|
A Mother's Story That Touches Heart and Soul:
A Brief Commentary by Robert Naseef
Holding on and letting go, pushing and pulling-these are overarching themes of parenting for mothers and fathers. This normal developmental process can be even more stressful, especially for mothers and the rest of the family, when a child is growing up with autism or other developmental issues. This struggle is captured with honesty and keen insight by Glen Finland in next stop: a memoir of family, which I highly recommend for parents of typical children as well as those with developmental challenges.
After being her son's advocate for so many years as this mother puts it, "How could I just shut off my dependency on his dependency on me?" Nonetheless she describes how she learned to back off in small steps as her son, David, who has autism, learned to ride the Metro in Washington, DC.
While she describes how "learning-to-let-go business is killing me." She observes how her son "becomes more and more independent in that process."
This learning to let go is part of the unfinished business of motherhood which needs time and support to evolve in adolescence and early adulthood.
When I talk to parents in my professional role, the topic of what happens when our child grows up is never far from the conversation. As a reader, I found this a book to savor. I didn't want it to end.
Treat yourself to some of this mother's writing on her web site.
Sample the book online. See if it helps you understand your own journey.
|
 GuyTalk@Alternativechoices: Networking for Fathers of Children with Autism and other Special Needs
GuyTalk@AlternativeChoices is a free community service for the Philadelphia area hosted by psychologist, author, and parent Robert Naseef. The group is open to fathers and male service providers. We will meet informally and share food while we talk about the struggles and triumphs of fathers. We will support fathers and families from the newly diagnosed to adulthood as we offer advice and perspective to each other about how to survive and thrive.
We will meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, at 7:00 PM:
October 9, November 13, and December 11.
Please bring a snack or nonalcoholic beverage to share. Click to download the flyer to share.
|
|
Chips, Dips & Parenting Tips
This an ongoing monthly group open to any  parents or caregivers with children with special needs. Faciliated by the professional staff of Alternative Choices. 7:00 PM on November 6 & December 4.
|
|
On the World Wide Web, he next "Guy Talk" webinar is Sunday, October 13, 9:00 Eastern at autismbrainstorm.org.
|
RSVP or for more information on this group.
