Not What I Expected

<p><strong>Finalist for a Books for a Better Life Award<br /><br />A pediatric neuropsychologist presents strategies to help parents of special-needs children navigate the emotional challenges they face.</strong><br /><br /> As diagnosis rates continue to rise for autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and other developmental differences, parents face a maze of medical, psychological, and educational choices &ndash; and a great deal of emotional stress. Many books address children's learning or behavior problems and advise parents what they can do to help their kids, but until <strong>Not What I Expected: Help and Hope for Parents of Atypical Children</strong> there were no books that explain what the parents are going through - and how they can cope with their own emotional upheaval&nbsp;&ndash; for their own sake, and for the wellbeing of the whole family.<br /><br /> With compassion, clarity, and an emphasis on practical solutions, Dr. Rita Eichenstein's <strong>Not What I Expected: Help and Hope for Parents of Atypical Children</strong> walks readers through the five stages of acceptance (similar to the stages of grief, but modified for parents of special-needs kids). Using vivid anecdotes and suggestions, she helps readers understand their own emotional experience, nurture themselves in addition to their kids, identify and address relationship wounds including tension in a marriage and struggles with children (special-needs and neurotypical), and embrace their child with acceptance, compassion and joy.</p>