Read Online Beyond the Diagnosis The Path to Thriving as a Special Needs Parent Amy Mattson 9780578480220 Books

Product details Paperback 222 pages Publisher Amy Mattson (March 14, 2019) Language English ISBN-10 0578480220

Beyond the Diagnosis The Path to Thriving as a Special Needs Parent Amy Mattson 9780578480220 Books Reviews

• So encouraging and relatable for parents and friends! As a caregiver to a special needs child, this book was like an encouraging talk with a more-experienced friend who has figured out how to thrive in a situation similar to mine. As only the parents to these special children know, it’s a lonely place to be, and we can wallow there. This book was practical and relatable without being naive or superficial. I highly recommend it!
• I am half-way through this book and it has been so encouraging, and I can totally relate. This is a must-read for moms of children with any diagnosis / special need. I find myself shaking my head and saying "yes!" every time I read the words in this book. Thank you for writing this book!
• As a Grandparent to speacial needs kids this was very helpful to understand the struggles parents have. Amy shares her story in a easy read. Gave me a much better understanding of struggles special needs families have. I recommend this book to everyone. It opens your eyes and gives you ideas on how we can help these families even with something as simple as a hug.
• "Beyond the Diagnosis" took me on a journey that left me in tears. Not only did I empathize with the author, but I recognized myself in her words. Years of struggling with the stigma and the skepticism of others over the unseen diagnoses of my children had left me with huge feelings of self-doubt and anxiety over each decision that I made, each choice that I carefully pondered and made with as much information as I could with their best interests at heart.
  
  I learned that I had never really grieved the diagnoses of my children and that not only is it okay to do so, but it is also a part of learning to thrive in the life that God has graciously presented me with. I also learned that it is okay to feel anger over the cards that your children have been dealt, and then to feel guilt over that anger. Knowing that I am not the only one that struggles with the myriad of emotions that you navigate from diagnoses to coping to thriving left me feeling like my emotions were valid for the first time in a very long time.
  
  The author takes you on a very candid journey through her emotions - the shock, the guilt, the anger, the depression and then her uplifting journey as she learned to thrive. She discusses her struggles with anxiety, with coping, with lost friendships and community isolation. Working through the activities helped me find what works for my little family, and how we can find ways to thrive, even in a one-parent household.
  
  This book is a MUST READ for parents of children with special needs, and it wouldn't hurt to hand a copy to those in your life that may not understand what it is like to parent a child with special needs, seen or unseen
• Although I am not a special needs parent myself, "Beyond the Diagnosis" gave me new insights into what it's like to have a child with special needs living in your home. Through her personal story of raising two special needs children (one with visible and one with invisible disabilities), Amy Mattson shares the realities of being the mom of special needs kids. She shares the real-life negatives (such as the feelings that go along with your child receiving a devastating diagnosis, isolation, depression, and exhaustion), and gives hope through practical ways to help your child and your family (such as places to seek help, how to care for yourself, and how to advocate for your child).
  
  Each chapter ends with some questions for parents to ask themselves and some action steps to take. Special needs parents can find hope and help through this book. Teachers, friends, and caregivers of a special needs child can gain understanding and empathy for the reality of parenting a special needs child, and can gain practical insights on how they can help. This book also gives insight on actions, words, and attitudes that may (inadvertently) be hurtful to special needs kids and parents.
• This book is everything I wish I had known when I started my own journey as a special needs parent. The author walks you through her journey as a parent to two special needs children in a refreshingly honest way. She sheds light on the extreme importance of recognizing and acknowledging your emotions, even the ones we don't want to believe are there.
  
  Amy's story is relatable to anyone who has walked the journey of special needs parenting, but a MUST READ for everyone. Even someone who does not have a special needs child in their life can benefit from reading this book, as it sheds a light on the stigma and the reality of daily life for those of us with special needs children.
  
  Amy is raw and honest in identifying that there are HARD things you go through, and there are JOYOUS things you embrace in this journey. I laughed through tears of joy as she shares one of her daughter's major milestones (not going to be a spoiler here!) and cried in understanding as she shares the frustration of not understanding why her son was acting out in the ways he was. Amy makes the reality of every day life in a special needs family a little more touchable and real through this story.
  
  Each chapter addresses a vital step in learning to go beyond survival mode and into thriving. The chapters end with Action Steps that help the reader to identify their own feelings and thoughts that they may have experienced walking a similar path.
  
  The advice she gives is relevant, and so necessary. This book is truly a gift. I am SO thankful that I read it, and I am certain this will be one that I read again and again.
• Amy’s first person account of her special needs parenting struggles and victories, with all its rawness and realness, is relatable and encouraging. Amy draws your attention to so many various scenarios and hot button issues which gives you the feeling of having a real discussion with her.