Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid: A Survival Guide for Ordinary Parents of Special Children

AUTHORS’DISCLAIMER:Wearenotinanywayexpertsonparentingchildrenwithdisabilities.Ourgoalissimplytosharestrategiesthathaveworkedforeachofusintheeventitmayhelpthoseinasimilarsituation.Ifyou’redifferentfromus(i.e.youarebrightoroftheperfectpersuasion),weadviseyounottotrythefollowingathome.Ona“perfection-preoccupiedplanet,”sistersGinaandPattydaretospeakupaboutthefrustrations,sadness,andstigmastheyfaceasparentsofchildrenwithdisabilities(onewithAsperger’ssyndrome,theotherwithbipolardisorder).Thisrefreshinglyfrankbook,whichwillalternatelymakeyouwanttotearyourhairoutandlaughyourheadoff,shouldberequiredreadingforparentsofdisabledchildren.ShutUpAboutYourPerfectKidprovideswiseandfunnyadviceabouthowto:•Findasupportgroup—eitheronlineorinyourcommunity•Ensurethatyourchildgetstherightin-schoolsupport•Dealwithpeople—betheyfriends,familymembers,orstrangers—whosayordoinsensitivethingstoyouoryourchild•Findfun,safe,andinclusiveextracurricularactivitiesforyourchild•Battleyourowngriefandseekprofessionalhelpifyouneedit•Keeptherestofthefamilyintactinmomentsofcrisis,