For the Love of Oscar: Bringing Up a Son with Down Syndrome

by Sarah Roberts

‘A searingly honest account of her journey, from heartbreak to joy’ Daily Mail A mother’s candid and moving account of the challenges and joys of having a Down Syndrome child When Sarah Roberts’s son, Oscar, was born, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Sarah had to rapidly come to terms with a new normal, as she suddenly found her life on a different path to the one she’d always hoped and believed she’d follow. For the Love of Oscar shares a mother’s real and very raw emotions as she comes to terms with that new path, in a story which is nevertheless both heart-warming and funny. Sarah writes candidly about the ups and downs not only of parenthood, but also of parenting a child who just happens to have additional needs. She describes, in vivid and heartbreaking terms, attitudes some have displayed towards her son and her, the often hurtful things said by some people. She describes the hospital appointments, the therapy sessions, the mountains of paperwork, the tantrums and the tears. And she reveals the choices and challenges she faced when she decided that she would like to have more children. Sarah is the author of a multi-award-winning blog called Don’t Be Sorry , which aims to help others in a similar situation, but is also her very relatable take on parenting. She spends a great deal of time advocating for improved understanding of Down Syndrome.

Paperback

Published March 3, 2022

About the author

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Reviews

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cried and laughed multiple times while reading this book. My son is four and autistic but I could relate to so much of this mums story. The feelings after diagnosis, the exhaustion of bringing up a child with additional needs, the stress, the worry, trying to get them into the right school, dealing with ignorant people, feeling alone when other mums can sit and have a coffee while their kids play but you have to climb on all the equipment with your kid, dealing with communication problems and so on. But all the positives as well, how they communicate with their peers in their own way, how tenacious they are, how they do totally random things like pour sugar on your kitchen floor for fun! I loved the cute pictures of the kids in the middle of the book.

Knocking a star off Cos the book editor needs sacked, I’m a grammar nazi and there were so many mistakes! Didn’t take away from the story though!

[Michelle Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fair play to Sarah Roberts for giving an honest account of her feelings and life with a child with Down Syndrome. It’s neither a happy ever after nor doom and gloom book. It’s just life and dealing with the twists and turns that come your way.

For me it was her openness about the negative feelings she experienced, how people reacted to DS, the struggles with health, the joy and hope she expressed and the blog entries she included from other people that made me love reading her account of family life. She tackled issues head on and didn’t shy away from saying possible controversial things. She’s opened up the discussion of DS and given people like me with limited experience of DS a chance to see it from a mother’s perspective. Great read.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book! I have followed Sarah on social media for a long time and was very excited to read her first book! I even pre-ordered it on Amazon! (I have never pre-ordered anything before!!) A well-written and lovely insight in to the not-so-different world of Down Syndrome! It was great to see Sarah sharing her thoughts and ideas and I wish Sarah every success with the book!

[Bec Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the fist pages I felt like I was reading my own story; then only difference being I’m on the other side of the globe. I cried, I laughed and I nodded, thankful that I wasn’t crazy in my thoughts and feelings having a child with Down Syndrome.

I’ve passed it around to family and friends as it’s easier than trying to explain the complexity of my world.

[Rebecca Sigsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed Sarah’s page for a while now and have wanted to read her book for ages. After working with a child with DS a few years back I have become really interested in other families with children with ds. This was raw, funny and a great read all round.

[Amanda Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book. Applaud the honesty