Embracing This Special Life: Learning To Flourish as a Mother of a Child with Special Needs

by Jenn Soehnlin

There is a unique struggle to keep your faith in God’s goodness and His plan as a special needs parent while juggling the appointments, stress, grief and loneliness that few people understand, unless they too are a Christian special needs mother.

Jenn Soehnlin has been there, raising two sons with special needs. This book will help you:

-View the special needs parenting journey from a biblical perspective
-Release expectations, negative thoughts, and emotions that are not healthy for you or your family
-Embrace God, yourself, your children, this special needs journey, and life itself to its fullest

This practical and encouraging book will guide you toward spiritual victory and renewed purpose in your special needs parenting journey.

Genres: Faith, Nonfiction, Parenting, Disability

157 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2018

About the author

Jenn loves writing about faith, praying Scripture, special needs parenting, and more.

She also enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, coffee chats with friends, curling up with a good book, and enjoying a wonder walk through nature.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the nourishment my soul needed. I felt like I was sitting with Jenn talking about the real challenges that come up within your heart as a special needs parent over a cup of coffee, mom to mom. What a gift to receive that experience from her book! Jenn's voice is genuine, kind, and encouraging. She speaks truth into hard situations, always offering hope, while acknowledging the tough seasons special needs parents face. This is a book I will share with others and keep on my shelf to reread whenever I need encouragement to release heartache and embrace the journey God has given us.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the mother of two special needs children on the Autism Spectrum, this book really resonated with me. I, like I believe many others do as well, feel like I have to do defend my child and our basic way of life. This book warmed my heart and truly reminded me to EMBRACE the special life that I have been granted with my sweet blessings.

[Sara L Foust · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Jenn's thoughts and self-examination questions are insightful and helpful for growth. I felt such a kindred connection in Jenn's honesty and openness. All moms of special needs children should read this book!

[Kimberly McEneny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book for a Christian mama grappling w life w special needs children. This book is wonderful in aligning scripture to current events and feelings one may have when raising a disabled child. Very positive and uplifting. I guess for those w kids w more severe disabilities, it may be harder to relate if they need life long care at home. My kids are still little but I wonder how an older mama may feel. A little outdated for me in regards to men’s and women’s roles but again that is straight from the Bible. Lots of research and thought went into this book and Jenn is a wonderful person who is very inspiring.

[Lysa Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read for the Christian mom of a child who is differently-abled. The author vulnerably shares her journey, all while challenging the reader to seek and draw closer to the Lord through her own. The questions at the end of each chapter are reflective and helps the reader to go deeper if they desire, drawing out fears and worries rooted in our hearts. I read this on my own and enjoyed it so much I’m planning to do a book study with a couple other moms in a similar place. I highly recommend this book!

[Callie Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all Christian special-needs moms! What a gift to read, so much encouragement and truth is packed on every page! I will definitly be recommending this book to all the special-needs moms I know.

[Patty J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book on life as the mother of special needs children was both encouraging and thought-provoking. Mothers of a special needs child will find plenty of help, support and understanding here.

[Sheri Girgenti · Rating 5 out of 5]

An encouraging read for weary special needs moms. I loved the format of something to release and something to embrace. The chapters were relatable and helpful. The reflection questions made me want to discuss them with others. So I plan to use this as the next book our special needs parents group reads together.

[Anna Kettle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom to a little boy with autism I was so encouraged by this book; it’s honest, relatable, hope-filled & thought-provoking. What a gift this book was to me, and will be any other special needs parents wanting to grapple with the unique challenges it can pose from a biblical perspective too.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was full of encouragement, support, and connection. It was exactly what I needed.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom with a special needs child, I really identified with the passions, joys, and struggles of this special life we live. This is a must read book for special needs parents!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embracing This Special Life is a beautifully written book full of encouragement and hope! Being a special needs mom to three (now adult) children, I found myself laughing out loud, saying to myself "Wow, Jenn sounds just like me" on many of her comments and views, and I really felt supported and heard. Being in the world of special needs parenting, it can be a difficult road, one filled with isolation and loneliness. Being able to connect with others who "get it" is essential. Mostly, abiding with Christ through the journey is foundational to one not feeling hopeless or lost. As mentioned, my children are all young adults now, and each has a varied range of needs, mostly complex medical. I also made the decision to home-school the kids after one of my children was diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. So I really could relate to Jenn in her quandry of choosing the right schooling for her sons, as it really is a personal decision and every choice matters and is a good one for You! Jenn pointed the reader back to Christ often, with a ton of research on scripture and how God relates to those who are "differently abled" or "marginalized". Having a good perspective on His plans and His commitment to us and our children, gives us hope for the days ahead. I would highly recommend this book to any parent of a special needs child, whether on the autism spectrum, medically complex, or other. The book will give you hope for the days ahead!

[Kristin Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope-filled and empowering for special needs moms and those who know them. This book helped me strengthen my faith in God and discover new strength and joy.

[Tessa Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an encouraging and hope-filled read! Jenn’s words reminded me that I’m not alone in this journey of special needs parenting. I felt like I was sitting with her having coffee while she poured encouraging truths into my heart. Absolutley beautiful.

[Anne Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first 8 years of my marriage my stepson lived in an intermediate care facility. In November 2020 my husband began working from home and we decided that it was in my stepsons best interests to be discharged from the facility and live at home. For the most part the initial transition positive. But in September 2021 we moved and then we had conflict with my stepson’s mom in 2022 that required court resolution in 2023. (Although I have been an active member of the author’s Facebook group for some time I didn’t read the book until this year. I believe my reading of the book was God’s timing. This book encouraged, challenged, and helped me to embrace the heart of my stepson.

[katherine mccray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully robust material. I love How she is constantly connecting her experience back to the Bible and what God teaches.

[Deep Choudhary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-Read for Special Needs Moms Seeking Faith and Encouragement

Embracing This Special Life by Jenn Soehnlin is one of the most heartfelt and faith-filled books I’ve read as a special needs parent. Jenn writes with raw honesty about the emotional ups and downs that come with raising a child with special needs—the grief, the exhaustion, the uncertainty—but she also offers deep encouragement through Scripture and her own journey of trusting God.

What I loved most about this book is how Jenn doesn’t minimize the struggles. She acknowledges the pain and challenges while showing how faith can bring peace and strength. It’s not just a book filled with Christian clichés; it’s filled with real, lived-out wisdom. She shares how she wrestled with difficult emotions, learned to surrender her expectations, and found joy in the life God has given her and her child.Each chapter offers both personal stories and biblical truths that helped me see my parenting journey from a new perspective. Instead of feeling weighed down by guilt or comparison, I felt uplifted and reassured that God’s plan is still good—even when it looks different from what I imagined.

This book is like sitting down with a friend who truly understands. If you are a special needs mom feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or just in need of a reminder that you are not alone, I cannot recommend Embracing This Special Life enough. It will inspire you to lean on God, embrace the blessings in your journey, and find renewed strength in His promises.

[Maria Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

In our special needs journey, it can be at times difficult. I believe God used Jenn to connect us all. Her words reside my heart. Thank you for an amazing book. Look forward to more of your wonderful books. May God continue to lead you.