When your child is diagnosed with ASD, Aspergers or ADHD, it can be a lonely road.
You need support from someone who 'gets' it, practical, achievable strategies that really work. You need honesty, love, and hope.
In the months after Cecily Paterson's son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, and the advice she was given by the doctors didn't seem to help, she went looking for a book that would help her figure out what to do. How could she help her son get through his hourly meltdowns? How would she get him past his picky eating? Could she help him learn to talk?
At the same time, Cecily was also looking for emotional support and spiritual solace. This was a hard journey she was on. Floundering amongst friends and family who hardly seemed to understand, and angry at God, she was fearful, overwhelmed and exhausted.
With her brain and emotions working overtime, she looked for a book that was both easy to understand (not too technical or scientific), as well as honest about the challenges (not too sugar-coated, or depressing).
Cecily never found the book she was looking for, so she wrote it.
"Best book on autism I read so far. Helpful, practical and positive."
"I wish this was the first book I had read on autism. I highly recommend it, especially to parents who just got their child diagnosed or maybe suspect their child has ASD." -- Online Reviewers
Read Love Tears & Autism if you have a child with a disability, or if your friend or family member lives with autism. Or just read it if you like a real-life story where God's grace shines through.
Love Tears & Autism won third prize in the 2012 Australian Christian Book of the Year (ACBOY) awards. This second edition includes updated and revised resources and a ‘Where are we now’ chapter... full of hope and progress that isn't sugar-coated one bit!
REVIEWS __________________________________________________________________
“Yours is a story that has touched my soul. You have confronted and written about some of my worst, unspoken fears. You are honest about your own perceived inadequacies to climb, with your son, the mountain of autism spectrum and in doing so you have written a book for all of us not just for parents of children with autism. The lessons of facing our challenges head on, of being a true friend and showing genuine understanding of others in their times of need are things you write about with disarming honesty. You constantly tug at our conscience as you write about your own. A beautiful book about the heartache and challenge and joy of real love.” Carolyn Hewson– businesswoman, company director, entrepreneur
“Love Tears and Autism is a book that will change many lives. Cecily Paterson writes with an honesty and directness that will appeal to many readers. In the mood of a modern day blog Cecily writes with breathtaking honesty without ever being indulgent or ever losing hope. In the style of Philip Yancy, she asks the questions many believers think are too impolite to ask. Discovering God's will for our lives is never as simple as we imagine but Cecily will help many discover that their calling is staring back at them in the eyes of the children they have, not just the fantasy children they imagined. This book will make you cry, laugh and maybe even cringe but it might also help you to pray, do your best and remember that God has not finished with you yet!” Rev Richard Quadrio, Senior Pastor Macquarie Chapel, President NSW Council of Churches.
“Cecily Paterson gives a starkly honest, reflective and sometimes feisty account of her struggle to love and accept her autistic son and of her desire to see him fit in. This book will speak into the lives of anyone who has a disabled family member, and is a reminder to all parents to love and accept our children as they are, while still encouraging them to become the best they can be.” Katrina Roe, radio personality, children's author and blogger
“As a counsellor I often see the struggles parents and particularly mothers, have with children who are somewhere on the Autism spectrum. Cecily’s honest portrayal of life with her son will bring hope and encouragement to many families who daily have to manage one or more of their children with this disorder. Whether we like it or not, society’s negative opinions of parenting are reflected onto these parents. Reading this book will help others who are not as closely connected to autism to catch a glimpse of life for these parents.” Kerrie Merchant M. Couns. (UNE) PACFA, APC
Cecily bears testimony to the fact that learning love and letting go of being the one in control is not easy. However, depending on God the author of love who is in control, is the only path that offers true hope. As a mother of a son with autism this book offered to me enormous encouragement and comfort. It reduced my feelings of isolation as I drew parallels with my own experience. Cecily’s account is honest; neither does she hold back on the nitty gritty details nor the ugly thoughts that rise up in our hearts. As Cecily examines these feelings she gives us great insight into her God-given lessons in learning love. This is a book I will keep reading in the years to come.” Kate Hurley, author of Take heart - For families living with disability, 2009 Blue Bottle Press