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For many families, the month of April is like a big holiday. So many of us gear up to spread awareness and hope to gain acceptance for our Autistic children. However, we all know that Autism doesn’t end when April does. It’s 24/7, 365 days a year. So this year, I want to tell you about a new book. Planet A is a memoir from mom about their journey with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Planet A
We live on Planet A, so I was excited to start this book. Diane Mayer Christiansen is the mother of an autistic boy. Jackie is on the spectrum and her memoir will take you on their journey. From the “terrible twos” to the tumultuous teen age years. We all know how rough puberty is. Can you imagine how hard it is when you add in a neurological disorder.
It’s remarkable how the timing of this book is perfect. Just last week my sister-in-law and I were having a conversation about our boys. Both are on the spectrum. My son is almost 11 (ugh those tween years), while her son is almost 13. Those awful teen years! We spoke about how they were when they were younger, and how they have changed since their bodies have started to change.
Puberty and Autism
Autism can be a tough journey. No lie. No sugar coat. The trip to Planet Autism is tough. Now add in a dash of hormones. It becomes an entirely new journey. When your son or daughter is first diagnosed as being on the spectrum, many go through a grieving period. (I know I sure did.) It seems you mourn the child you thought you had, when in all honesty, your child hasn’t changed. You just have a name for their struggles. As you work with them through the years and you feel you finally found your way onto their planet, puberty rears its ugly head, and guess what? You’re back to square one. But you’re not alone. Diane captures this perfectly in Planet A.
For moms, dads, families, support groups, book clubs
This book is perfect for everyone. If you live on Planet A, or if you want to educate others about what it’s like, then this book needs to find its way into your reading list. My mom asked to read it next, which is great. Diane’s book is fantastic. To get your copy for yourself, family, or to share with your support group, click HERE. To connect with Diane through her website, click HERE. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.