So We Adopted Two More
How my family grew to five children through biological parenting, foster care, and adoption—the good, the bad, the ugly, and the love throughout.
Ask about this talk ↗INVITE HEIDI TO SPEAK
Stories, laughter,
and practical help.
Tailored to your audience. Explore topics drawn from my own life experiences.
I speak as a mom, sharing what I’ve lived and learned. I’m not an attorney, doctor, or licensed mental health professional. My talks offer personal perspective and practical lessons, rather than individualized legal or medical advice.
Family, Foster Care & Adoption
Fostering a Teen: Beyond the Stereotypes
My experience fostering and adopting a teen from foster care—building relationships, navigating challenges, and sharing what I learned along the way.
Ask about this talk ↗When Foster Care Includes Medical Complexity
Fostering and adopting a child with complex medical needs, learning their care, navigating support, and becoming their advocate.
Ask about this talk ↗Faith & Obedience
God Was Writing a Different Story
A faith-based look at God’s hand in the people, timing, and unexpected turns that shaped my family’s story.
Ask about this talk ↗Apparently, My Plan Was Too Small
A faith-based conversation about obedience, releasing my own plan, and discovering a life I never imagined—and how my original plans were selling me short.
Ask about this talk ↗Advocacy & Navigating Systems
When “No” Isn’t the End of the Conversation
Advocacy as a parent of children with complex medical needs, autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, and significant mental health challenges. Lessons from my experience preparing for meetings, asking questions, finding who to call, explaining needs, and following up—with approaches that can apply across advocacy situations.
Ask about this talk ↗My Child Needs Help. Now What?
My experience navigating the mental health system for teens and young adults, seeking support, communicating concerns, and staying connected through difficult seasons.
Ask about this talk ↗Another Appointment. Are We Getting Anywhere?
My experience with speech, occupational, physical, feeding, vision, and behavior therapies when progress feels hard to see. Lessons from asking about goals, fitting recommendations into family life, and speaking up when something isn’t working.
Ask about this talk ↗College Comes with More Than a Packing List
Lessons from my family’s college journey, preparing for independence, and navigating support—including for students with ADHD and learning disabilities.
Ask about this talk ↗Little Kids. Big Meetings.
My experience navigating early intervention and preschool early intervention—preparing for meetings, asking questions, understanding services, and advocating for support as a child’s needs change.
Ask about this talk ↗Support Coordinators, ISPs & Waivers: Where Do We Start?
My experience working with support coordinators, participating in Individual Support Plan (ISP) meetings, and navigating waivers—documenting needs, asking useful questions, following up, and speaking up when the plan doesn’t reflect daily life.
Ask about this talk ↗Growing Up with Type 1 Diabetes
Growing Up Type 1: More Than Blood Sugar
Living with diabetes as a child and teen: independence, relationships, emotional demands, and what parents and healthcare professionals can learn from my experience. My story also includes having three biological children and running the Pittsburgh Marathon.
Ask about this talk ↗Type 1, Eating Disorders & Mental Health: A Lived Perspective
A focused conversation about my experience with diabetes, eating disorders, and mental health during childhood and adolescence, for young people, parents, and healthcare professionals.
Ask about this talk ↗The Hard Parts of Motherhood
The Parts of Motherhood Nobody Prepares You For
A variety of topics to choose from, drawn from my experience of motherhood: pregnancy loss, having a child with a disability, letting go of control as children grow, changes in children’s innocence, responding to painful experiences, and noticing when teens or young adults are struggling. The conversation can focus on the topics most relevant to your audience.
Ask about this talk ↗Parenting Through Addiction & Addictive Behaviors
My experience with teens and young adults facing addiction and addictive behaviors, navigating help, and maintaining connection.
Ask about this talk ↗Inclusion, Coaching & Teaching
Everybody Belongs on the Team
My experience creating an inclusive swim team and including children with different abilities and support needs in sports and clubs.
Ask about this talk ↗Beyond the Pool: What Swim Coaching Teaches Us About Teaching
Meeting kids where they are, thinking outside the box, and adapting and modifying instruction to help each child grow. Lessons from swim coaching show how small changes in the way we teach anything can open up new possibilities for learning.
Ask about this talk ↗Humor & Real Life
You Cannot Make This Up
A lighthearted comedy set drawn from my own life—five children, marriage, parenting, and the situations that deserve an audience.
Ask about this talk ↗How Do You Manage It All? I Have Systems. And Snacks.
A funny, practical look at managing a busy family life, with tips, tricks, and tools from my own experience—cooking, shopping, family calendars, homework and studying, home organization, and keeping things moving when the day goes sideways.
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There’s much more to the story. Tell me what your audience needs, and I’ll let you know whether I have relevant experience to share.
Presentations can be tailored to your audience, including faith-centered events.
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