SOAR Caregiver 411 - Love ALL-Ways: Embracing Marriage on the Special Needs Journey - Feb 25

In this month's #Caregiver411, Joe & Cindi Ferrini join us to share "Love ALL-Ways: Embracing Marriage Together on the Special Needs Journey." This was initially recorded in February 2025.

In this Caregiver 411 session, Dr. Joe and Cindy Ferrini discuss how to sustain a marriage while parenting a child with special needs, drawing from their own experiences with their 43-year-old son, Joey, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. They emphasize the importance of intentionality in nurturing the marital relationship daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Key practices include daily prayer and expressions of love, weekly shared activities like watching a favorite TV show or taking a walk, monthly outings like coffee dates, and yearly getaways to work on the marriage. The Ferrinis highlight the "fact-to-fact, feeling-to-feeling" communication principle, in which responding to a partner's statement with the same type of communication (fact-to-fact, feeling-to-feeling) fosters understanding and prevents conflict. They stress the need for empathy and teamwork, acknowledging that both spouses contribute differently to caregiving and household responsibilities.

The Ferrinis also discuss the challenge of embracing the unexpected journey of raising a child with special needs, noting that acceptance can take time but ultimately allows for a deeper appreciation of God's hand in their lives. They encourage caregivers to identify and communicate their individual needs to their spouse and to find ways to prioritize self-care. Joe shares his personal struggle with accepting Joey's diagnosis and his eventual commitment to being the husband and father his family needed. The session concludes with advice on finding mentors or counselors for support, emphasizing that a strong marital foundation is crucial for navigating the unique challenges of special needs parenting. They also preview their upcoming book, "Equipping and Encouraging Parents of Children and Loved Ones with Special Needs," due in January 2026.

You can contact the Ferrini's at http://www.cindiferrini.com/.

Is there a topic you would like information on? Just let us know at [email protected]. Join us on the 4th Tuesday of each month via Zoom. You can register for the next one at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regis...

Remember to subscribe to our channel and stay updated on everything happening with SOAR! #ComeSOARwithUs #SOARRnR #TransformingLivesOfSpecialFamilies. Catch all of our events at www.SOARSpecialNeeds.org.