Send us a Text Message.
What picture comes to mind when you think of a birth mom of a child with prenatal alcohol exposure? The fact is whatever you thought, there is no one version. There are thousands of stories of birth moms. But the one thing I do know is any birth mom I have ever met has never wanted to intentionally hurt their child, and today’s guest is no exception.
Niki Marshall had a troubled youth. As a result, she was addicted to drugs and alcohol at 13, kicked out of school at 14, and living on her own at 15. All the time seeking to self-medicate an undiagnosed mental health disorder. Eventually settling into a relationship, being told she nor her partner could have children, she found out on a visit to a doctor she was 4 months pregnant. We talk about what that was like for her when she found out and what she did immediately, as well as:
“I don’t feel like professionals or anyone broaches the subject of drinking during pregnancy if you don’t look a certain way. It’s not okay because I didn’t look the part.”
As one of the alumni of our Caregiver Kickstart online course for FASD caregivers, I have known Niki now for almost two years and watched her incredible transformation. She certainly is not the media depiction of a birth mom – nor are the majority. She has defied her own odds and carved a life for her and her son. She will be the first to admit that the grief and loss are ever-present but that you have to be “more graciously accepting the successes that happen all the time that you forget about or you don’t notice because of what you lost.”
Let me know what you think of this incredible transformation of one determined bad a$$ birth mom to beat the odds and the stereotypes. I know Niki will continue to use her transformative story and voice to educate.
Support the Show.
#117 Rhonda & Shawn: How to love someone with FASD who’s hurt someone
#116 Stephanie Burns: How To Stay Healthy During The Hard
#115 Tara Soucie-Noble: A Wife in the FASD Life
#114 FASD in Ireland with Tris and Scott
#113 Talking about Embraced with Joel, Jodee and Justen
#112 Ask Me Anything about FASD with Jeff Noble
#111: Jillana Goble: Reflections on Fostering, Adoption and FASD
#110: What is Behind Aggression in FASD and What to Do
#109 Olga and Serhii: A New Chapter for this FASD Family From Ukraine
#108 Part 2 of Candid Conversation with Jessica Birch
#107 Candid Conversation with Jessica Birch: an Advocate and Adult with FASD
#106 Judy Pakozdy Lessons Learned from a 40+ Year FASD Journey
#105 Talking FASD with Oshay’s Maryelen and Paula Mcphail
#104 Dr. Catherine Lebel: New Study on low levels of prenatal alcohol exposure
#103 Jeremy and William: When Pro Wrestling Meets FASD
#102 Bryan Post: How to Move From Control to Connection with your Child
#101 Sandra Butcher: The Time is Now for FASD in the U.K.
#100 A Meeting with My Mentor: 10 FASD Tips from Donna Debolt
#099 Insight on Trauma, Attachment and Sensory Systems
#098 Dr. Katy Flannigan and Dorothy Reid: What does strengths based even mean?
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Teachers Talk Radio
LifeBlood
Navigating Life After 40
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast