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Road Map to Holland: How I Found My Way Through My Son's First Two Years With Down Symdrome
An exceptional memoir that provides emotional insight and practical advice.
It's like planning a trip to Italy, only to get off the plane and discover you're actually in Holland. You need a new road map, and fast...
When Jennifer Groneberg and her husband learned they'd be having twin boys, their main concern was whether they'd need an addition on their house. Then, five da...more
It's like planning a trip to Italy, only to get off the plane and discover you're actually in Holland. You need a new road map, and fast...
When Jennifer Groneberg and her husband learned they'd be having twin boys, their main concern was whether they'd need an addition on their house. Then, five da...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
April 1st 2008
by NAL Trade
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I was particularly struck by the bit about the neighbor, who didn't talk to her after her twins were born, and then moved away, and how that withdrawal was cruel.
I don't usually think of my presence in another's life as necessarily positive, so it is easy for me to withdraw it. "they're better off without me," and then I don't have to deal with their difficulties that I would surely mishandle anyway. but from this little bit (in a beautifully written and interesting memoire as whole) I've commit...more
I don't usually think of my presence in another's life as necessarily positive, so it is easy for me to withdraw it. "they're better off without me," and then I don't have to deal with their difficulties that I would surely mishandle anyway. but from this little bit (in a beautifully written and interesting memoire as whole) I've commit...more
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I really enjoyed this book. I don't know if I can be objective in reviewing it (my own child has Down syndrome, and like the author, we were surprised by the diagnosis when she was born, so the story was familiar.)
But I will say that Road Map to Holland was much more honest than many of the special needs books out there, which tend to be relentlessly uplifting and heartwarming. She's very honest about the adjustment process, and it was refreshing (if sometimes heartbreaking) to read.
But I will say that Road Map to Holland was much more honest than many of the special needs books out there, which tend to be relentlessly uplifting and heartwarming. She's very honest about the adjustment process, and it was refreshing (if sometimes heartbreaking) to read.
Another mother makes Down Syndrome into less than a fearsome curse. Having just been told by a former educator how sorry he was that my grand daughter has Down Syndrome, I read this book with a passion. The educator went on to say, "... they're cute, but...." This book asks and answers questions beyond the "...but...." and is hopeful and fierce. Although she has a thousand questions about the future and the past, her feet are firmly in the present and in her role of a parent. Groneberg has three...more
I know a woman from a messaging board that had her sixth child last summer. A few days after his home birth he had to have instestinal surgery and then they discovered he had Down Syndrome. I have been following her blog, www.finniansjourney.blogspot.com
Anyhow, in her blog she talked of this book, as did many other mom's of Down Syndrome children.
The title is based on a short essay by Emily Perl Kingsley. Everyone should read it here: http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holl...
I think it is beauti...more
Anyhow, in her blog she talked of this book, as did many other mom's of Down Syndrome children.
The title is based on a short essay by Emily Perl Kingsley. Everyone should read it here: http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holl...
I think it is beauti...more
Amazing. Simply Amazing. Groneberg writes so wonderfully about the journey she faced after finding out about her son's Down syndrome. So much of it rang true with me: the reactions of others, the process of accepting and healing from birth at the same time, and all the questions...the worry...all of it. I enjoyed the book because I identified with it, but I loved it because Groneberg has written a memoir that is accessible to everyone. Well written, emotional without being "over the top" and, in...more
An honest and poignant picture of raising a child with Down syndrome; an important read for anyone who works with people with disabilities.
I just re-read this book. Great book if you have a child with DS or know someone who does. But also a wonderful book about parenting in general, and relationships for that matter. When I was pregnant I was desperate to find stories of what day-to-day parenting was like... the logistics of it all. This gets into all the mundane details in a way that is totally readable and non-judgmental. Even though her details were about parenting a preemie and baby with DS, and a toddler - so much of it was re...more
I related to so many things from this book. The confusion following birth when your baby goes to NICU and your toddler is at home. Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of multiple youngsters. I also learned about Down syndrome. I thought it was "down's", I thought most children that had it had a shorter life expectancy. I had many misconceptions. I'm very glad I read this book. I feel like I won't say anything stupid or hurtful if I have a friend who has a child with Down syndrome. And besides bei...more
In the category of books I have to read because they're about somebody with Down syndrome, I picked up Jennifer Graf Groneberg's sweet and soulful memoir of the first two years of her son's lives -- she has twin boys, one of whom has Down syndrome. I could relate strongly to her journey, and was moved by her perspective as I was reminded what those very early days of development were like, but I'm not sure that you'd want the level of detail on their day-to-day that she shares unless you've been...more
The thing I liked the best about this book is the essay from which the title is taken..."Welcome to Holland" by Emily Perl Kingsley who likens the experience of having a child with Down's Syndrome to taking an unexpected trip. She describes the dreams of having a child as planning a trip to Italy, and suddenly finding that you are in Holland. An excellent analogy. The author has one child, and eventually decides to have another. She has twins, and one had Down's Syndrome. She describes the sorro...more
I really enjoyed this book - the author tells the story of the birth of her twin preemie sons, the devastating news that one of them had Down syndrome, and how she and her husband negotiated the first two years of little Avery's life. I admired her honesty about her struggle to come to terms with Avery's handicap and, once she did, the unavoidable differences in progress between Avery and his twin brother Bennett. And yet, she conveys an abiding love and joy and a thankfulness that instead of he...more
One of my greatest fears when I was pregnant, besides having another miscarriage, was that I would receive amnio results that would deliver devastating news. Groneberg didn't get the amnio because she was pregnant with twins and two amniotic sacs meant double the risk of miscarriage. So after having her twin boys seven weeks premature, she found out that one of her boys had Down Syndrome. Okay, I'm going to repeat myself here: twins, premie, Down Syndrome, as if any one of those things was not l...more
It took me a while to get through this book. Probably because I have five children of my own and by the time I got around to reading, it was usually well after 9p. I definitely got bogged down in the everyday details of Jennifer's life. I kept waiting for her to experience the joy of her life and her son Avery. The journey was long but eventually she came to understand that the most important thing she could do for her son was simply to love him and that message, once she finally got to it, was...more
While reading the first few chapters of this book I was truly dismayed with Jennifer's feelings toward her son, Avery. Avery was born with Down Syndrome and Jennifer was having trouble accepting him. She took care of Avery's twin, Bennett while her husband watched after Avery. As the story unfolded, Avery won his mother's heart and she did everything possible to get him the care and support he needed.
I think this book would be good for someone who is trying to come to grips with their feelings...more
I think this book would be good for someone who is trying to come to grips with their feelings...more
I found her writing honest and refreshing. I too have twins and one twin has Down syndrome and sickle cell anemia. It is hard to be objective with this book due to the closeness of my personal issue. I do believe that it is a "must read" for parents or caregivers of a child with Down syndrome. I was left feeling more hopeful for my child and with more tools to foster my child's development.
I really enjoyed this book, and the poem referenced is something everyone should keep for that friend or family member who is expecting a child with special needs. The author does not sugar coat anything. She reveals her true, honest and sometimes shocking revelations about having a baby with special needs.
A must read for any parent!
A must read for any parent!
I loved this book. The author was so completely honest in dealing with her son's diagnosis with Down Syndrome just five days after he and his twin brother were born prematurely. She does such a magnificent job capturing the pain and grief and disappointment the comes with finding out your child has special needs. But more importantly she conveys the joys and the heart-expanding love, the redemption and healing a mother begins to feel. I found myself weeping and rejoicing right along with her. Al...more
A mother's memoir of coming to terms with her son's Down Syndrome. Five days after the premature birth of her twins, Jen discovres that one of the twins, Avery, has Down Syndrome. Despite fetal testing, the diagnosis was not picked up before his birth. The book focuses on how Jen and her family adapt to life with Avery and his twin in the first to years of their lives. Through the course of the book we watch Jen move from fear and regret to acceptance, to hope, to pure love. It is an honest look...more
This book is about a woman who gives birth to twins early and finds out one has Down syndrome. It goes into detail about her grief, about trying to balance the needs of her other children, about losing friends and starting therapies. I needed this book right now.
I loved this book. This memoir has the potential to show other mothers of children with Down Syndrome that they are not alone, and that theirs and their child's lives should not be defined by this one diagnosis. A very powerful story by a very brave woman!
This book spoke to me, for obvious reasons. When our baby was recently born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, I naturally wanted to become as informed as possible about DS, and I started with a book titled Babies With Down Syndrome. It was awful, just very scary and depressing. After a couple of chapters, I just put it down. Right around that time a friend sent me this book and once I started it, it was difficult to put down. It's a very honest account of the author's experience with her son's D...more
There is no Down syndrome among my family or immediate friends, but Jennifer Graf Groneberg's book showed that EVERYONE is touched by Down syndrome. It put a personal face on what before was just a "nightmare diagnosis," one you don't want to have happen to you.
I appreciated Jennifer's honesty and openness, with her fears and struggles as well as her triumphs. I loved the emphasis on what her boys had in common rather than the ways in which Avery was so different.
The only criticism is that I w...more
I appreciated Jennifer's honesty and openness, with her fears and struggles as well as her triumphs. I loved the emphasis on what her boys had in common rather than the ways in which Avery was so different.
The only criticism is that I w...more
I read this book for one of my classes and I loved it becuase of how honest the author was. It was really eye opening to see what it was like for her to have a child with down syndrome.
Groneberg’s retelling of adjusting to life as the mother of a child with Down syndrome was thoughtful and honest, at times beautiful, but overall not spectacular.
Jennifer was way to depressed for me to really like this book. I couldn't relate to any of her feelings and I didn't care for some of her comments about her son.
Beautifully written story about a mother during the first 2 years of her son that has Down syndrome. It is a must read for anyone dealing with a similar situation.
In between reading "Sarah's quilt" I read this book. I had been meaning to read it for months, but no library had it. So I bought it.
Jennifer is so great at expressing her feelings about her son and a wonderful storyteller. Many times I felt as if she was able to give words to feelings I had not been able to come to terms with or admit I had been feeling. It was good therapy and I cried a time or two.
Reading this felt like I had found a friend.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone...more
Jennifer is so great at expressing her feelings about her son and a wonderful storyteller. Many times I felt as if she was able to give words to feelings I had not been able to come to terms with or admit I had been feeling. It was good therapy and I cried a time or two.
Reading this felt like I had found a friend.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone...more
I have four children, my youngest (age 1) has Down syndrome. This is a great book, I especially liked the honesty & realness.
First half excellent perspective on how a disability impacts a family as a whole...a bit of predictable ending.
May 02, 2009
Michelle
is currently reading it
I really like this book. I hope to find more like this.
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I live and write at the end of a twisty gravel road in the mountains of northwest Montana with my husband Tom (who is also a writer) and our three boys. There are words scribbled beneath the paint on the walls, things like "books" and "happiness" and "love." They were my wishes for our family while I was pregnant with the twins; it took me a while to realize they'd all come true.
More about Jennifer Graf Groneberg...
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