You Are Not Alone

September 22, 2021September 24, 2021

A Coloring Book for Special Needs Moms & Caregivers

You Are Not Alone is the main theme of the adult coloring book I created. I specifically designed this coloring book for mothers and caregivers of children with special needs because I understand firsthand what it is like to feel isolated, overwhelmed, and stressed as a special needs mom. I’ve been on this journey for over 15 years and my life is far from typical.

Being a hand lettering artist and illustrator, I wanted to use my art to help other mothers find a little bit of encouragement and relaxation in their days. The art of coloring has been studied and has been found to relax the mind, reduce anxiety, and provide stress relief. My goal was to create coloring pages that also incorporated encouraging quotes and phrases that specifically speak to those raising children with special needs.

I chose each message for the pages with care, thinking about what I would want to be reminded of on a difficult day, and my hope is that whoever colors the designs will know that she is not alone.

As I was finishing up one of the last pages for the book, I was listening to a podcast hosted by a fellow special needs mom. She was talking about how she wanted her child with special needs to contribute to society in his own way. It got me thinking about Kyle and I wondered if he could create the very first page of the coloring book!

I gave him a large sheet of paper and crayons and he independently created the abstract art for page one. With hand-over-hand assistance, I helped him sign his name. Next, I traced his art with black marker into its final form for this coloring book. It excites me to know that he contributed to this book and that many mothers and caregivers of children like Kyle will color his art and find calm and peace, at least in that moment.

This is my hope for you: for you to know that you are not alone. Knowing this will not make your life and circumstances any easier, but it will help you know that there are many other parents who understand your life and get it. Knowing this has certainly helped me.