About Us

Welcome in! While it's just me right now, as a home baker, the ultimate goal of So Special Sweets is to be a storefront bakery, café, and sweets shop. Our shop will be a place where individuals in life skills classes or day programs can come and get interview, training, and job experience in a variety of areas, depending on their specific desires and interests. It is and will be a place where anyone can feel loved, accepted, and valued.

The Long Version:

I have been surrounded by people of varying ability closely throughout my whole life. One of my baby brothers was born with high needs, and he helped me see that anyone can help others. Each individual has the ability to uplift others, no matter their brain or body capacity. I became a Special Education teacher and was able to teach briefly before having my own children. After children came, we discovered that I, as well as my children, are all neurodivergent ourselves.

Stories from others' life experiences, as well as my own, have buoyed me up in pursuing this goal. Everyone needs a place to belong, and I hope to create such a place.

Having a neurodivergent brain myself, things have been slow going and sometimes downright difficult, but I cannot introduce our business without introducing the Mastermind behind it all: God. He has put this vision and dream on my heart since before I was in high school; I just didn't know it yet. And now here we are, ready to make this dream a reality!

Even More Background (for the readers):

As a child I loved to bake. Seeing the transformation from some ingredients into something delicious and fueling was incredible and "so satisfying", as my middle child would say. Going to visit my mother's family I would hear stories of people offering food to anyone who came through their door, of being nervous to claim the last piece of delicious pie because they didn't want to be selfish, and of course I got to eat yummy foods with my family too. In high school I learned that my dad's grandpa had his own bakery in California! “He'd turn in his grave seeing what you're doing to that roll!”, among so many other stories I hold close to my heart. I've felt connected to generations of my family through baking for my whole life.

As a college student, switching my major to Special Education was a tough choice but one I felt God behind me every step of the way. From navigating the ins and outs of talks with counselors and admin, to somehow finding extra tuition money where there was none before. Teaching in my own middle school classroom, with students ranging from 6 months to 2 years old in brain function was one of the best experiences I've had. These girls (Yes! A class of all girls!) taught ME more about life than I could have ever taught them. Don't give up, keep trying, persevere, love without restraint, and come back for more!

Now I get to combine my two loves: baking, and teaching. Come join me for the ride!

♥ Melanie