I’ve never done a book review on my site, so I know it’s not something any of you guys would expect from me. BUT when I was approached about this book I couldn’t say no. You all know my oldest three, my husband and most likely my youngest and soon to be youngest have Aspergers. This means a lot of things to me. I can’t sum up all of aspergers easily. It’s too big and so different for each person and I hate to generalize it.
For me Aspergers isn’t a “death sentence” (like it can feel like for some), not even close. It doesn’t bother me at all that they have been diagnosed with it. If anything having a diagnosis gives me answers, gives me clarity and it gives me direction in my parenting. I have many concerns for my children’s futures. I also have many hopes. BUT one aspect of aspergers is a very analytical mind. My children are brilliant, and like a lot of people with brilliant minds Faith can be a very difficult concept. It’s one of the things that has worried me the most. How to teach my children Faith. Having Faith is letting yourself trust, hope and believe in something you can’t see, touch, taste, etc… and that’s difficult for an analytical mind. I know so many people who have struggled with faith, it’s a difficult struggle to watch.
I believe in God, I believe in Eternal Life and Faith is a huge part of that belief. So when I was told about this book, (dis)Abilities and the Gospel, I jumped at the chance to read and review it. In a few ways it wasn’t quite what I expected and in many ways it was even better than I’d hoped it would be.
It begins with General Information, what you might expect to see from special needs children at church. My favorite chapter is how to write and create a profile of your child(ren) to give to teachers and church leaders. I’ve tried to explain to teachers and leaders in the past about my kids but I haven’t been able to get it right. I feel like I haven’t touched on the right points and missed important information and also made somethings that aren’t a big deal sound worse, even scaring off the teachers. This chapter brought up some amazing and simple points, and I’m sure I can be more concise and prepare teachers and leaders better from now on. I’m SO excited to get started, especially because we just got new leadership and teachers for all the kids at church! Perfect timing for me!
Then the book moves onto teaching strategies! LOVE it, not just strategies for me as a parent but for my children’s teachers ad leaders! Then it moves on to age and class specifics. Really great advice on how to teach every age, every class style, advice on age related dilemma’s, etc… As my children are very high functioning not all of the advice relates to us, but is incredibly helpful for a ton of circumstances, challenges and children. Parents and teachers alike are going to benefit from the knowledge and advice in the book. I can’t wait to pass on specifics to teachers and leaders so they won’t feel overwhelmed.
The book ends with more parent and family strategies and advice! Surviving church, teaching prayer, Family Home Evenings, Building relationships, extended families and dealing with Holidays! The whole book is wonderful. I read it in hours in one night, I couldn’t wait to talk to my husband about changes I want to make and ideas I’d like to implement and start!
Danyelle and Lynn are giving away two $25 Amazon gift cards! One name will be drawn for a $25 Amazon gift card on June 30th. Another name will be drawn for a $25 Amazon gift card on July 22nd. Winners will be announced on www.QueenOfTheClan.com They have many ways to enter. Danyelle and Lynn will be keeping track of the entries and picking a winner from ALL of the reviews on this book tour. Leave A comment on the reviewer’s blog letting us know what you’ve done. Include your email address.
1 Entries Each:
- Leave a comment about the blogger’s review.
- Add the book to your “to-read” list on GoodReads
- Follow Danyelle’s blog
- Follow Lynn’s blog
- Follow Danyelle on FB
- Follow Lynn on FB
- Follow Danyelle on Twitter
- Follow Lynn on Twitter
2 Entries Each:
- Tell your friends about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel on Facebook with a person links to Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons
- Tell your friends about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel on Twitter with links to @DanyelleTweets
5 Entries:
- Interview Danyelle or Lynn for your blog or write a blog post about why you’re excited about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel. Be sure to leave a direct link to your post in your comment so we can visit and say hello!
I need this book. I am so glad you reviewed it on here. I never knew the 2 important things to me would be combined in a book. You review was very thorough and I loved hearing what to expect in the book. Thank you. It is on my Amazon list!
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Ashlee Reply:
June 14th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
I’m so glad it sounds good to you! I’ve bought a lot of asperger books since the diagnosis, but not all have been at all helpful. In fact MOST of them have been pretty bad, or repetitive. But this one was great! Some repetitive info that we hear over and over again, pray, read scriptures, attend church, the basics. But we hear them over and over again because they are true, and can help us all, as parents, children, teachers, etc…
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Sounds like an interesting read. Teaching faith to children (whether they have a disability or not) is tricky. Thanks for sharing your review!
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Ashlee Reply:
June 14th, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Very true, as parents we all want to pass on our beliefs and faith to our children!
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Ashlee – Thank you so much for your honest thoughts and review. I’m grateful you found so much to help your family. Thank you for reviewing our book!
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Ashlee Reply:
June 14th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Thanks for the opportunity to review it. My husband is in the middle of in now, and then my in laws (who live upstairs from us) and then onto my children’s new teachers and leaders. Scouts has become especially hard for our 8 YO son, so I’m excited about working with them on those specific chapters and issues.
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Also, I wanted to say how much I admire your parenting attitude. Asperger’s, and other disabilities, can be so overwhelming for parents. I love how you said that you see the diagnosis not as a death sentence, but as something to help you understand how your family thinks and reacts. This is definitely a phrase I’ll remember! =)
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Ashlee Reply:
June 14th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Thanks! People often ask me if it’s difficult (esp when they realize I’m having another one!) but I always say to them- He is the only husband I’ve ever had, they are the only children I’ve ever had, I don’t know any other way or any better. Every marriage and every parent has their own challenges. These are mine. There was a hard time just after the diagnosis realizing that some of my expectations for the future would have to shift, but in the end what parent’s expectations don’t shift? There is a reason they were sent to me, I am the right mom for them, I understand them in a way others can’t and overall we are incredibly happy with our lives. Outsiders (like my mom) tend to not understand, think my kids are acting out, or blame bad parenting, but I’m confident in what I do and who I am.
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Ashlee – I felt very similar when people would make comments about they didn’t understand how I could “do it all” or “handle our son”. My response has always been that since he’s our oldest, we don’t know any different. He leads the way through our different parenting milestones. We love him for who he is – and he’s an incredible young man! Is it always easy? No way! But we have so much good, that it doesn’t matter. We just go with the flow. This is our family and we’re awesome! =) I love your confidence! Don’t let anyone shake it!
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Ashlee Reply:
June 18th, 2011 at 11:04 am
Thanks! Sometimes I do look at other families (like my sisters) and wonder what it would be like to have such easy kids (I really don’t like it when they call and complain to me about something their kids are doing that I could only WISH my kids would/could do). But that’s pretty rare. I love my kids and my life, they fit me and I fit them.
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