Finding Joy with Toy

08/07/2026

Me looking at my 121 followers and seeing Carl Thomas AND Lil' Flip in the list: 👁️👄👁️

I don't know what's going on, but I'm not asking any questions. Game Over! 🚀

08/07/2026

https://open.substack.com/pub/findingjoywithtoy/p/back-to-school-is-more-than-buying?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8tu215

08/07/2026

🎉 I have some exciting news… I started my own publishing company, Saltwater Quill!

I’m currently working through the final revision of my book, You’re Not Overreacting, and I honestly can’t wait for you guys to read it.

This book is for parents of children with disabilities, especially the parents carrying all of that invisible labor that people don’t always see. The appointments. The paperwork. The phone calls. The advocating. The researching. The worrying. And all of the things happening behind closed doors that we don’t always feel comfortable talking about.

But this isn’t just a book about my journey raising Jelena.

I’ve worked in social services since 2016, including experience as an HCS Coordinator, and over the years I’ve learned about resources, programs, services, and support systems that so many families simply don’t know exist.

I want to share some of that knowledge too.

I want to talk about the things parents might be embarrassed to say out loud. The things nobody warned us about. The things that make you quietly wonder, “Is anybody else dealing with this?”

And maybe help another parent discover a resource they didn’t even know they could ask for.

This one is for my little tribe. ❤️

The parents who are figuring it out as they go, advocating like hell for their kids, and carrying a whole lot more than most people will ever know.

If this book helps even one parent feel seen, learn something that makes their life a little easier, or realize they’re not alone in something they’ve been afraid to talk about, then I did what I came to do.

I can’t wait to finally share You’re Not Overreacting with you. 🥹❤️

08/05/2026

https://substack.com//note/p-209805377?r=8tu215&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

How the Nolan Wells case changed the way I consume media and the conversations I want to have with my son.

07/30/2026

https://open.substack.com/pub/findingjoywithtoy/p/welcome-to-finding-joy-with-toy?r=8tu215&utm_medium=ios

04/08/2026

04/06/2026

“Finding Joy with Toy” started as a play on my name…

but it turned into something deeper.

Because joy isn’t always natural for everyone.

Some of us had to learn how to be strong before we ever learned how to be soft.
How to handle things before we learned how to enjoy things.

So now?
Joy can feel unfamiliar… even uncomfortable.

That’s why I’m intentional about it.

Not big, perfect moments.
Just small, real ones.

Because sometimes finding your way back to yourself
starts with letting yourself feel good again.