Intrigued by a book in the Harried Parent's Book Club, or want to learn more about a subject that's covered? Read more about it through book excerpts. Choose from this index listed alphabetically by the title of the excerpt, or go to an alternate index listed by book title.
31. Excerpt Title: "Understanding Your Child's Diagnosis"
Cover image courtesy of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
From the Book: Supportive Parenting
Author: Jan Starr Campito
Quote: "Can you describe the defining characteristics of the diagnosis, in terms that are accurate and that other people can easily understand? Do you understand how your child's disability is similar to and different from other related or easily confused conditions? Can you apply the diagnosis to your own child, seeing which characteristics are currently present and to what extent?" ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Jan Starr Campito
Quote: "Can you describe the defining characteristics of the diagnosis, in terms that are accurate and that other people can easily understand? Do you understand how your child's disability is similar to and different from other related or easily confused conditions? Can you apply the diagnosis to your own child, seeing which characteristics are currently present and to what extent?" ... Go to full excerpt
32. Excerpt Title: "Video Games and Epilepsy"
Cover image courtesy of demosHealth
From the Book: Epilepsy: Patient and Family Guide
Author: Orrin Devinsky, MD
Quote: "Media reports have heightened public awareness that playing video games can rarely trigger seizures, but video games do not cause epilepsy. Playing video games is a common and prolonged activity for many kids. Because epilepsy is a common disorder, some seizures while playing video games are coincidental." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Orrin Devinsky, MD
Quote: "Media reports have heightened public awareness that playing video games can rarely trigger seizures, but video games do not cause epilepsy. Playing video games is a common and prolonged activity for many kids. Because epilepsy is a common disorder, some seizures while playing video games are coincidental." ... Go to full excerpt
33. Excerpt Title: "Wanted - Parents to Raise Children With Complex Needs"
Cover image courtesy of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
From the Book: Helping Children With Complex Needs Bounce Back
Authors: Kim Aumann and Angie Hart
Quote: "Dedicated adults needed to work in a busy, demanding and fraught working environment. This is a long-term position so you must have staying power, excellent communication skills and the ability to plan and organize family life for everyone. No previous experience required but you will need to be a good negotiator, determined to make the most of things, and have an excellent sense of humor." ... Go to full excerpt
Authors: Kim Aumann and Angie Hart
Quote: "Dedicated adults needed to work in a busy, demanding and fraught working environment. This is a long-term position so you must have staying power, excellent communication skills and the ability to plan and organize family life for everyone. No previous experience required but you will need to be a good negotiator, determined to make the most of things, and have an excellent sense of humor." ... Go to full excerpt
34. Excerpt Title: "What Families Need"
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
From the Book: Damaged Angels
Author: Bonnie Buxton
Quote: "Judging from the experience of families I know, all over the world, the needs of children with FASD and their parents are almost never met. Yet investing in FASD families would go a long way toward preventing parent burn-out -- keeping families together, reducing the numbers of alcohol-affected adolescents who drop out of school and wind up on the street, and reducing expensive social problems such as poverty, homelessness, and crime." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Bonnie Buxton
Quote: "Judging from the experience of families I know, all over the world, the needs of children with FASD and their parents are almost never met. Yet investing in FASD families would go a long way toward preventing parent burn-out -- keeping families together, reducing the numbers of alcohol-affected adolescents who drop out of school and wind up on the street, and reducing expensive social problems such as poverty, homelessness, and crime." ... Go to full excerpt
35. Excerpt Title: "What Siblings Would Like Parents and Service Providers to Know"
Cover image courtesy of Brookes Publishing Company
From the Book: Sibshops
Authors: Don Meyer and Patricia Vadasy
Quote: "Throughout their lives, brothers and sisters may play many different roles in the lives of their siblings with special needs. Regardless of the contributions they may make, the basic right of siblings to their own lives must always be remembered. Parents and service providers should not make assumptions about responsibilities that typically developing siblings may assume without a frank and open discussion." ... Go to full excerpt
Authors: Don Meyer and Patricia Vadasy
Quote: "Throughout their lives, brothers and sisters may play many different roles in the lives of their siblings with special needs. Regardless of the contributions they may make, the basic right of siblings to their own lives must always be remembered. Parents and service providers should not make assumptions about responsibilities that typically developing siblings may assume without a frank and open discussion." ... Go to full excerpt
36. Excerpt Title: "When Life Knocks You on the Ground, You Pick Yourself Up"
Cover image courtesy of Da Capo Press
From the Book: I Am Potential
Authors: Patrick Henry Hughes, With Patrick John Hughes and Bryan Stamford
Quote: "Something inside her had reached the boiling point, and it just had to come out. 'You know what?' she cried. 'I'm strong! I'm facing challenges people can't even imagine, and I'm coping. I am handling it. Maybe my son is not progressing like other children, and maybe he won't be a star athlete or a great brain surgeon someday. Maybe he'll never even reach the lofty perch of being average, like all the rest. But I'll tell you this ... he'll be everything he's able to be.'" ... Go to full excerpt
Authors: Patrick Henry Hughes, With Patrick John Hughes and Bryan Stamford
Quote: "Something inside her had reached the boiling point, and it just had to come out. 'You know what?' she cried. 'I'm strong! I'm facing challenges people can't even imagine, and I'm coping. I am handling it. Maybe my son is not progressing like other children, and maybe he won't be a star athlete or a great brain surgeon someday. Maybe he'll never even reach the lofty perch of being average, like all the rest. But I'll tell you this ... he'll be everything he's able to be.'" ... Go to full excerpt
37. Excerpt Title: "Working With an Occupational Therapist"
Cover image courtesy of Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske
From the Book: Raising a Sensory Smart Child
Authors: Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske
Quote: "Respect your therapist's time and personal needs. Do not call her every other day with minor questinos that can wait until the next session. Do not call her at home late at night, very early in the morning, or on weekends unless absolutely necessary. Reschedule your session if your child is ill or has a contagious condition such as conjunctivitis, even if you think your child might enjoy the session. No therapist wants to get sick or pass your child's germs to other children." ... Go to full excerpt
Authors: Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske
Quote: "Respect your therapist's time and personal needs. Do not call her every other day with minor questinos that can wait until the next session. Do not call her at home late at night, very early in the morning, or on weekends unless absolutely necessary. Reschedule your session if your child is ill or has a contagious condition such as conjunctivitis, even if you think your child might enjoy the session. No therapist wants to get sick or pass your child's germs to other children." ... Go to full excerpt
38. Excerpt Title: "Writing a Letter of Intent"
Cover image courtesy of Amy Baskin and Heather Fawcett
From the Book: More Than a Mom
Author: Amy Baskin and Heather Fawcett
Quote: "If you were to suddenly die or become incapacitated, that alone would be traumatic for your child. The last thing he would need would be for his own medical needs, routines, and daily life to be thrown into upheaval as well. You can guard against that by writing a Letter of Intent, providing your child's guardians with practical informaton to guide them in making decisions and interacting with your child." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Amy Baskin and Heather Fawcett
Quote: "If you were to suddenly die or become incapacitated, that alone would be traumatic for your child. The last thing he would need would be for his own medical needs, routines, and daily life to be thrown into upheaval as well. You can guard against that by writing a Letter of Intent, providing your child's guardians with practical informaton to guide them in making decisions and interacting with your child." ... Go to full excerpt
