Amelia & Me: On deafness and parenting by the seat of my pants

Perhapsina moment of compromise - of forgiveness and flexibility - we might arrive at the same destination from separate points of departure and find that it was the journey itself that made it all worthwhile.She was born under the sign of Capricorn. Bonny and pink and perfectly formed. Her arrival as longed for as the break from the heatwave melting the streets of Melbourne that summer. Amelia was finally here; the hard part was over.Except it wasnt. Hard things were lying in wait. They always are.From an exciting new Australian author comes a powerful funny raw and at times heartbreaking memoir about a mothers battle to raise her daughter who is deaf autistic and feistier than ten Tasmanian Devils.Praise for Amelia & MeMelinda Hildebrandt is an incredible writer with an amazing story. One she tells with insight humour and brilliance. You must buy this book for everyone you know. Catherine DevenyMelinda Hildebrandts incredible no-holds-barred memoir exploring her journey of raising a daughter with hearing loss and autism is a brilliant combination of deeply inspiring humorous and heart-wrenching. An exceptional story of one familys struggle perseverance and triumph in helping Amelia find her voice...This book should be mandatory reading for all families of children with hearing loss and/or autism their families carers and all who interact with them. Julie PostanceI was captured by Amelia & Me from the beginning and was completely drawn into the honesty and frankness with which Melinda Hildebrandt tells her familys story - it cuts deep. She has a fantastic turn of phrase and a wicked sense of humour (I was laughing out loud in places) and other times she reached in and ripped my heart out. There arent a lot of writers Ive read who can do that and Ive read a lot of writers. Amanda SpeddingMelindas writing is suffused with love and poignancy about the yearnings and achievements of her deaf daughter Amelia. Donna McDonaldMelinda extends a hand and takes us on a journey through the new and sometimes bewildering terrain traversed by the parent of a child with disabilities. Miki PerkinsThere are tears in this book there is some deep reflection on what disability and mothering means but there is also an awesome and proud little girl starring in the show who will win you over in the end. Buy this book. Dr Belinda Barnet