Then she felt the frustration and exhaustion of having to fight for your child in a world that is stacked against them. um, anyone can read this book and have a better understanding of what autism can be like for parents, siblings, and families. There are some heartbreaking stories in this memoir about Cooper being left alone in a classroom while all the other kindergarteners are off at a Christmas party, put in the audience while the rest of the kids sang in a holiday carol-type situation and punished by taking away his recess. She speaks regularly about autism, parenting and motherhood, and is a contributor to Today Parents, the Today show, Her View from Home and the Love What Matters blog. And so, no, I'm not, you know, I'm not going to throw myself overboard to, yeah, to, you know, have a life that's not good for me.

We learn about how Kate met her husband, about the challenges they faced as they sought a diagnosis for their firstborn son and about how they healed as a family after hitting their lowest point. If you enjoy reading, you like biographies, you are a parent or grandparent; or if you have had the Plan A of your life disrupted by circumstances beyond your control and you are struggling with accepting Plan B and while grieving for Plan A; or if you have a special needs child or you know someone who does…. I follow Kate’s page on Facebook and I’m so glad I was able to get an advanced copy of her book, thanks NetGalley! And what would I if I can get on my soapbox to just scream to the world if we're not fighting for anything special, we're fighting for basic rights. It is hard to think about all the kids who could communicate with an iPad if only they had the opportunity to have one at school.And seeing Cooper reach new milestones is a testament to how hard his family fights for him by advocating and educating others about autism. And I think we start to realize that stuff's really important for things like funding and helping, but it's kind of OK to tuck that down a little bit and just focus on our child as who they are because all those diagnoses get kind of heavy. While we wait for answers, extraordinary people like Kate Swenson, through their dedicated and resourceful efforts have taken it upon themselves to create a nurturing environment in which children like Cooper can grow and thrive. Kate blends wit and wisdom in an unapologetic account of marriage, motherhood and unconditional love. I always end this way, and before I ask it and answer it, you gave me a piece of advice for this last question that I use every single day.

I was with Kate and Cooper every step of the way thank you so much for sharing your life the highs and the very lows. I think you know, I know our listeners like appreciating your writing and like every excerpt I've heard, is just more amazing than the first. Our boys may different, they have different struggles and our day to day looks completely different, but the words she wrote still rang true. I have a big following of parents whose or anybody whose life just didn't turn out as they expected, maybe something just took a turn.As you read, I hope you find yourself nodding along, finally feeling understood in something that can feel so isolating.

She has created an amazing platform through her blog Finding Cooper’s Voice and her paid Facebook group of which I am a member, Coop’s Troops. It's funny, isn't it, because I think few people would wish it upon others, to experience the difficult or down times that they have had, and yet there is definitely comfort in knowing that others have gone, are going, through those times too. She lives for coffee, preaches kindness like her life depends on it, and is continuously surprised by the twists and turns of motherhood. Kates book is a must read for anyone who has a child with or works with autism and even people without to this book can educate everyone .

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising. From noticing something different right in the hospital the day of his birth, to feeling at a loss during the toddler years, to having concerns and fears minimized by others for far too long, to fighting for a diagnosis that you know he needs, but you wish he didn’t… Kate’s story is my story, and every Autism parent’s story. Written by Kate Swenson, a mum of four who has blogged and shared her family's experience of autism much like I do, this book is an honest, emotional and thought-provoking account of what goes on in the life and mind of a mum who finds herself with a child who is 'different'. If there's one word to describe her as portrayed in her book, Kate is relentless- a constant pursuer of the help her child or family needs, and entirely honest about the missteps and feelings she's had while navigating a complicated system.