Erin S. (nantuckerin) reviewed The Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About the Extraordinary Highs and Heartbreaking Lows of Raising Kids with Special Needs on + 158 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
When you're a parent, you often feel like you're the only person in the world dealing with the challenges of raising kids. (I think that's why Supernanny is so popular -- it makes us feel like other people have kids worse than our own!)
When you're raising a child with special needs, though, these problems can be even more obvious, and more alienating.
The Elephant in the Playroom is a collection of essays written by average parents with not-so-average kids. Ranging from preschoolers with ADHD to adult children living with autism, these personal, naked stories had me in tears over and over again.
In one way, it gave me perspective: I don't have it too bad. My son "only" has ADHD, a learning disability and communication disorder. It could be worse. On the other hand, it was also comforting to hear from other parents with ADHD kids that also struggle with well-meaning family advice, parenting criticisms and struggles with school systems.
It's hard to read a book like this, but it makes me feel more prepared to be my son's biggest advocate. When I read about the struggles of the parents who have come before me -- and the successes of their "special" kids, I really feel connected and inspired and ready to face the next round of challenges.
When you're raising a child with special needs, though, these problems can be even more obvious, and more alienating.
The Elephant in the Playroom is a collection of essays written by average parents with not-so-average kids. Ranging from preschoolers with ADHD to adult children living with autism, these personal, naked stories had me in tears over and over again.
In one way, it gave me perspective: I don't have it too bad. My son "only" has ADHD, a learning disability and communication disorder. It could be worse. On the other hand, it was also comforting to hear from other parents with ADHD kids that also struggle with well-meaning family advice, parenting criticisms and struggles with school systems.
It's hard to read a book like this, but it makes me feel more prepared to be my son's biggest advocate. When I read about the struggles of the parents who have come before me -- and the successes of their "special" kids, I really feel connected and inspired and ready to face the next round of challenges.
