Spectrum Women—Autism and Parenting

by Renata Jurkevythz, Maura Campbell, Lisa Morgan

This book looks at what it feels like to be an autistic parent, offering valuable insights, knowledge and wisdom on parenting autistic and non-autistic children. Three mothers reflect on their experiences of growing up as undiagnosed autistics, venturing into and embracing motherhood, and connecting with their children in a unique and powerful way.

They offer advice on overcoming the challenges of parenting when you are autistic, such as socialising with other parents or sensory issues that come with excessive touch. Reflecting on their own experiences, they also emphasize the positives of being an autistic parent to an autistic child, such as understanding of why their child is struggling or the open-mindedness that can come from not being constrained by societal norms. They also explain how out-of-the-box thinking leads to creative parenting of non-autistic children, forming strong and loving bonds.

Full of wit and warm advice, this book empowers autistic parents and reassures them that autism is a strength in raising their children with love, knowledge and experience, while also giving non-autistic parents and professionals a fresh perspective on helping autistic children to thrive.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Parenting, Nonfiction

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2020

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I starting reading this book as I'm a mum-to-be and was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome ten years ago. I'd initially thought the book would be about pregnancy and parenting as an autistic person, but it's primarily about raising autistic children.

Whilst I wished it contained more about the pregnancy stage, a lot of the advice in the book will be very helpful if my child has ASD. Despite being someone who has it, there are a lot of things I'd forgotten about as an adult that definitely applied to me as a child, and this book covers some really important points.

I think this book would be the best for non-autistic parents of a child who is or those that have little knowledge/experience of it, as it gives a well balanced and informative discussion of how autism impacts various aspects of life. If you're somebody on the spectrum, a large part may be things you already know, especially if you have kids.

It would've been nice to hear from the perspective of somebody who was diagnosed/aware of their autism before having children as the three women within the book were diagnosed after having children. This could've made it more insightful and relatable for women like me.

Overall I'd reccomend this book and think there's a lot of valuable advice within it.

[Ashton E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved how one mom talked about how she can sometimes parent with even more strengths because of her autistic desire for Justice, to explain things in detail, to share how she regulates with her kids and her own desire for non-traditional pathways lend toward freedom of expression for her kids. I felt very encouraged by these moms, but I did want more content on how parenting was for them rather than most of the book felt focused on noticing autism in their children rather than focused on their experience.

[Amy Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is very much about parenting autistic children. There is a small section at the beginning on being an autistic parent but it was so self indulgent that I struggled.

[Silvia Torani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Speravo che questo saggio affrontasse di più le tematiche relative all'essere genitore autistico di unə neonatə, in particolare gli aspetti legati al sovraccarico sensoriale e all'allattamento al seno, ma trattandosi dell'esperienza di tre madri che hanno scoperto di essere autistiche solo dopo la diagnosi dei propri figli, il testo si concentra soprattutto su bambinɜ più grandi e su come gestire al meglio la convivenza nello spettro. Tra i suggerimenti di lettura alla fine del libro ho trovato un altro testo che potrebbe fare al caso mio ("From Here to Maternity"), ma ormai sono molto a ridosso del parto e non so se farò in tempo a procurarmelo e a leggerlo.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read this book. I liked the different points of view provided by the three authors and I liked the real life examples that were given. I wish they had spent more time on the topics of the very final chapters because I think more open and less polarized discussion about the schism in autism parenting is needed. Overall I would recommend this book to other people who wish to learn more about autism and parenting from three insiders' perspectives.

[Patty Spanjer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good perspective

Although I chose to work with my child on my own Instead of having them undergo therapy from other people most of what was said in this book was what I found to be true. And the main thing is respect and acceptance