mhall's review against another edition
4.0
I can't remember much about this anthology collecting personal essays written by parents of children with disabilities, but the author event held at the Olympia Timberland Library was wonderful and memorable - several writers read their essays, and there were tears while a woman read aloud an essay that in part dealt with her feelings about sending her Deaf teenage son to a Deaf boarding school. There was another emotional moment when a woman wrote about her younger son's experience realizing he was different from other kids, and her son was in the audience and openly crying while she spoke. Most of the writers had brought their families with them to the reading, and it was really great.
bookdingo's review
5.0
It isn't as though I needed this book. From January 2013 onward, I've been very much an advocate for my son after he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. I've adopted person-first language and I get it right 98% of the time, I have a license plate border advertising the local DS association, and I upload dozens of pictures of my son so everyone can see how cute he is, because he is "more alike than different". But as I'm raising my son, I've been seeking more and more voices that "get it". There's so much material out there regarding grieving and support, but really, I just want to hear your day-to-day. What's your life like?
This book is a wonderful collaboration on just that - parents raising kids with special needs (they get it! they really get it!), and we're talking ALL kinds of special needs (including conditions I had never heard of - the human body has endless possibilities for turning out just a tad different) and a nice variety of parental backgrounds (immigrant, single-parent, LGBTQ, hippie, unschoolers). What I found in this book is the sigh of relief I've been seeking for over a year. To know that there are alternative folks out there that think the "Road to Holland" poem is a bunch of bunk, and they don't appreciate being aligned with a saint over doing what anyone would do: parent. Parenting is not easy and it isn't fun (except when it is. I think I have TOO much fun with it.).
I love the authors in this book for being honest and hilarious about the joys and difficulties, especially little things like trying to bond with other parents of kids with special needs. If that's the only thing you have in common, then that's not always a cheerful basis for friendship. I was particularly touched by all the stories regarding children with autism. To truly understand the spectrum, read this book.
My next mission is to find a collection of stories regarding more working parents. Many of the contributing authors in this collection are stay-at-home or work part-time. Where are my full-time parents at? Holler back!
This book is a wonderful collaboration on just that - parents raising kids with special needs (they get it! they really get it!), and we're talking ALL kinds of special needs (including conditions I had never heard of - the human body has endless possibilities for turning out just a tad different) and a nice variety of parental backgrounds (immigrant, single-parent, LGBTQ, hippie, unschoolers). What I found in this book is the sigh of relief I've been seeking for over a year. To know that there are alternative folks out there that think the "Road to Holland" poem is a bunch of bunk, and they don't appreciate being aligned with a saint over doing what anyone would do: parent. Parenting is not easy and it isn't fun (except when it is. I think I have TOO much fun with it.).
I love the authors in this book for being honest and hilarious about the joys and difficulties, especially little things like trying to bond with other parents of kids with special needs. If that's the only thing you have in common, then that's not always a cheerful basis for friendship. I was particularly touched by all the stories regarding children with autism. To truly understand the spectrum, read this book.
My next mission is to find a collection of stories regarding more working parents. Many of the contributing authors in this collection are stay-at-home or work part-time. Where are my full-time parents at? Holler back!
bajoranjay's review against another edition
5.0
As a disabled adult in queer community, I appreciate the voices of parents who are interested in creating a world where their children can grow into full participation in communities. The struggle between mainstream participation and alternative values comes through strong from the forward through the end, and is an important counter voice to many parent narratives which strive for assimilation.
The volume as a whole brings important voices to parent and disabled communities.
Useful resource list.
Some stories reflect unexamined privilege, but as a whole, the book deals with questions of oppression with insight and context.
The volume as a whole brings important voices to parent and disabled communities.
Useful resource list.
Some stories reflect unexamined privilege, but as a whole, the book deals with questions of oppression with insight and context.
kfan's review against another edition
4.0
We gave away our copy before I read the whole thing, but what I read was good and very helpful and man, some of these stories.
sarahconnor89757's review against another edition
2.0
The essays in this book are written by loving, imperfect, frank parents of disabled children writing on specific aspects.
If you are looking for a how-to, this isn't it.
If you are looking for a serious look at those who have disabled kids, this isn't it.
The book seems good but sort of useless unless you are just looking for a light read on disability culture.
I just read a blog about a man who, upon learning his 2 year old had a terminal illness, contemplated murdering the child and in an ironic twist discovered his wife was thinking the same thing.
Put that essay in this book.
And what is with the offensive title? What was rejected?
"My kid is too retarded for us to eat in public"?
"I gave birth to a freak but since it's taboo to give your child to a circus, we had to keep it"?
If you are looking for a how-to, this isn't it.
If you are looking for a serious look at those who have disabled kids, this isn't it.
The book seems good but sort of useless unless you are just looking for a light read on disability culture.
I just read a blog about a man who, upon learning his 2 year old had a terminal illness, contemplated murdering the child and in an ironic twist discovered his wife was thinking the same thing.
Put that essay in this book.
And what is with the offensive title? What was rejected?
"My kid is too retarded for us to eat in public"?
"I gave birth to a freak but since it's taboo to give your child to a circus, we had to keep it"?
nectarine_waffle's review against another edition
4.0
I can't remember much about this anthology collecting personal essays written by parents of children with disabilities, but the author event held at the Olympia Timberland Library was wonderful and memorable - several writers read their essays, and there were tears while a woman read aloud an essay that in part dealt with her feelings about sending her Deaf teenage son to a Deaf boarding school. There was another emotional moment when a woman wrote about her younger son's experience realizing he was different from other kids, and her son was in the audience and openly crying while she spoke. Most of the writers had brought their families with them to the reading, and it was really great.
jone_d's review
5.0
I got to go hear Jennifer Silverman speak this weekend. Reading this book it is sinking in how much effort we should all be putting into making sure we think about inclusion of children and families with disabilities when we are planning projects.
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