This month, we are shining a spotlight on some incredible women who have made a significant impact on the lives of mothers around the globe. Welcome to “Inspiring Mamas,” a blog series dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the inspiring mom bloggers whose words, experiences, and insights have resonated with millions.
Motherhood is a journey that transcends borders, cultures, and backgrounds. In this series, we will dive into the stories of influential mom bloggers who have not only embraced the challenges of parenthood but have also shared their triumphs, struggles, and wisdom with an ever-growing community of readers. These women have become beacons of support, guidance, and inspiration for mothers navigating the beautiful, chaotic, and transformative journey of raising children.
Each blog post in this series will feature a remarkable mom blogger, delving into their personal narratives, the topics that resonate with their audience, and the positive impact they’ve had on the lives of countless mothers. From parenting advice and lifestyle tips to mental health advocacy and self-care strategies, these bloggers cover a vast array of subjects that speak to the diverse experiences of motherhood.
In today’s post, we had the pleasure of chatting with Jess Quarello and Taryn Lagonigro, the inspiring mamas behind the immensely popular blog, Extra Lucky Moms. Join us as we dive into their inspiring journey, discovering how they built an extraordinary community dedicated to supporting mothers of children with disabilities.
What led you to found Extra Lucky Moms? What was going on in your life at the time that set the stage for you to start the blog?
Jess and Taryn each welcomed children with Down syndrome in 2020 and felt called to advocate in a bigger way. We found that the Down syndrome community was such a big and welcoming space, but there was no place where caregivers of children with any disability could come together and share. So, Extra Lucky Moms was born. It’s an inclusive space where we celebrate the big, the small and everything in between that comes with raising a child with a disability.
When you started Extra Lucky Moms, did you imagine you would achieve the success that you have? What do you think made your blog resonate with so many people?
I think it’s our honesty and inclusivity that make ELM stand apart. We encourage people in our space to be as real and authentic as possible and we truly mean that everyone is welcome.
How do you maintain the motivation to continue creating content on top of everything else you’re doing?
Our community really keeps us going. Sometimes we will feel like we are just going, going, going and not seeing the impact. It will be then that a mom reaches out saying how much we helped her navigate her child’s diagnosis, and we know that what we are doing is really working and changing lives.
What’s your favorite thing about running Extra Lucky Moms?
Our favorite thing about running ELM is how much we both get to learn in the process. The people we have met and the diagnoses we have learned about wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for our daughters and ELM. It has truly changed our lives and perspective for the better, and we feel so lucky to get to do this.
If you had one piece of advice for moms with a recent disability diagnosis for their child, what would it be?
Our best piece of advice (and one will still give ourselves!) is to take things one step at a time. It is so easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of things on your plate and worries about the future. The best place to live is in the present and look for those small wins that occur every day that sometimes we miss. Tomorrow is always a new day, so do what you can today to move the needle and then wake up and try again tomorrow. Every day wont be perfect, but you’ve got this!
About Extra Lucky Moms
Extra Lucky Moms was founded in Spring of 2021 by Jess Quarello and Taryn Lagonigro, two moms of children with Down syndrome. After finding that most communities were focused on a single disability, they sought to promote inclusion by creating a space where all parents on a disability journey belong. Their organization seeks to provide a place where parents can share authentic feelings, as well as educate more broadly about disabilities through events, corporate speaking, publishing and their online community. Taryn and Jess are established speakers in the disability community, having been frequent guests on podcasts, interviews and for several corporate diversity & inclusion speaking engagements. Their work has been featured on The Today Show, multiple CBS affiliates and in print and digital media.
Collectively, their experience is vast and they share a mission of supporting caregivers in the disability community, and shouting the worth of individuals with disabilities.
Prospera | Help for Postpartum Anxiety, Depression & More
✓ 1-on-1 weekly sessions
✓ Perinatal mental health coaches
✓ Just $39 per session
