Robert (& Julie), I just finished your book, having checked it out of the Frisco Public library yesterday. I didn't even know until about half way through reading it that we were practically neighbors. I picked it out because not only am I trained at the grad level in special/gifted education, but graduated 5-months pregnant with the first of two special needs children.
I couldn't put your book down because it echoed so clearly the emotional gamut we've been through these last 22 years, though our two kids have different disabilities from Schuyler (Tourettes and JRA). Just wanted to post a comment in here to feed your 'agnostic hope'...our kids are doing better today than we'd ever have dreamed possible a dozen years ago. The eldest has been living on his own for a year now, gainfully employed despite no college degree, in an IT job he loves and is well compensated for. The second has seen her JRA go in and out of remission over the years, but her illness has long ceased to define who she is. She is hoping to attend college in a year to study occupational therapy.
With God's grace and admitted hard work, I've come to believe there IS hope for that light at the end of the tunnel, that our kids can make their own way in this world. I also have come to believe that our kids are beautifully exceptional in their different-ness, which is not to say that I've welcomed their challenges...but that I'm absolutely floored by who they've become as a result of growing through those.
Your anecdote about your college acquaintance gave me chills.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love that you sing Eels songs as lullabies. Great song.
Robert (& Julie), I just finished your book, having checked it out of the Frisco Public library yesterday. I didn't even know until about half way through reading it that we were practically neighbors. I picked it out because not only am I trained at the grad level in special/gifted education, but graduated 5-months pregnant with the first of two special needs children.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't put your book down because it echoed so clearly the emotional gamut we've been through these last 22 years, though our two kids have different disabilities from Schuyler (Tourettes and JRA). Just wanted to post a comment in here to feed your 'agnostic hope'...our kids are doing better today than we'd ever have dreamed possible a dozen years ago. The eldest has been living on his own for a year now, gainfully employed despite no college degree, in an IT job he loves and is well compensated for. The second has seen her JRA go in and out of remission over the years, but her illness has long ceased to define who she is. She is hoping to attend college in a year to study occupational therapy.
With God's grace and admitted hard work, I've come to believe there IS hope for that light at the end of the tunnel, that our kids can make their own way in this world. I also have come to believe that our kids are beautifully exceptional in their different-ness, which is not to say that I've welcomed their challenges...but that I'm absolutely floored by who they've become as a result of growing through those.