Love Tears & Autism: An Australian mother's journey from heartbreak to hope

by Cecily Paterson

Overview

What do you do when your dream for a ‘happy family’ isn’t working out?

Where do you go when no one can help your child?

When Cecily Paterson's son was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), Cecily’s life was thrown into chaos. Daily life became a daily struggle and everything she’d ever thought about love seemed to be turned upside down.

In the end, she’d have to learn to trust God, learn to love, and do just as much learning and growing as her beautiful little boy.

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After her son’s ASD diagnosis, Cecily went looking for a book that would give her not only practical help, but also emotional support and spiritual solace. She never found it, so she wrote it. 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 good 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780994497581
Publisher:	Firewheel Press
Publication date:	09/01/2018
Edition description:	Second Edition: Revised
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.47(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Prologue: a life-changing prayer

The best laid plans

Changes and answers

The early signs

In my humble opinion… Other people’s responses

Diagnosis

In my humble opinion… labels

Doing what the doctor said

So what is ASD anyway?

Eggs and therapy

Holland, and why I didn't want to join the secret club

Welcome to Holland

Going all domestic

Diet and the bio-med approach

Up and down and round and round with RDI

What will life be like for ASD children when they grow up?

Sticking together through it all

In my humble opinion… how much can you cope with?

God, grant me patience. And hurry!

In my humble opinion… Why do we avoid people who are a little bit different?

Taming the meltdown triggers

Siblings, loyalty and rivalry

What’s the future for siblings?

I’m still just so unhappy!

In my humble opinion… the ‘admiration reaction’

Angry and bitter on the couch

Depression: it’s pretty normal

Praying for healing

Dealing with the aftermath

In my humble opinion…

It’ll take a miracle

So, what about love?

What's happened since I wrote this book?

My standard advice for parents with newly-diagnosed ASD children

Appendix: The Relationship Development Intervention program

Extra resources

Books

Websites

Acknowledgements

Editorial 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

From the Publisher