Get your Joy Back Book Review (Litfuse)

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I read Get Your Joy Back, in exchange for honest review from Litfuse.  I received a paperback book. The book was written by Laurie Wallin.

The book is about getting your joy back, when you have special needs kids. For those, who don't know, Brad has Autism and ADHD. Kalen has Autism; Global Development Delays; Sensory Processing Disorder; and Static Encephalopathy. Kalen is also anemic and Brad has high cholesterol, inherited from his father. Kalen is also short. On the height and weight scale, Kalen is normal but at the bottom of the normal curve. He used to be underweight. He ate, but his weight would not increase much. Still the same today. After 3 years, Kalen finally hit the 3 ft mark, but still under 30 lbs. For the longest, he was steady at 18 lbs, then 21, and now he stuck at 29 lbs. He is still wearing 12 to 18 month clothes.

I never wanted kids, let alone special needs kids. I never knew the toll it can take on your life, until it happened. The doctors appointments, psych appointments, temper tantrums, seizures, breath holding spells, not fun. The lack of social life because no one wants to take them anywhere or you just extra cautious of who, you bring them around. The loneliness, the anxiety, the heart break. Some days, I am joyless.

Thursday was one of those days.

Last night, Kalen (Midget), had a seizure. I spent about 4-5 hours in the ER. Once again, results came back fine. He and his brother, also had a genetics appointment today. I already knew this would be a bad experience. Brad and Kalen see different doctors in different systems for a reason. Kalen has more health problems and he is a patient at Texas Childrens for neuro and cardio. Brad is more severe with his Autism, so his old doctors was at hospital clinics. If he acts up, he already at a hospital. His latest dr and psych are closer to me, but in the same building for a change.

Since, I called transportation, I had to bring the car seat and stroller. Brad had to carry the car seat, which he left in the food court, while we was waiting on Kalen to pee in a bag, so we can go home. He also started screaming and calling me bitches because he was still hungry. I didn't have enough money to get him full, but something to satisfy him until we got home. Brad slammed doors in the bathroom. Not to mention, he did not let the drs touch him. Plus he got antsy when we was waiting for the ride home. The waiting room has a food cart. Good food, but no money. I called Transpo at 4 pm but they did not arrive until after 5, which was not good for me. At that moment, I wanted a husband or a drivers licence and a car. Once, I got home, after 7 p.m, Brad starts screaming for food, when I wanted peace and quiet and lots of sleep. Glad someone else had cooked. I went to wash clothes, write a few blog posts, and head to bed

The book teaches about letting go of anger and resentment, which I struggle with daily. I have to understand that I am not ok each day. I am tired of doing this special needs parenting alone with little to no physical support. I am sick of Brad screaming each morning because he has to get up and get ready for school. His constant screams because he doesn't care for soap or deodorant. The frustration, I feel, when Kalen bangs or slaps his head, when he doesn't get his way. The lack of sleep some days. Special needs parents have to find joy in the midst of constant chaos.

You can purchase the book on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback. The book is prime-eligible