisions no one sees. Because no one sees the load, everyone blames the person carrying it, including you. That's why you feel broken. You aren't. You're overloaded.
My story
My name is Michaela, and I'm a caregiver.
For years, my bedroom mirror was my calendar. Appointments, medication changes and therapy times went up in dry-erase marker, because there was nowhere else to keep it all. I've been a caregiver at home for more than 20 years: for my son, my daughter, and now my mother-in-law too. For a long time I was sure I was failing. Everyone else seemed to keep up, so why couldn't I?
It took me a long time to find the real answer, and that answer is the reason this site exists. I wasn't failing. I was overloaded. Every appointment, every night up and every "should" added weight, until there was no room left for me. I hadn't lost who I was. I'd lost access to her. Seeing that changed everything. The caregiving didn't get lighter, but I stopped blaming myself for the weight and started making room again. .
That's what I share here. You truly don't know until you're on the other side of the bed. (And yes, I was an occupational therapist for 20 years, so I bring a clinician's eye too.) I'm not the only one carrying this, and neither are you.
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What caregivers have said
"I realized a good part of my stress while we were talking is my own shoulds."
- Barabra, caregiver
"I realized a good part of my stress while we were talking is my own shoulds."
- Caregiver
How I help
Your first steps to support
1
Break Free of Isolation
Parenting a medically complex child can feel lonely, but you don’t have to do it on your own. Connect with others who “get it” and find real understanding and encouragement.
2
Reclaim Your Energy
Exhausted from juggling the demands of parenting a medically complex child? Find strategies, resources, and encouragement to help you recharge and regain balance in your life.
3
Ease the Chaos
When everything feels like too much, it’s time to take a breath. Learn practical tools and receive support to help you manage the chaos, find clarity, and create calm in your day-to-day life.
Pull up a chair
Twice a month, caregivers get together online for an hour and just talk. There's no agenda, no fixing, and no one needing anything from you. Camera and talking are both optional. It's free, and you can come once or every time. First and third Mondays, 10:30 AM Pacific
You're not broken. You're overloaded.
And you're not the only one carrying it.
FREE Guide
New to caring for a child with complex medical needs? Get my free guide.
From The Blog
Real talk for caregivers.
The Unseen, Complex Emotional World of a Medical Parent
We live inside a world measured in milliliters, charted by seizure counts, and navigated through... ...more
Medical Parenting
May 12, 2026•5 min read
Supporting Siblings of Medically Complex Kids | Medical Parent Network
Siblings of children with complex medical needs often carry unseen burdens—jealousy, guilt, feeling overlooked, or believing life is unfair. Parents can’t make everything “equal,” but there are ways w... ...more
Our Children ,Medical Parenting
October 13, 2025•4 min read
Simplify by Single-Tasking
Managing appointments, therapies, medications, behavioral needs, and family obligations means multitasking often feels like survival. By choosing presence in small ways, you reclaim a little bit of pe... ...more
Reflections
October 09, 2025•3 min read
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I read every one of these myself. Grab your tea, I'll take it from here.
20+ years caregiving at home · Former Occupational Therapist · Writing a book for caregivers
Medical Parent Newtork
Where caregivers find strength, support, and community.
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