Hello Everyone,
This month’s BLOG will begin with a chance to view my slideshow GALLERY of Books and focus on the offered Extended Book Reviews. The slideshow shows the book covers, divided into the following categories ~
AMAZING ADVENTURES
DIAGNOSIS, DOCTORS, DENIAL
SAVVY SOLUTIONS
SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS
Hopefully, these stories will help parents, clinicians, academics, and all people #Autism, in connecting with those who have gone before us on their Autism Journey. March's BLOGs give snippets of my Extended Book Reviews; find full reviews on website MENU; along with a LINK to purchase the eBook. You will find each Autism story to be engaging, compelling, and as different as each family's Autism journey.
From the Category – DIAGNOSIS, DOCTORS, DENIAL. Read the full reviews, plus LINKs to eBooks, on www.sarasautismsite.com.
This month’s BLOG will begin with a chance to view my slideshow GALLERY of Books and focus on the offered Extended Book Reviews. The slideshow shows the book covers, divided into the following categories ~
AMAZING ADVENTURES
DIAGNOSIS, DOCTORS, DENIAL
SAVVY SOLUTIONS
SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS
Hopefully, these stories will help parents, clinicians, academics, and all people #Autism, in connecting with those who have gone before us on their Autism Journey. March's BLOGs give snippets of my Extended Book Reviews; find full reviews on website MENU; along with a LINK to purchase the eBook. You will find each Autism story to be engaging, compelling, and as different as each family's Autism journey.
From the Category – DIAGNOSIS, DOCTORS, DENIAL. Read the full reviews, plus LINKs to eBooks, on www.sarasautismsite.com.
Seeing Ezra: A Mother’s Story of Autism, Unconditional Love, and the Meaning of Normal, by Kerry Cohen, eBook 2011; an Extended Review with <My Thoughts> by Sara Luker
Excerpts from the book – (2% indicates location in the Kindle version of the book, instead of page numbers).
2% The first time I hear the word ‘autism’ associated with Ezra, he is only a year old, and it comes from his young baby sitter. She is a nice girl, a little awkward, who seems to love Ezra from the start. As she’s about to leave I hear, “One thing I want to say,” she starts. I wait. I have no sense of the huge thing she’s about to say, no sense that life will forever be altered.
I want to claim that time back. I want to go back to that moment when she said that. I would never be the same. My son was stolen from me. How dare anyone take that process of discovery from me.
< My Thoughts > “My son was stolen from me.”
This raw exclamation tells how many parents and family must feel. The child of hopes and dreams no longer seems to be there.
Nora from North Dakota (2016) knows that when she hears parents say that autism stole their child, she weeps bitter tears for them.
“Autism gave me my freedom. Autism gave me my voice. Being autistic is who I am. It’s helped me understand on a level I wouldn’t otherwise.”
3% He is fine. His autism, even, is fine. Ezra’s autism changed us, yes. This moment held inside it everything that has been harmful to us about his autism. Because the babysitter’s words took me off my own instinctual track as Ezra’s mother.
I also have to find an occupational therapist, because I’m quickly building awareness that Ezra has issues with eating. When he began to feed himself, he pinched Cheerios between his pointer finger and thumb and pressed them to his lips.
But now he won’t eat anything but organic cheese puffs, cookies, and pizza. He does eat sand, clay, and paper. Even dried twigs and muddy leaves.
Eventually I’ll call this what it is: ‘pica’, a childhood disorder characterized by compulsive and persistent cravings for nonfood items, such as mud and paper. Pica is common among children with autism.
< My Thoughts > “Pica is common among children with autism.”
Fortunately, Sonny isn't interested in non-food items. Possibly because they don't take the shape of Mickey Mouse, as he likes his sandwiches cut.
According to Matson, J., Hattier, M., et al. (2012), 'Pica' behavior usually decreases with age, however adults with the combination of severe Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID) may still engage in this dangerous and challenging behavior. They go on to say that the underlying causes of this disorder and impairment of daily functioning and poor impulse control, are still unknown, today.
Note: For further information on ‘Pica’ go to MENU for – Know Autism, Know Your Child with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker. Read online under – UNIT 4 – When Is It Sensory? Chapter 2 – Sensory Categories, PART 3. SIRS, a. Sensory Interests, a.1. SIBs Self-Injurious Behaviors.
18% We’re in way over our heads. We didn’t think this through. We were already struggling with concerns about Ezra. We are not at our best. But now we have piled on a move, another house, another world. Michael starts a new job. We don’t know where anything is. We have a brand-new baby and a child whom we don’t understand. What have we done?
< My Thoughts > “…a child whom we don’t understand.”
The Cohen’s may not ‘understand’ Ezra, but they seem to be beginning to move forward with their lives.
32% He’s immensely self-contained. Is that the worst thing in the world? To decide he needs human relationships is badly as the rest of us do is presumptuous and arrogant. It suggests he has to be similar to us to be happy.
Meanwhile, I’m pretty sure Ezra is a lot happier than I am and most of the people I meet. Let’s be clear: Ezra won’t be like you. He won’t be like me. He’s always, always, always going to be only him.
End of excerpt from the eBook by Kerry Cohen. See my full Extended Book Review on website.
Thank you for reading and sharing my BLOGs. Comments are welcomed, to be viewed and answered privately. My goal is to assist families, clinicians, educators, and all people ‘autism’, to continue their journey on the Autism Highway. At the end of each website Extended Book Review, please find a source to have the whole book to read.
Regards,
Sara Luker
Paid Link Disclosure -
These Extended Book Reviews have an Amazon Link for actual book purchases. Please read this Paid Link Disclosure AKA Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Sometimes there are paid links, also known as affiliate links, used on this site. My website, www.sarasautismsite.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
I may earn or receive a small paid commission from referrals for book purchases made through posts, pages, and links on this site. But I try to remain unbiased and I do not accept paid reviews. All opinions expressed here are my own.
There is no extra cost to you when purchases are made using the provided links. By using the links I provide you agree that you’ve read this paid link disclosure statement.
Thank you!
Sara Luker
Excerpts from the book – (2% indicates location in the Kindle version of the book, instead of page numbers).
2% The first time I hear the word ‘autism’ associated with Ezra, he is only a year old, and it comes from his young baby sitter. She is a nice girl, a little awkward, who seems to love Ezra from the start. As she’s about to leave I hear, “One thing I want to say,” she starts. I wait. I have no sense of the huge thing she’s about to say, no sense that life will forever be altered.
I want to claim that time back. I want to go back to that moment when she said that. I would never be the same. My son was stolen from me. How dare anyone take that process of discovery from me.
< My Thoughts > “My son was stolen from me.”
This raw exclamation tells how many parents and family must feel. The child of hopes and dreams no longer seems to be there.
Nora from North Dakota (2016) knows that when she hears parents say that autism stole their child, she weeps bitter tears for them.
“Autism gave me my freedom. Autism gave me my voice. Being autistic is who I am. It’s helped me understand on a level I wouldn’t otherwise.”
3% He is fine. His autism, even, is fine. Ezra’s autism changed us, yes. This moment held inside it everything that has been harmful to us about his autism. Because the babysitter’s words took me off my own instinctual track as Ezra’s mother.
I also have to find an occupational therapist, because I’m quickly building awareness that Ezra has issues with eating. When he began to feed himself, he pinched Cheerios between his pointer finger and thumb and pressed them to his lips.
But now he won’t eat anything but organic cheese puffs, cookies, and pizza. He does eat sand, clay, and paper. Even dried twigs and muddy leaves.
Eventually I’ll call this what it is: ‘pica’, a childhood disorder characterized by compulsive and persistent cravings for nonfood items, such as mud and paper. Pica is common among children with autism.
< My Thoughts > “Pica is common among children with autism.”
Fortunately, Sonny isn't interested in non-food items. Possibly because they don't take the shape of Mickey Mouse, as he likes his sandwiches cut.
According to Matson, J., Hattier, M., et al. (2012), 'Pica' behavior usually decreases with age, however adults with the combination of severe Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID) may still engage in this dangerous and challenging behavior. They go on to say that the underlying causes of this disorder and impairment of daily functioning and poor impulse control, are still unknown, today.
Note: For further information on ‘Pica’ go to MENU for – Know Autism, Know Your Child with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker. Read online under – UNIT 4 – When Is It Sensory? Chapter 2 – Sensory Categories, PART 3. SIRS, a. Sensory Interests, a.1. SIBs Self-Injurious Behaviors.
18% We’re in way over our heads. We didn’t think this through. We were already struggling with concerns about Ezra. We are not at our best. But now we have piled on a move, another house, another world. Michael starts a new job. We don’t know where anything is. We have a brand-new baby and a child whom we don’t understand. What have we done?
< My Thoughts > “…a child whom we don’t understand.”
The Cohen’s may not ‘understand’ Ezra, but they seem to be beginning to move forward with their lives.
32% He’s immensely self-contained. Is that the worst thing in the world? To decide he needs human relationships is badly as the rest of us do is presumptuous and arrogant. It suggests he has to be similar to us to be happy.
Meanwhile, I’m pretty sure Ezra is a lot happier than I am and most of the people I meet. Let’s be clear: Ezra won’t be like you. He won’t be like me. He’s always, always, always going to be only him.
End of excerpt from the eBook by Kerry Cohen. See my full Extended Book Review on website.
Thank you for reading and sharing my BLOGs. Comments are welcomed, to be viewed and answered privately. My goal is to assist families, clinicians, educators, and all people ‘autism’, to continue their journey on the Autism Highway. At the end of each website Extended Book Review, please find a source to have the whole book to read.
Regards,
Sara Luker
Paid Link Disclosure -
These Extended Book Reviews have an Amazon Link for actual book purchases. Please read this Paid Link Disclosure AKA Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Sometimes there are paid links, also known as affiliate links, used on this site. My website, www.sarasautismsite.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
I may earn or receive a small paid commission from referrals for book purchases made through posts, pages, and links on this site. But I try to remain unbiased and I do not accept paid reviews. All opinions expressed here are my own.
There is no extra cost to you when purchases are made using the provided links. By using the links I provide you agree that you’ve read this paid link disclosure statement.
Thank you!
Sara Luker
RSS Feed